| THE SIMPLE PLEASURE OF FEEDING | | | | necessary vitamins and minerals. Salt blocks and |
| Food is one of the simplest and greatest | | | | horse treats can be purchased from your local |
| pleasures of our horses, so make sure that your | | | | feed store. |
| horse always has all the food requirements that | | | | EXERCISING YOUR HORSE |
| he/she needs. | | | | The amount of exercise your horse needs |
| There are three types of food that your horse | | | | depends primarily on its role in life. If you are |
| may eat. Pasture is the favorite meal of all | | | | using it for competitive riding, team penning or |
| horses, supplying needed nutrients, roughage and | | | | pleasure, whatever you choose will determine |
| protein. Pastures and forage crops provide a | | | | what type of exercise it needs and how many |
| major part of the nutritional needs of horses | | | | times it should exercise each and every week. As |
| almost year-round. Horses are constant grazers, I | | | | for all other types of horses, daily exercise is |
| mean 24/7. There are many types of pasture | | | | encouraged to allow horses' muscles and bones to |
| grass so do your homework, different parts of | | | | strengthen and not become affected by arthritis, |
| the country have different types of grasses that | | | | etc. when they become older. |
| grow better in different areas and will provide the | | | | CARING FOR YOUR HORSES' HOOVES |
| proper nutrients for your horse. | | | | Horses need their hooves trimmed at least every |
| Hay is another type of food for horses, when | | | | 6-8 weeks. Pick your horses feet every day, and |
| fresh pasture is not available, hay is the best | | | | after each ride or workout. Depending on the |
| choice. There are many types of hay, such as | | | | work (pleasure, barrels etc.) you choose for your |
| alfalfa, coastal, T&A, Tifton, and the list goes | | | | horse, will determine whether on not you need to |
| on. Make sure you provide the best hay for your | | | | have your horse shoed. Talk to some of your |
| horses needs. Some hay such as alfalfa has tons | | | | friends or your Vet, someone who can |
| of protein and for some horses you will want to | | | | recommend a good farrier. Remember that just |
| give this type of hay sparingly as too much | | | | as it is with our feet, the hooves of horses are |
| protein is not good for your horse, so do your | | | | also the most abused and neglected part of their |
| research. | | | | body so it's important for us to give them the |
| Secondly, always store hay in a dry but | | | | best care we can afford. The old saying "No hoof, |
| well-ventilated area. Feeding your horse with | | | | No horse really does apply! |
| moldy hay can lead to various medical | | | | CARING FOR YOUR HORSES' TEETH |
| complications. Feeding your horse with hay alone | | | | Unlike human teeth, there is no end to periodontal |
| will never make a sufficient diet so consider | | | | growth for horses. As such, uneven usage of |
| including another component in your horse's diet | | | | their teeth can lead to the development of |
| such as horse pellets or sweet feet to ensure | | | | sharply pointed teeth and which may cause |
| that all your horses nutritional needs are met. Do | | | | chewing problems. Your Vet may have to (float) |
| not forget to consider what your horse does, for | | | | the teeth which means that he will have to file |
| example: racing, pleasure, show, competitive, | | | | them down a little to help your horse's eating |
| jumper, etc. Horses that expend allot of energy | | | | enjoyment. To prevent this from happening, |
| need higher percentage of protein feed and a | | | | make sure that you have your veterinarian check |
| higher quality hay. Ask you vet for help in | | | | your horses' teeth annually. |
| determining your horses diet needs. | | | | GROOMING FOR YOUR HORSE |
| WATER AS THE SOURCE OF LIFE | | | | Allow your horses to enjoy baths regularly. Most |
| Horses are always thirsty, and can consume up | | | | horse enjoy their baths immensely but others |
| to 10- 15 gallons of water daily. As such, it is | | | | need a little more coaxing in that area. |
| extremely important that you have a ready | | | | Afterwards, use a sweat scoop to take off |
| supply of fresh water for your horse. During the | | | | excess water and remember to brush their coat |
| winter months make sure that you place the | | | | slowly, carefully, and thoroughly. Make sure that |
| water in heated buckets to prevent it from | | | | you use grooming products that are specifically |
| freezing. | | | | designed for horses, they are reasonably priced |
| SALT, MINERALS, AND HORSE TREATS | | | | and loads to choose from. |
| Salt and minerals are also important factors in | | | | Above all, the best way to make your horse's life |
| your horse's diet. Consult your veterinarian as to | | | | absolutely wonderful is by showering them with |
| what your horse should take to consume the | | | | your love and affection! |
