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Feeding and Breeding Horses: The Do’s and Don’ts

 

 

There are hundreds of different types of horses that live all around the world, in all kinds of climates and terrain. Although they may share some similarities, each breed has its distinct characteristics and quirks that can change how you care for them. That’s why it’s important to know the dos and don’ts of horse care before bringing one home. This guide will help you learn how to feed and breed horses in the safest way possible.

 

Introduction

In horse racing, like in any industry, it’s important to not only understand your work environment but also how that environment works. This is especially true when it comes to racehorses. Understanding how they are fed, what they’re fed, and when they’re fed is key to providing top-notch breeding stock. Here are some tips on what you need to do to ensure your horses stay healthy and perform well in races…

 

 

Nutrition

You must maintain a healthy diet for your horse, but you should also be cautious not to overfeed. Overfeeding can lead to obesity, which carries its own set of complications—just ask any orthopedic surgeon! For example, think about a pregnant woman: if she gains too much weight during her pregnancy, her hips are going to widen, potentially making labor and childbirth more difficult. While horses can’t speak human languages (yet), they certainly don’t want any added complications when it comes time to deliver their foal. Feed your horse just enough so that he or she maintains a normal weight—not so little that his or her body starts craving extra calories to maintain itself, not so much that he or she becomes obese. Just like humans!

 

Grooming

Horses are beautiful animals, but like any animal, they shed. You can use a rake or slicker brush to remove loose hair before it becomes messy or collects around hooves, legs, or manes. If your horse has a particularly thick coat, you’ll want to choose a body brush that can handle some tugging and pulling. Just be careful not to pull so hard that you injure your horse! Bathing: No matter how often you groom your horse—daily, weekly, or monthly—you’ll need to bathe him from time to time. Regular baths will prevent dirt from becoming ground-in and help keep his coat shiny and healthy-looking. Pick up some shampoo for sensitive skin as well as a sponge for washing his face.

 

 

Housing

Where horses sleep makes a big difference in how healthy they are. All horses should have access to clean, dry bedding, like straw or wood shavings. You can also find composite options, made of corn cobs or recycled newspaper. As you might imagine, natural bedding is more expensive than synthetics (and less renewable), but it’s easier on your horse’s digestive system and they seem to enjoy it more. Make sure your horse always has enough bedding to lie down on—the general rule is one bale per 100 square feet of stall space.

 

 

Exercise

This is a big topic with lots of considerations. First, you have to consider whether you want to breed your horses, or just raise them for riding or other purposes. If you’re breeding horses, you should plan on putting a lot of time and money into caring for your animals; they’ll need constant attention, space to roam, food, and water… And then there are birthing costs (if your mare is going to foal). That said, if you love animals and want an additional source of income—or something fun to do—this could be a great choice!

 

 

Horse Psychology

This is an important aspect of horse training and horsemanship in general. Understanding your horses’ instincts, motivations, aversions, preferences, etc., can make it easier to communicate with them. Some horses are highly motivated by food, some fearfully so. Others have a strong desire to be with other horses of their species or type. Some are naturally gregarious, while others prefer solitude. Identifying which category your horse falls into will aid you in making your animal as comfortable as possible before proceeding with any discipline program.

 

 

Hygiene and Sanitation

You wouldn’t believe how easily horses can catch a cold. They can get just as sick as you if their cages aren’t kept clean. To prevent health issues from getting out of hand, keep your horse(s) cage very well-maintained at all times—and don’t hesitate to call for a pro if your lack of knowledge about maintaining such a large animal forces you to seek outside help in any way. Better safe than sorry!

 

 

Reproduction

Of course, you can’t breed a horse if it’s not in good health. An unhealthy horse won’t be able to sustain a pregnancy or support its foal, which means you should ensure your mare is healthy before breeding. If she isn’t already well-fed during her gestation period (she should get at least 1/2 pound of grain per 100 pounds of body weight each day), begin feeding her more heavily around 5 months after breeding, when embryo development begins. A general rule of thumb for feeding pregnant mares is that one pound of grain contains about 3,000 calories; so give your mare about 15 calories per pound of body weight each day—as much as 2 1⁄2 times her normal feed amount.

