Basic Equine Care

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Basic Equine Care

• Kristen M. Wilson
• Regional Extension Horse Specialist
• MCE Equine In-Service
• February 12, 2008

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Areas To Consider

• Horse Behavior
• Housing
• Nutrition
• Health

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Why think like a horse?

• To be safe
• To make a horse feel relaxed
• To have a satisfying experience
• To achieve goals

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Prey vs. Predator

• Evolved as small mammals whose survival depended
  on their ability to flee from predators
• Same survival instincts are in todays modern
  horse
• Natural behavioral patterns are linked to their
  prey status

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Fight or Flight

• Flee first and ask questions later
• Distance must be put between the horse and the
  situation/object
• Use all senses to investigate their surroundings
• Must recognize a horses curiosity and take steps
  to reduce accidents

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Safety in Numbers

• Very social animals
• Comfortable with the presence of other animals
• Instinctively want to be in a herd and readily
  form herds if on pasture
• Establish pecking orders

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Housing Requirements
Diagram from Fence Planning for Horses
Pennsylvania State University Eileen Wheeler and
Jennifer Smith Zajaczkowski. See
http//pubs.cas.psu.edu/
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Housing Requirements

• Things to keep in mind
• Fencing
• Pasture
• Barn / Shelter
• Bedding
• Ventilation

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Fencing

• Type of fencing safe for horses
• Should be sturdy, visible and durable
• 4 ½ to 5 feet high
• Bottom of fence and gates should be 8 12 inches
  off the ground
• No sharp edges, narrow corners or projections

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Diagram from Fence Planning for Horses
Pennsylvania State University Eileen Wheeler and
Jennifer Smith Zajaczkowski. See
http//pubs.cas.psu.edu/
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Diagram from Fence Planning for Horses
Pennsylvania State University Eileen Wheeler and
Jennifer Smith Zajaczkowski. See
http//pubs.cas.psu.edu/
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Types of Safe Fencing
Plastic PVC
Wood Board
V-Wire Mesh
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Pasture

• Good pasture can meet most nutritional
  requirements of horses
• Provides area for exercise
• Stocking rates
• 2-3 acres/animal

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Pasture Management Practices

• Avoid over or under grazing
• Soil Test, fertilize and lime as needed
• Identify weeds and poisonous plants
• Choose plant species wisely
• Rotational grazing systems
• Utilize sacrifice areas
• Nutrient Management Plan

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Shelter

• Provides horses protection from wind, extreme
  weather and moisture
• Important questions
• What are the horses needs?
• What do I want to do with the horse?
• What can I afford?
• Does my county have housing regulations for
  horses?

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Types of Shelters
Run In Shed
Stall
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Shelter - Stall

• Size 12ft x 12ft
• Well ventilated
• Free of hazards
• Good footing and drainage

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Shelter Run-In Shed

• Allow 90 to 150 sq ft per animal
• Usually three-sided
• At least 12ft tall
• Back to prevailing winds

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Bedding

• Preferred Wood shavings or Straw
• Others Saw dust, Peat moss, Shredded newspaper,
  Stall mats
• Avoid black walnut
• Amounts
• 3 to 4 inches with dirt floor
• 8-10 inches with concrete floor

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Ventilation

• Poor ventilation can cause respiratory problems
• Keep fresh air moving in
• Exhaust out air contaminants, moisture and heat
• Barn temp should be within 5 degrees of outside
  temperature

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Nutritional Needs

• Feeding program should be tailored to meet the
  needs of each horse
• Hard Keeper vs. Easy Keeper
• Requirements based on
• Age
• Breed / Type
• Activity
• Size
• Weather
• Reproductive status

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Nutritional Program Components

• Water
• Forage
• Concentrate
• Vitamins Minerals

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Water

• Most important nutrient
• Always clean
• Available in turn-out areas and stalls
• 10-12 gallons consumed daily

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Forage

• Very important for proper digestion
• Types of hay
• Legume
• Grass
• Mixed
• Horse will consume 1 ½ to 2 of body weight per
  day

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Concentrates

• Used to
• Supplement and balance nutrients in forages
• Supplement higher caloric needs of working and
  lactating horses

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Vitamins Minerals

• Most commercial grain mixes will contain a
  vitamin/mineral mix
• Free choice trace mineral and plain salt blocks
  can be provided

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Nutrition Management Tips

• Establish and maintain feeding schedule
• Feed several small meals per day
• Horses consume 2 to 2.5 of b.w. / day
• At least 50 of diet should be from forages
• Know what and exactly how much your horse is
  being fed
• Provide fresh water

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Grooming

• Important for health, hygiene and appearance
• Stimulates blood circulation helps maintain
  muscle tone
• Basic equipment
• Curry Comb
• Brush (Dandy Body)
• Hoof pick
• Mane tail comb

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Health Care

• Vaccinations
• Coggins
• Deworming
• Teeth Care
• Hoof Care
• Emergency Care

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Deworming

• Recommended every 6 to 8 weeks
• Rotate commercial products
• Read labels for frequency and dosage
  recommendations

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Teeth Care

• Important to ensure that your horse can chew and
  digest food
• Recommended 1-2 times/year

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Hoof Care

• Recommended every 6 to 8 weeks
• Costs depends on what is done
• Types of services
• Hoof Trim
• Front Shoes Only
• Four Shoes
• Specialized Care

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Vital Signs

• Observe horse daily
• Know normal vital signs
• Temperature 100 F
• Pulse (Heart Beat) 30 to 40 BPM
• Respiration Rate 8 to 16 BPM
• Establish norms for your horse

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Vital Signs
Anderson, K. Tips for New Horse Owners.
Nebraska Cooperative Extension
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Exercise

• Level of adequate daily exercise will vary with
  each horse
• Free exercise - use of a pasture
• Forced exercise can be used if free exercise area
  is not accessible
• 15 to 45 minutes per day on a regular basis

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Forms of Exercise
Longeing
Riding
Hot Walker
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Summary

• Horse Behavior
• Fight vs. Flight
• Herd Bound
• Housing
• Fencing
• Pasture
• Shelter

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Summary

• Nutritional
• Every horse is unique
• Water, Forage, Concentrate, Vitamins Minerals
• Health
• Vaccinations, Hoof Care, Deworming, Dental Care
• Vital Signs
• Exercise

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• Kristen M. Wilson
• kswilson_at_umd.edu
• 301-596-9478