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.
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