Owning a horse for the first time is an exciting part of any aspiring rancher’s life. After you’ve gotten all your equipment and have prepared your horse’s home, it can be overwhelming to think about what you need to do next. Be aware of these care tips for a new horse owner while you settle in with your new equine companion and work to build a trusting relationship.
Be Careful What You Feed Your Horse
When you own a horse, it becomes your responsibility to know what your horse is eating and how much they eat. Including too many treats in a horse’s diet can cause obesity or digestive issues that are hazardous to your horse’s health, such as colic. While you can be extremely careful with your horse’s diet, be wary of people who may walk by your pasture intending to feed your horse “treats” without your permission. Make sure any visitor (whether expected or not) who wants to give treats to your horse does so only with your approval. You may need to make a sign, depending on how many people walk past your property regularly. There are many things that horses cannot eat, so stick to your own horse treats, forage, and grain.
Know How Much To Feed Your Horse
High-quality hay and forage are essential parts of a horse’s diet. You should never eyeball how much you need to feed them. Know how much forage you need to give your horse daily before you bring them home. Forage provides your horse with both nutritional value and chewing enjoyment while keeping your horse’s digestive tract healthy. During warmer seasons, make sure to account for how much they graze outside when deciding how much to feed them. Problems with their digestive tract can result in obesity, colic, or laminitis, so take care that everything is moving along smoothly.
Exercise Your Horse Regularly
Horses require exercise to stay healthy, even during the winter. Before you own a horse, you need to be aware of how much care and attention they’ll need every single day. A horse that stays out to pasture often will need slightly less exercise than one that stays inside all day, though these horses will still need some routine exercise. One of the most important care tips for a new horse owner is to know that you must exercise your horse for it to stay healthy. They are not just pretty animals to look at and pet. Be sure to ride your horse a few times a week. Even if you’re just riding around the perimeter of your ranch, it’ll be enough activity to satisfy a freedom-loving horse.