 

Read Also :

Understanding the Effects of Stress on Your Horse’s Brain and Body

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Horses

The Moral Conundrum of Eating Horses!

 

 

Horses are currently banned from human consumption in the United States, but this hasn’t always been the case. In fact, before being made illegal in 2006, up to 100,000 horses were slaughtered every year in the US alone. This prompted an ethical debate regarding whether horses should be allowed as food or not, and many believed that horses should not be consumed by humans due to their intelligence and capacity to experience fear and pain. However, other arguments have been made that dispute this idea and say that horses can just as well be killed for human consumption as cows or chickens are. So what do you think about eating horses?

 

 

Is eating horses, right?

 

There’s been a long-standing debate about whether or not horses should be eaten. Horse meat is still eaten in other countries such as France, Belgium, and Italy. But for whatever reason, horse consumption has never really caught on in North America. The idea of eating horses is often met with disgust and fear. After all, many people treat their horses like family members.

But what if the only alternative to eating a horse was starving? If it would take more food to keep the animal alive than it would feed an average human being – then it might make sense to eat the horse. In this case, you might consider it justifiable to kill and eat a horse to avoid starvation. But what if there wasn’t an alternative?

 

 

What are the arguments in favor of horse consumption?

 

Horses are domesticated animals and as such, they have adapted to living in our world. They have grown accustomed to humans and the ways that we live. The people who care for them have likely become their friends, feed them treats and give them affection. If a horse is treated well throughout its life, then it seems logical that it would not mind being killed to provide us with food.

If a horse is treated well throughout its life, then it seems logical that it would not mind being killed to provide us with food. There’s also the argument that because horses evolved alongside humans, their meat could be the most natural option for human consumption out there.

 

 

What are the arguments against horse consumption?

 

Some would argue that eating horses is morally wrong because it is unnecessary. The horse population in the U.S. has been dwindling for years and most horse owners are reporting a surplus of horses, so why take away what little food they have? Furthermore, there is no reason to eat horses when we produce enough beef and chicken to feed the entire country, not to mention the billions of other animal sources around the world that could be used as food. Horse meat also poses an increased risk of developing certain diseases such as Mad Cow Disease or Encephalitis.

Some would argue that eating horses is morally wrong because it disrespects their role in society as companion animals.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Today, horse consumption is a controversial topic. Those in favor argue that horses are a renewable resource and they have not been overpopulated like other animals like cows or pigs. However, opponents argue that eating horses is immoral and creates an unsustainable population of hungry humans and hungry horses. We may never come to a consensus on the ethics of eating horses, but one thing is for sure: you should at least know what you’re getting into before deciding on something as serious as this.

 

Read Also :

Feeding and Breeding Horses: The Do’s and Don’ts

10 Important Considerations You Must Know Before Owning a Horse!

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Horses

Why I Disagree with People Who Think Hitting Horses is Okay

 

 

Horses have been used as work animals and means of transportation for centuries, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to hit them if you have the urge. If you don’t think hitting horses are okay, you’re not alone. Many horse owners don’t like the idea of their animals being beaten into submission just because it happens to be the easiest way to make them do what they want, especially when more effective training techniques exist and have been around for decades if not centuries.

 

 

How does it make you feel when you watch horses being hit?

 

One of my biggest pet peeves in life (yes, bigger than someone who chews and slobbers while they eat), is people who hit horses to make them do something. It makes me sick when I hear people say things like it’s what horses are bred for, they don’t feel it, or well if you don’t want it done to your horse then don’t have anything to do with racing. We just went through one of these discussions here on Kivaki about a trainer who had their filly struck in the face by another horse. Someone defended what happened and said that racehorses aren’t pets and shouldn’t be treated as such.

 

 

What about people who need to hit horses to ride them competently?

