Responsible Horse Health

Listening to a discussion about horse health can be a a little frightening for a new horse owner. It seems that an animal so strong, powerful, and graceful should be pretty durable. Don't worry, there's plenty of help to make this new relationship long lasting for both of you.

A safe and responsible horse health program includes vaccinations, parasite control, dental care, foot care and nutrition. Fortunately, many of the common diseases that affect horses (encephalitis, tetanus, influenza and rhino pneumonitis) can be treated with a 5-way vaccine, once/year. Add regular hoof care inspections and proper nutrition to the list and you'll be proud of the health care you're able to provide. Naturally, trained professionals will also be needed when the situation is beyond your knowledge level but you can learn to become pretty self sufficient.

One of the first lessons as a new horse owner is getting an understanding of horse nutrition. Keep in mind that when it comes to horse feed, your horse will eat about 2% of its body weight each day. Likewise, a horses digestive system is created in such a way to efficiently process large amounts of food over time. Since horses have a small stomach, most of the digestion takes place in a large cavity (hindgut). This means that the nutritional value of popular grasses (ie. alfalpha, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and rye grass) are not realized immediately. Ironically, an over-abundance of high quality alfalfa can create toxins within your horses digestive system. Therefore, a balanced feeding program is naturally advantageous to your horse.

Speaking of eating, when was the last time you had your horses teeth examined? An awareness of the condition of your horses teeth, like sharp edges, will help prevent irritations from chewing. After all, a horse won't be able to eat up to 20 lbs of feed per day with a sore mouth.

Does that seem like a lot to think about? Well, let's meet some people who are willing to share their knowledge on these matters. Alittle knowledge goes a long way!

Rejuvinated Horse Health at Pat Grohl's B & B

Dr. Rod Eck, Top Horse Vet Still Makes House Calls

Leslie is More Than a Pet Sitter

Darin Baker, Helping Your Horse to Smile Again

A Bed of Wood Shavings, Now That's Getting Spoiled!

Click Here For A Wealth of Horse Care!