Other Considerations Before Buying a Horse

Keeping a horse can be expensive. Feed, tack, vet, farrier, vaccinations, stable tools, lessons, fencing, shelter, bedding, and supplies all add up. And most of these are not just one-time costs, but are recurring monthly costs. So before jumping into horse ownership, be sure you are ready to make the financial commitment. Enough said.

Horse ownership, on the other hand can help bring a family together and help teach responsibility to children. A family horse encourages teamwork in caring for the horse and to take part in the enjoyment of riding activities. When other family members are interested in being part of the horse owning lifestyle, it is a lot of fun spending time together doing chores and riding as a family.

Other considerations before buying a horse...

Buying a Horse

If you want to buy a horse, then that means you have done your research on horse ownership and you are ready to make a long-term commitment and know the responsibility of taking care of your horse. You should already know what is involved in routinely caring for your horse and all the associated costs. You should also already know where you will be keeping your horse--whether on your own property or at a boarding stable, and wherever you will be keeping your horse, it is safe and ready to house a new occupant. If you are new to horses, consider keeping your new horse at a good boarding stable for a while until you have learned more about horse management.

Before going horse shopping, you will want to have some idea on the kind of horse you're looking for-what characteristics and personality do you want your horse to have? Just like people, horses come in all shapes, sizes, color, abilities, and dispositions. You can gather some idea by using your own past experience taking trail rides or lessons, going to horse shows, reading horse magazines or talking to horse owners. Knowing what sort of horse you want before shopping will help keep you focused and not get caught up in a spontaneous purchase only to find out you ended up with the wrong horse. You also need to know what your budget is for your horse purchase and concentrate only shopping and looking at horses in your price range. If you've been trying out luxury Cadillacs, it's hard to settle on an economy Nissan.

More information on buying a horse...

Know How to Pick Up a Horse's Hoof?

Does the idea of picking up your horse's hooves intimidate you? Scared of getting kicked? If you pick up a horse's hoof properly, you provide him with no leverage or ability to kick you.

Before lifting any hoof, make sure your horse is properly squared so when you lift one hoof he can easily balance on his remaining three. Never let the horse lean his weight on you! Even when you rest his rear leg on your thigh you're not allowing him to use you as a crutch.

Learn more about how to safely pick up a horse's hoof.

Horse Hoof Care

Healthy hooves are vital to your horse's overall health. Taking care of your horse's hooves is not just for the farrier - you need to regularly and frequently care for your horse's hooves to help keep them healthy.

Tip: What is the easiest and single most important thing you can do to care for your horse's hooves?...

Pick out your horse's feet! It's pretty basic and doesn't require a lot of time.


Pick out your horse's hooves. Picking out your horse's hooves does not take long and keeping them cleaned out will help you to stay ahead of any common hoof problems. When picking out hooves, check the condition of your horse's shoes and for thrush. Pick out your horse's hooves:

• before each ride
• when you bring your horse in at night
• before turning out to pasture

Visit Front Range Frenzy for more on hoof care...

Horse Posters and Art Prints

AllPosters

AllPosters is outstanding and they carry the widest selection and the most beautiful horse art prints that can be found anywhere. If AllPosters does not have it, then it probably does not exist.

So What Does It Mean to Float a Horse's Teeth?

I'm sure you've heard this a time or two (if you haven't, sooner or later you will from another horse owner or from your vet), and if you're like me, you imagined for the longest time what this could possibly mean and wondered what it involved.

To float a horse's teeth certainly sounds funny, too. Floating means to smooth or contour your horse's teeth with a file (called a "float"). Unlike your own teeth, your horse's teeth keep growing. At times, your horse's teeth may develop sharp edges, making it difficult for her to chew food, hold a bit, or simply have pain and discomfort inside her mouth.

Learn more about your horse and floating teeth...

Rain Rot

Equine rain rot is a common skin infection that can afflict horses. The fungal infection does not progress further than the skin or cause abscesses like other infections.

Rain rot requires the absence of oxygen to live and spread. When a horse catches rain rot he will develop a series of crusty scabs and/or matted/raised tufts of hair and when pulled off, will exhibit pink skin with some pus. Rain rot is contagious and is generally transmitted by shared horse tack (such as blankets), mutual rubbing posts such as a fence, etc.

For more information on rain rot, visit Front Range Frenzy.

Internal Parasites of the Horse

Internal parasites are a significant threat to the health of horses and can cause irreparable internal damage. Parasites are small organisms living a portion of their life cycle inside the horse. The parasites live in internal organs, body cavities, and tissues and feed on the host animal. There are more than 150 internal parasites, and the nature and extent of damage varies with the type of parasite.

Though there are many types of internal parasites that may infect a horse, only a few commonly cause significant health problems. The primary class of internal parasites causing health problems for horses is nematodes such as large and small strongyles, ascarids, and tapeworms. Lesser significant internal parasites, such as pinworms and botfly larvae, are also considered when implementing a parasite control program.

Learn more about the internal parasites of the horse at Front Range Frenzy.

Horse Care Needs

It is important you develop a partnership with a veterinarian prior to an emergency. You can begin developing a partnership by consulting your veterinarian for your horse's routine and preventive health care.