 

If you’re hitting a horse to ride it properly, then your skills are not quite up to par. But if that’s why you need to hit a horse, then it may be time for you to find something else to do with your life. There are plenty of professions where you can still find enjoyment while making an ethical living. Hitting horses isn’t one of those professions. The only reason people feel like they need to hit horses is that they can’t communicate with them in another way or because they don’t want an animal that doesn’t enjoy being ridden.

 

 

Couldn’t there be an alternative way to make horses submit/cooperate?

 

Instead of whips, horses can be trained by other means. For example, clicker training makes use of a simple noise-making device (the clicker) to mark the desired behavior and allow for positive reinforcement. The horse learns that when he or she tries different actions, he or she will get rewarded by learning what works best. Although it’s not widely practiced today because of time constraints, verbal cues are also used in some cases to motivate horses into action. With alternative methods like these available, why do people continue to resort to violence?

 

 

Where do we draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable abuse of animals?

 

Animal abuse comes in many forms, from neglect to deliberate cruelty. Society as a whole has agreed that certain forms of abuse are unacceptable: we don’t condone hitting dogs or cats, for example, and we don’t think pulling out cows’ tails is good practice. But what about other animals? Horses have been used by humans in labor and entertainment for millennia—so why do some people think it’s okay to hit horses when they misbehave? It doesn’t seem right to me…

 

Read Also :

Feeding and Breeding Horses: The Do’s and Don’ts

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Horses

The Surprising Benefits of Adding Green Grass to Your Horse’s Diet

 

Horses are herbivores, which means they eat grass and plants to survive. When green grass is added to a horse’s diet, it benefits the horse in several different ways. If you’re trying to decide whether or not your horse should be eating green grass, read on to discover how it can benefit your horse in ways you never thought possible!

 

 

What are the benefits?

 

The grass is an essential part of any horse’s diet. It is a natural source of fiber, protein, and other vitamins and minerals that can’t be found in supplements alone. To get the most out of their meal, horses should eat fresh pasture or hay. However, sometimes this isn’t always possible. This is why horses need to have access to green grass during colder months when there isn’t much pasture available. The benefits include:

-Helps maintain weight and muscle mass -Aids digestion -Provides a high level of energy -Promotes healthy teeth

 

 

How can I feed my horse grass?

 

It can be tough to find the right balance when it comes to feeding your horse. On one hand, you want them to get as much nutrition as possible, but on the other hand, you don’t want them to eat so much that they become overweight or have digestive issues. One way around this is by including green grass in their diet.

The grass is a great source of protein and fiber for your horse. It also helps them stay slim, which is a bonus if they are prone to obesity. Plus, since it’s not processed like hay would be, it will pass through their system more quickly and keep them from feeling full for too long.

 

 

What are some ideas?

 

-Green grass is a great source of protein and fiber. It also provides minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorous that is important for skeletal and muscle health.

-Green grass contains more chlorophyll than other types of hay, making it a great choice for horses with ulcers or other gastrointestinal problems. -Grass is easier on the horse’s digestive system than hay because it digests more quickly.

-Cows can eat up to 10 pounds of green grass per day without any issues. Horses should eat no more than 2 pounds per day to prevent colic or other stomach problems.

-Grass hays are usually very low in sugar, so they’re better suited for horses with insulin resistance or diabetes.

 

 

FAQs

 

  1. How often should I feed my horse green grass?
  2. The recommended daily amount is 2-3 cups per day, but make sure your horse has plenty of access to water, and always allow your horse to drink as much as he or she wants before the designated time for a meal.
  3. What are the nutritional benefits of adding green grass to a horse’s diet?
  4. The most important nutrient green grass that it offers is iron, which contributes to the development of hemoglobin and protein. It also contains riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine (vitamin B1), niacin (vitamin B3), folate (folic acid), calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, and zinc.

 

 

Further reading

 

The grass is the most natural and appropriate food for horses because their digestive systems are designed for grazing. Studies have shown that green grass has a variety of health benefits for horses, including improved gut health, increased nutrient absorption, and reduced risk of colic.

 

Read Also :

Feeding and Breeding Horses: The Do’s and Don’ts

Important Considerations You Must Know Before Owning a Horse!

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