Horse Maintenance and Care: Top 5 Priorities

Horse breeders, to begin with, must first see if they could truly afford to implement quality care and maintenance for their equine companions. Indeed, investments for such are often higher than the price of purchasing a single horse. Thus, breeders must be realistic enough in ensuring that they are fully committed to taking care of their horses.

Meanwhile, here is a list of some of the considerations for horse care and maintenance. Here is a list of some of them:

1. Food and water – Horses must have access to food and water. Of course, that would be depending on the size and weight of the horses and how many they are inside the enclosure, throughout the course of the day, horses feed on hay or green grass from the open field. They are also fed grains about twice every day.
2. A suitable habitat – Horses should always be protected from the elements, thus it is important for horse breeders to invest on a barn, shelter, or stall for their animals. It must be comfortable, as well as safe and dry. The shelter should serve as their shade from the sweltering hot summer months. It should also serve as protection against the harsh and cold rains and winters. You would want to invest on quality fencing to ensure the safety of your horses. There are various horse fencing Australia products in the market today, and finding one that suits best for your horse's needs is vital.
3. Good space for exercise – Horses are exercised when they are both ridden and given the freedom to stroll, which is why horse breeders must be able to allot an open field or enclosure (a pasture or a paddock) where they can exercise. In case of a field, it is imperative that the borders are enclosed in sturdy fences made of wood so that horses are secured. It is not advisable to enclose the exercise areas with barbed wire, as these can cause injuries to horses. This is when horse fencing Australia options come in handy. Make sure that you choose the best fencing for your horse to prevent any accidents.
4. Quality veterinary services – Horse breeders must ensure that their pets are fit and healthy. Indeed, they must be able to undergo veterinary care at least once a year to perform vaccination, dental checkup, and provide anti-parasite treatment, if any. It should also be noted that vet consultation from time to time is a good idea. Breeders must also brace themselves to shell out dollars when an unfortunate circumstance would require their horses to undergo emergency medical treatment.
5. Focus on grooming – Regular grooming is of great importance when taking care of horses. Indeed, their coats must be removed of any ticks. Any cuts must be treated immediately. Horse hooves must also be well-maintained. In this regard, breeders must be able to call in a blacksmith every two months to provide for their horses' routine trimming and shoeing.

Putting these considerations into mind ensures the health and overall well-being of horses. Breeders can definitely gain satisfaction when they are able to groom, ride, and take care of their horses, and in return, horses would very likely benefit from the love and interaction they get from their owners. Horses are just some of the few domesticated animals that often require constant care and regular maintenance. Indeed, they are social animals that need interaction from humans so that they would not get bored. For many first-time horse breeders and caretakers, it could be hard from the onset due to the need to provide them regular attention, but with enough dedication, wise use of time and resources, and love, they can enable horses to live longer.