Beginners Guide To Horses

If you read the many articles out there about what to feed a horse, they can seem quite complicated.  I have tried to put together a simple list of what you will need:

A horse will need grass, timothy hay or a combination of the two.  If you horse is underweight, you can add one or two flakes of alfalfa.

Horses will need about two pounds of hay for every 100 pounds of body weight.  They will need more, if they are young or very active.  If you don’t know your horse’s weight, you can buy a measuring tape from a tack store to measure their girth.  These are special tapes that tell you the weight of the horse.

Horses are grazing animals and are meant to eat throughout the day.  It isn’t good for them to have large meals, so they should always have access to grass or hay.

You can supplement your feeding program with a grain, sweet feed or pellet if your horse has special nutritional needs.  Your local feed store or veterinarian can help you choose one.  If your horse doesn’t need grain, but is in a barn where all of the other horses are feed grain, it is good to at least give him handful or cup at feeding time, so

Feed Scoop

he doesn’t feel left out.  Sometimes you will need to feed grain in order to administer supplements or medicines.

Horses should have unlimited amounts of clean drinking water at all time.  Buckets or automatic waterers can be used in stalls and troughs are typically used in paddocks or fields.

Salt blocks should also be made available in stalls or in covered areas outside.

This is a basic guideline for feeding horses.  If you horse grows too fat, you may want to limit how much grass and hay they have available.  If they are too thin, consider adding alfalfa.  As seasons change, so can your horse’s weight.  Keep an eye on him and adjust rations as needed to keep his weight at an optimum level.

Housing for an animal as big as a horse is a much bigger concern than getting a new cat or dog.

We all wish we had a lovely sparking clean stable with big stalls, a wash stall with heated water, feed room and tack room.  The reality is many people who keep their horses on their property use a converted shed or other similar type of building.

Regardless of where you decide to keep your horse, you will need a place that provides protection from bad weather.

While it is okay to turn your horse out to pasture 24 X 7, there are going to be times when you need a stall area.  For example, if your horse is sick or injured.  My horse cut the bottom of his foot once and I had to keep it wrapped and keep him in a stall for 3 months while it healed.  It would have been a problem, if I didn’t have a stall available.

If you do use a converted shed or building in your back yard, you need to have it compartmentalized, so the stall area for the horse is separate from the feed area and the area where you keep your tack and grooming equipment.

You will also need a fenced in area.  Don’t use barbed wire fencing.  They can do a lot of damage if a horse gets tangled up in it.  A post and rail fence or woven wire fencing are better choices.  It should be tall enough, so your horse cannot jump over it and shouldn’t fall down if your horse leans up against it.

If you are going to keep a horse at home, he should have a companion.  Horses are herd animals and can become extremely unhappy and depressed if kept alone.  If you don’t want to get a second horse, consider a goat, pony or miniature horse to keep your horse company.

If you don’t have room to keep a horse at home, you can always keep them at a boarding stable or even on a friend’s property.  There are many different living situations to choose from.  You could keep your horse in a co-op situation and share in the chores with the others in the barn.  This is certainly cheaper, or you can opt for a boarding situation that offers full care.

In each boarding situation, you need to find out up front what is included such as food, blanketing, fly mask, fly spray feeding supplements and medication.  Is there a riding ring or does the facility have access to trails?  If you plan to jump, are there jumps available?  If you have a horse trailer, can you leave it on the property when you are not using it?

As you can see, housing is a big concern when you own a horse and you should do your research, so you know what all of your options are.

Hard & Soft Brushes, Hoof Pick & Metal Curry Comb

Okay, so you have decided to buy a horse and you are ready to buy horse grooming supplies. Where do you start? What sort of horse grooming tools are required?

A hoof pick is a must for every horse owner. There are different types, some more expensive than others. Personally I like the ones that have a brush on them. You might also like one that folds up to carry with you when you are riding. You never know when your horse might pick up a stone or other foreign object in his hoof that will require removal.

The next must have is a rubber curry comb.  Some people use metal curry combs, but I prefer a rubber one.  This is used to remove loose hair and mud from the horse’s body.  You should not use it on any delicate areas though, like the face or legs.

Rubber Curry Comb

After using a rubber curry comb, I use a stiff brush to remove loose hair and dirt.  Care should be used when using a stiff brush, especially on horses that are ultra sensitive.  If the horse seems agitated, you are probably hurting him.

After the stiff brush, I use a medium brush and then finish with a soft brush.  Only use the soft brush on the horse’s face.

You can use a mane and tail comb, but I prefer using a stiff brush and then a follow up with a human hair brush.  I like the paddle style with the metal pins in them.  They make these for horses too, but I like the human hair brushes better, because they last longer and don’t break as easily.  I also use a horse product called Show Sheen, which works very well as a detangler.  I like to be very careful when brushing my horses’ tails, because I show them and I want their tails to look nice.  If you use a mane comb, you will have more damage from breakage.

