Keep your Horse Healthy & Avoid Behavioural Problems

With any wound be gentle and use your common sense and stay calm to prevent causing your horse any further pain or worry as this can lead to the horse becoming unstable with its behaviour especially if he doesnt feel safe and secure. Call your vet if you are unsure of what to do.

The ideal First Aid Kit for your horse:

* Large syringe for washing out wounds
* Surgical tape
* Towels
* Scissors
* Wrapping bandages
* Sterile saline solution
* Petroleum jelly
* Disinfectant dressing / ointment
* Tweezers
* Leg wraps
* Gauze

Other more general activities required for when caring for horses include
• Farriery – As a general guide a horse should see a farrier every 6-8 weeks. This will prevent any problem occurring with the horse’s feet and allow for the continual correction of previous problems. Horses feet are always growing so will continuously need maintenance provided by a farrier.
• Dentistry – Your horse should see a dentist every 6-12 months, this can be determined by the dentist. This will help the horse’s digestive system get all the nutrients from it food it can, assist in performance when ridden and prevent pain, resulting in behavioural problems, which can be caused from sharp teeth. Horses teeth are always growing so will continuously need maintenance provided by a dentist.
• Worming – A set worming program, including pasture management, should be set up between you and anyone else that keeps their horses with yours. This will prevent your horse from getting worms. Seek advice if you are unsure which wormer is best to use at certain times of the year as worms can become resistant. If this happens whether you worm them or not the horse may never fully rid of them.
• The correct rugs should be worn for the most suitable purposes. Choose the right size for your horse and suitability of rug depending on the weather, the environment they are housed in and the purpose you wish them to perform.
As a responsible horse carer you will want to provide your horse with the best in care you can offer. It is important to spend time with your horse and handle them as often as you can, this will help you to build up a rapport with them, creating a happy healthy environment for you and your horse. The best you can do is educating yourself in what is best for you horse and reading about what makes horses tick in general in order to prevent and see signs of behavioural problems early. Breed, activity level, age and health will all be factors you will need to consider when deciding the best courses of action, and if you are ever unsure of anything seek advice from professionals.

Tammy is a passionate horse rider who trys to promote the correct ways to be treating horses. Tammy works part time for Anything Equine who specialise in horse saddles in the UK.