Was thinking about the little things that I do almost daily with my horses to ensure healthy happy horses.
Standard horse care says run you hands over the whole horse daily to catch problems. Here's what I do. I look for hairs out of place and investigate those areas. If a horse has been bitten by something or has a 'hot spot', the hair will look different. I feel those places and if there is a bug bite or rubbed spot, I put some T-Zone Equine Dermal Cream (with Tea Tree and 1% Hydrocortisone). I find if you catch these itchy places early, only a few applications usually prevents a lot more itchy. If there are mane or tail hairs that looked messed up, I check the mane and tail for ticks or hot spots. I also check the udder and sheath if the tail has been rubbed. My non Icey mare is prone to scratches and SE, during the season when these happen, I check the back of her fetlocks at least once daily and if any bumps use the T-Zone. On her belly I use a natural fly repellent cream daily that seems to keep the belly from getting sores. There are fans in the barn so if the fles or gnats are bad they can go in the barn and get away from the bugs. They get at least a light brushing with a stiff brush once or twice a day. On my hard keepers, I would feel for the ribs and watch to see if they can be seen when walking or if standing still. Again catching any little changes early, can up the feed, check to see if dropping feed etc., to head off bigger weight losses that will be harder to undo. The horse water. I keep the tanks less full in the summer so I can add fresh water daily and dump them more often. I use a fish net and daily skim the tank top and bottom to get dropped food. If I wouldn't want to rinse my face with the water, it's too dirty for the horses. I compost the horse poop and look at the droppings daily to see if the apples are well formed. Until Falki got here, I could whose poop was whose. Now Gloi and Falki's look the same and tend to poop on top of one another. Always watch each horse walk a little ways at each meal to check for lameness. I never assume that if they are standing in front of the bucket waiting, all is fine. Finding problems early is always better. Make sure the horse is comfortable with having his feet and legs handled by me. You need to do it a lot to feel confident so when a problem arises you won't be nervous about messing with their feet. I rasp nicks on hoofs a little, esp if there is a flap so it doesn't break off an even bigger piece. Spring time, the vet sees them for shots. He gives some and I give some to space them out, but he sees them in the Spring and again 7 mos later in the fall to check and do dental work if needed. The vet sees them twice a year. He's always been available for questions and emergencies. Good to have an ongoing relationship with your vet. I picked up from Lew Hollander's book Endurance Riding the 'pizza method' of feeding. Even though I have the hay analyzed and make up what's needed, I like to provide the horses with a bit of variety. One chopped up carrot, a little soaked beet pulp shreds, and alfalfa pellets, a handful of sunflower seeds, a little salt, a general vit and mineral supplement and Horsetech's flax seed with biotin. I also buy 5 different types of treats. They have ones they like better than others, but will happily take any of them. The vet always remarks on how good the horses look. We have grass growing in different areas in the fenced in areas so they get a little variety in grasses. They also will chew on different trees, pine, oak, sassafras, maple (no red maple or black walnut). I also take them to the creek as often as I can so that they can eat some different grass and they really like the reeds. I get the horse used to having every thing done to them unrestrained, grooming, saddling, hoof cleaning/rasping, worming, sheath and udder cleaning, hosing them off. Some we are better at than others (hosing off lead) When vets or farrier is here I do use halter and lead rope so they are used to do it either way. I used to be obsessive about picking up rocks in the paths or downed branches or limbs and cutting back their paths. Well, leaving the rocks, (which was an exercise in futility) and limbs, teaches them to look where they are going and lift their feet. They nibble on downed limbs and trim thier own paths back in the winter time when the pasture is dead. Less work for me and more to keep them from chewing on the barn or posts. All I can think of for now. Any one else have any helpful hints? -- Anna Southern Ohio