Sweat Scrapers

When you bathe your horse, you will need a sweat scraper. Sweat scrapers remove excess water after a horse is bathed.  This is an important step.  If you don’t remove the water, it will heat up on the horse’s body and cause an insulation that will make them very hot.  Your horse might also develop a fungus called rain rot, if you don’t remove the excess water.

Finally, you should add a sponge to your grooming supplies. A damp sponge is essential for cleaning around the horse’s nostrils and eyes.

Many stores offer grooming kits that have everything you need all in one kit. I’ve seen some really cute grooming kits out there for kids.

No matter where you shop for supplies, though, don’t forget to throw in some horse treats. After all, if your horse isn’t happy, all of the equipment in the world won’t make the grooming session easy!  Here’s an inexpensive healthy horse treat.  Try Frosted Mini Wheats!

Blankets typically come in three different weights. A lightweight, known as a sheet, a medium weight for cold weather and a heavy weight for very cold weather.

Heavy and medium weight blankets are filled for warmth.  On the other hand, sheets are not filled.

Just like bed sheets have different thread counts, so do horse blankets.  This is called “denier” when referring to horse blankets.  A higher denier indicates a heaver fiber.  If you have a horse that frequently rips his blankets, a heavier denier is better.  Some blankets will have an extended warranty (I have seen up to two years), so you can get your blanket replaced, if it does rip.

Turnout blankets are used on horses while they are turned out in the pasture.  They provide protection from the cold and are water proof.  They also are designed so your horse is less likely to get tangled up in it.

A stable blanket should only be used while a horse is in a stall.  It does not protect against harsh weather and it is not waterproof.  Keep in mind that you can use a turnout blanket or sheet in a stall, so stable blankets are not a necessity.

The weight needed for your horse depends on your particular climate.  On extremely cold days, I have put multiple layers of blankets on my horses.  It also depends on whether your horse is clipped or not.  The blanket manufacturer will tell you what temperatures their blankets can be used for.

Typically, I will use a sheet for weather in the 50’s a medium blanket for 30-40 degrees and a heavy weight for weather in the 20’s or teens.  I might also opt for a sheet if the weather is in the 60’s and raining.  Each horse is different, so use common sense.  Older horses may get cold easier than younger ones.  I like to place my hand between the blanket and my horse to gauge weather she is warm or not.

Another type of sheet is known as a cooler. It is designed to put on a horse after heavy exercise to absorb sweat and keep the horse from getting a chill while it is cooling off.  An anti sweat sheet is similar to a cooler, except that it is more fitted and has straps to secure it to the horse.   A horse should not be turned out with  a cooler or anti sweat sheet.

Another type of sheet used in the summer is a fly sheet. Fly sheets can not only protect the horse from biting insects, but certain types can protect the horse’s coat from fading in the sun.  These are meant to be used while the horse is turned out.

So you are thinking about getting your first horse?  There are a lot of things to consider before buying a horse.  Some people think that you can just buy a horse and put it out in a pasture with grass and water.  This is far from true.  You will need to think about where you will keep the horse, how much time you have to dedicate to him, your ability and your finances.

Grazing Muzzle

While it is true that horses can live on grass alone without grain, they need the right amount of grass.  If they don’t get enough, they can lose weight and be too thin.  If they get too much, they may founder.  Founder occurs when a horse eats so much that they get fat and are unable to walk due to pain in their feet.  If you do not have enough grass in your field, you will need to feed your horse hay.  This is also a requirement in the winter when the grass dies.  If there is too much grass available, or if your horse has a tendency to gain weight easily, you will need to restrict the amount of grass the horse has available to eat.  One way this can be done is by using a grazing muzzle.  A grazing muzzle has a small hole in it, so the horse can only eat small amounts of grass.  If your horse has never used a grazing muzzle, they have to be introduced to it slowly; otherwise they may not know how to eat with it.

Another thing to consider is your ability.  If you are a beginner, it is best to get a horse that is experienced and knows its job and is not nervous or easily frightened (spooky).    Well trained horses are often called schoolmasters and horses that do not spook are called bomb proof.  Older horses tend to make better beginner horses than younger ones.    Good beginner horses may also be called family horses.  It is best to find a horse that is very forgiving, which means they don’t get upset, if a beginner makes a mistake.

Another thing to consider is how much you are willing to spend.  Prices for horses can range quite a bit.  Flashy show horses cost thousands of dollars, while less flashy horses do not cost nearly as much.  The horse’s amount of training is also a factor in price.  The more training a horse has, the higher the price.  A horse with very little training will be cheaper, but it will not be good for a beginner.

When you shop for a horse, it is best to take someone with you who is experienced with horses.  You should also arrange to have a pre-purchase veterinary exam done to ensure that the horse is healthy and sound.  Often times, there will be things that are found in these exams, but you need to ask yourself if the things found really matter to you.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when buying your first horse.  I have just touched on a few.  Before getting a horse, take some time to do some research.  It will pay off in the long run.