More Tips For a Happy Horse
Spending time with your horse not only enables a close bond to develop between you both, but it also enables you to learn how your horse responds to situations and how they are in themselves. Over time you will learn his body language. A happy horse will be responsive to you and have a calm and relaxed manner. He will keep a low head, relaxed jaw and have soft eyes. Your horse will both show and seek affection and will not invade your personal space – these are signs of a happy horse. Your horse may yawn to show that he is calm and relaxed – this is not a sign of boredom. Be aware that if your horse holds his head high with a tense jaw and darting eyes whilst showing a reluctance to stand still, then this is a sign that he is not comfortable and something is troubling him. You must let the horse settle down in his own time, otherwise he may feel trapped and possibly go into “flight” mode, making him even more stressed.
Grooming your horse gives you the opportunity to check him over regularly. You should perform regular inspections of your horse’s teeth, eyes, hooves and shoes as well as keeping an eye on his droppings. Any change in the normal should be reported to your vet at the earliest opportunity – any delay could cause you extra worry, expense and a potential claim on your horse insurance. Your vet will be able to advance book the appropriate appointments for regular worming and vaccinations. Medications should be rotated so that parasites do not get the chance to become immune – this also gives a wider circle of protection from worms and parasites. Your horse could develop immune system, heart or colic problems as a result of unsuitable medication. Horses should always be vaccinated for encephalitis, influenza and rhinoneumonitis. Also advisable while not necessarily essential would be vaccinations against tetanus and rabies. If you are a regular with the horse trailers at horse shows etc, your horse may need to show a negative Coggins test, which is for a serious equine virus called equine infectious anaemia (EIA) for which there is no cure or treatment.
Having regular farrier visits is also essential for a happy and comfortable horse. A horse’s mood and performance will be adversely affected if his hooves are allowed to get too long as this will cause discomfort and imbalance. A horse’s hooves will need to be trimmed every six to eight weeks – your farrier may suggest more often.
Your horse will need a blanket or coat during the wet and cold winter months and during the summer, a fly protective horse sheet or mask is advisable. If your horse is prone to lathering during or after exercise then it may be best to use a horse cooler until he has calmed down. Drinking water directly after exercise could put a horse’s body into shock. It is also important to let your horse cool down properly after exercise and before feeding. Leave it for an hour after meals before exercising your horse.
Horses need to have a purpose, whether it is riding, showing, therapy, carriages or dray. Horses glory in feeling worthwhile. It is important for a horse’s sense of purpose and focus that he receives regular praise – especially when young – for performing simple tasks such as simply standing still or in the right place. Introducing new experiences to your horse will help his confidence and satisfy his inherent curiosity.
A horse is a beautiful and magnificent creature that deserves a good home for life with excellent care. Before even purchasing a horse you need to be aware of the responsibility you have as a horse owner to provide the best in health care and welfare. Keeping a horse can be a very expensive business, and without good horse insurance provided by a specialist equine insurer, it is possible to quickly run into financial problems if your horse should become sick or sustain an injury. A horse will show you vast amounts of love in return for the simple effort of attention and care for his well-being.