Competent horse care: maintenance, feeding and health care
Before you start a horse at your dacha, you need to understand well what the proper care of horses is. As you know, these animals need constant care all year round. It includes proper feeding, grooming of hair, lush mane, teeth and hooves. In addition, it is important to establish emotional contact with the animal so that it fulfills the necessary commands.
Horse care: conditions of detention
Depending on the climatic conditions of the area, there are several types of horse keeping:
- herd;
- stable;
- pasture.
The herd method involves the creation of conditions that resemble their natural habitat. In the second case, the animals are both on the walk and indoors.
In such conditions, special care for horses is needed, which includes:
- feeding;
- systematic cleaning of the premises;
- airing;
- maintaining the optimum temperature.
In addition, for the animals to feel comfortable, it is necessary to build a cozy room for them. First of all, it should be spacious enough, with good lighting and constant air access.
Since horses do not like damp and cold habitats, it is necessary to maintain a comfortable microclimate in it. The maximum temperature must not exceed 18 ° C.
In order to maintain high quality horses, the stable must have:
- drinkers;
- nursery;
- feeders;
- cells for mineral feeding.
Usually they are installed at the level of the animal's chest, which allows him to comfortably eat.
The door to the stall should be with bars. This will allow the animal to periodically inspect the room.
Secrets of Healthy Horse Feeding
Taking into account the needs of horses, it is necessary to create a daily food ration, which includes:
- oats (up to 6 kg);
- meadow or cereal-legume hay (7 kg);
- bran (about 1.5 kg);
- beet;
- carrots (up to 6 kg);
- apples.
In addition, the horse needs to be given salt every day. To do this, next to the nursery, a small lick briquette is attached, which she licks off as needed. To properly feed your horses, you need to regularly monitor the quality of hay, grain, vegetables and fruits. Rotten foods or molds that cause various diseases in animals are not allowed. Concentrated feed is distributed 3 times a day, and hay - no more than 5 times.
For the successful assimilation of food, it is advisable to properly water the horses before each "meal".
The diet of animals is influenced by:
- season;
- floor;
- health status.
Since horses cannot be overfed, experienced breeders calculate a one-time and daily dose.
To do this, take into account:
- age;
- the weight;
- horse size.
On average, 5 kg of quality food is needed per 100 kg of animal weight. In the summer, keeping and feeding horses is a little easier. Usually they have enough grass, which they eat while walking in the pasture.
However, with the arrival of winter, horses need additional energy. Otherwise, they will not be able to withstand the cold. Since not every food can provide your pets with energy to the same degree, you need to know what to feed your horse in winter. For example, due to the fact that cereals and concentrates are digested in the small intestine, the body receives little energy. Therefore, hay is an ideal horse feed in winter.Thanks to him, the animal can easily endure even the most severe frosts.
The use of cereals in the diet contributes to the deposition of fat.
If the air temperature drops to 7 ° C and lasts 2-3 days, vegetable oil is added to the food. The maximum dose per day is up to 200 g. It is not bad to feed horses with all kinds of concentrates that are bred in water. An irreplaceable source of energy is considered linseed oil... It is given to adults at 100 ml per day. If this is not possible, flaxseed flour is used to feed the horses.
Hygiene is the key to the health of all living beings
Not only people want to get a pleasant feeling of cleanliness. Some animals specifically take time to groom their fur, nest, or burrow. Horses need human help to keep themselves clean.
Before getting down to business, you need to prepare special tools:
- brushes with soft and hard bristles;
- ridges;
- sponges;
- special hooks for cleaning hooves;
- gloves.
Daily horse grooming begins with the upper body - the head and neck. First, the brush is led against the grain, and then they make several movements in the opposite direction. Then they move on to the exquisite decoration of the horse - the mane. As it gets dirty, it is washed with clean water using a special detergent. It can even be a regular shampoo.
When lathering the mane, it is advisable to make sure that the foam does not get into the animal's eyes.
When the hair is dry, it is carefully combed to dry it. Hair is done if necessary.
There are several types of weaving for the mane:
- hunting braids;
- Western;
- continental strands.
If horses gnaw each other's hair, they are treated with a special aerosol. Thanks to the repulsive smell, animals get rid of this habit.
Aquatic treatments for horses
How often do people use the proverb: "I am glad as an elephant after bathing." In fact, this is just what the horse needs to feel comfortable. During the period when the temperature outside is + 20 ° C, the animals are taken to the reservoir and bathed. If this is not possible, use a regular hose and douse the horse with it.
The procedure is performed in a simple way, following these steps:
- completely wet the horse's hair;
- apply a detergent;
- distribute it throughout the body of the animal;
- rinse thoroughly with water;
- remove the remaining moisture using special devices;
- wipe dry with a clean cloth.
After the water procedure, the horses are watered and fed with hay.
Experts advise against using soap for bathing horses, as it causes dry skin.
Hoof care tips
In order to properly maintain horses in the country, it is important to know the technique of hoof care. Otherwise, the animal may get sick or weaken.
The procedure includes:
- daily examination of the limbs;
- hook;
- treatment with ointment or oil.
After a hard day, the soiled legs of the racers are washed with running water. Using a brush, clean the arrow. Dry manure, dirt and stones are removed with a special hook. Every 1.5 months, the stratum corneum is removed from the hooves, which interferes with the animal's movement and causes cramps. If the horses often walk on asphalt or hard ground, it is advisable to shoe them. It is best to consult a specialist for this.
Disease prevention
Horses, like other pets, suffer from all sorts of diseases. They are:
- parasitic;
- infectious;
- cutaneous.
Not surprisingly, keeping horses is a painstaking process. Comfortable living conditions, hygiene and hoof care are just some of it. Monitoring the health of animals is of particular importance.
The most dangerous diseases in horses are:
- tetanus;
- rabies;
- anthrax;
- tuberculosis.
Since infection occurs very quickly and can lead to the loss of pets, it is necessary to get vaccinated on time.
In addition, there are vaccines that prevent skin ailments. With the help of medicines, animals are protected from parasites. In the spring and autumn, they are given special medicines to prevent helminthiasis. Regular veterinary check-ups can help identify incidental diseases.
Horse handling technique
In order to make friends with these noble animals, it is important to treat them with respect. You cannot raise your voice at them, shout and beat them severely. Since horses are too shy when entering a stable, it is important to talk to them. Thus attracting an animal, you can safely approach it.
However, it is strictly prohibited:
- go around the horses from behind;
- crawl under the belly;
- bring your hand to your pet's teeth;
- go to the right;
- let go of the reins when the animal needs to be removed from the stable.
Horses cannot stand the smell of alcohol. In this state, it is better not to approach them.
By following these simple rules and doing whatever it takes to keep a horse, you can win the hearts of these cute animals. They, in turn, will serve their master for many decades.