Proper horse care goes beyond feeding and grooming—it involves creating a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment for your horse. Our online equine courses by Horse Care & Connection offer step-by-step guidance on everything from sheltering and exercise to behaviour management.
Shelter and Ventilation
You don’t have to keep your horse in a stall to shelter them. Although humans prefer climate-controlled stables, healthy horses can tolerate a range of temperatures.
Access to a secure shelter that shields your horse from the sun, wind, and rain is crucial since inclement weather can affect your horse’s ability to control its body temperature.
There should be enough ventilation in your horse’s shelter as well. Although open windows and barn doors can assist preserve ventilation, horses housed indoors may experience respiratory issues.
Although it will feel colder in colder weather, a well-ventilated barn will be better for your horse than one that is enclosed. Rather than closing the barn, try blanketing your horse if they need assistance remaining warm.
Horse care for beginners explores the role of ventilation in a horse’s well-being.
Participation and Exercise
According to studies conducted on wild horses in unrestricted settings, these animals typically go 10 miles every day.
The everyday routine of the majority of performance horses nowadays is considerably different from this way of living. According to research, domestic horses may also benefit greatly from the freedom of mobility offered during turnout in a field.
Increased turnout time has been associated in other trials with a lower incidence of soft tissue injury. Turnout exercise promotes adaptive changes that fortify the horse’s tendons and bones.
Horses kept in stalls frequently display agitated tendencies. Your horse’s behaviour on the ground and in the saddle can both be improved by turning him out. Controlled exercise can assist in maintaining fitness levels when turnout is impossible because of injury or other circumstances.
Friendship
As herd animals, horses depend on living in groups to survive in the wild. For domestic horses to be happy and content, they must socialise with other horses.
Horse welfare can be enhanced by housing designs that provide safe chances for social interaction between horses when group turnout is not practical. In living quarters, make sure your horse can always see other horses.
Sign up for Horse Care & Connection’s horse care for beginners course. Our step-by-step lessons will guide you every step of the way, helping you provide the best care for your horse while building a lasting connection.