Vaccinations: Your horse should be vaccinated at least once a year.

Parasite Control: Your horse needs to be de-wormed several times each year.

Dental Care: Teeth should be checked by a veterinarian once a year.

First Aid: Keep a first aid kit handy containing bandage material, a thermometer, and ointments.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements: There are lots of different mineral and vitamin supplements on the market. Feeding excessive levels can cause problems for horses.

Foot Care: Clean your horse's hooves before and after you ride. Examine all hooves frequently for problems.

Visit FrontRangeFrenzy.com for easy and practical horse care information.

Need a Place to Keep Your Horse or Pony?

If you're keeping your horse on your own property or looking for a suitable boarding stable, the following is recommended reading.

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Horse Barns Big and Small

* NEW AND EXPANDED EDITION ~ MORE BARNS MORE INFORMATION *

Includes practical advice on planning issues and step-by-step construction procedures that will help you build the barn you need. This authoritative source of specialized information takes you from the site selection to final details.

A great resource for horse shelter plans, from simple run-in sheds to full-blown barns including requirements for hay, compost, and farm equipment storage. A must have for building a new facility or remodeling an existing one. Layout, photos, and descriptions - reference this book over and over -- solutions to roof pitch, stall sizes, structure layout, lights, storage, and more. Learn what it takes to build a horse shelter from choosing the type, to preparing the ground, to hiring sub-contractors, to construction.

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Don't End Up at the Wrong Stable!

• Have you ever worried whether your horse is properly cared for when you're not around?


• Are you a new horse owner or thinking of becoming one?


• Have you ever felt uncomfortable around your fellow boarders?


• Are you looking for a home-away-from-home for your horse?


• Do you ever feel you're not getting your money's worth for your board bill?
  

How to Find the Perfect Place for Your Pony
101 Questions to Ask about Boarding Stables
ISBN 0968296610

If you answered YES to any of the questions, you'll want to read How to find the Perfect Place for Your Pony. Whether your "pony" is a 17 hand warmblood or an actual pony, here's an e-book to help you answer important questions:

• Is it time to buy your first horse?


• Should you keep your horse at home or board him out?


• What should you look for in a stable?


• How far do you want to drive?


• What's usually included in the boarding fee?


• Do you really need an indoor arena?

Finding the right boarding stable is a challenge faced by most riders at some stage in their
careers. For novice horse owners, or longtime horse people new to the world of boarding stables, knowing what to look for is not as simple as it seems.

Though you are a well-meaning owner, don't risk letting your horse lack adequate care by not knowing enough to find suitable boarding arrangements. So how can you find out what makes a good boarding stable without having to experience a bad one first? Consider "How to Find the Perfect Place for Your Pony" your first guidebook to stabling and finding the perfect home for your pony, whether he's a 17-hand warmblood or a 13-hand pony.

Visit Acreage Equines to learn more.

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Visit Front Range Frenzy for lots of horse information.

Horse Space and Shelter

Horses can be kept at your own place or boarded at a commercial stable. Keeping a horse on your property provides more management control, saves time and expenses, and can reduce the risk of injuries and disease. A horse kept on your property allows greater enjoyment and learning experiences; however, it also requires more management, knowledge and time. Remember, horses must be cared for daily.

When it comes to providing adequate shelter for domestic animals, horses are among the easiest you'll deal with. Contrary to what you might think, horses are sturdy, adaptable creatures, and their housing requirements are very basic: shade, ventilation, protection from the elements, and comfortable, dry footing. Building a horse barn is quite a project--and there is a vast and varied array of plans available to help you. But renovating a shelter to make it fit for just one or two horses, or building a sturdy three-sided shelter, can be quite simple, if you have only basic carpentry skills.

More horse information on horse shelters...

Horse Manure Management

Manure management is important to the health of your horse.

"You need a strategy for using or disposing of the manure."

Find out your options for managing manure.

You can't do anything about the amount of manure your horse produces. Therefore, practicing appropriate manure management is essential, from the largest to the smallest of farms. Manure management is important for the health of the horse and your family, avoiding controversy with neighbors, and to comply with state and county regulations. Horse owners have a responsibility to manage their horse's byproduct.

Learn more about manure management...

Horse Pasture Management

Pasture: A major component of a horse's diet is hay or pasture. A horse weighing 1000 pounds will eat about 500 pounds each month. If dryland pasture is the only source of forage, your horse will need about 28 acres of non-irrigated pasture a year. An irrigated pasture will grow more forage than dryland pasture, so less acreage is needed. The amount of irrigated pasture land needed for one horse is roughly 1 to 2 acres.

Two acres of pasture are recommended per mature horse. One acre of pasture can provide adequate grazing but requires more land management. Manage your pasture as you would with any crop with soil testing, fertilizing, and managing manure. The horse will not eat trampled grass or grass with manure on it. Horses will quickly overgraze smaller areas. Therefore, a combination of pasture and small lot or barn is needed to minimize overgrazing.

Learn more about pasture management.

Parasite Control

Your horse needs to be de-wormed several times each year. The current recommended de-worming program is to alternate de-worming products annually. One de-worming product is used over the course of a year followed by a different de-worming classification (mebendazole, organosphosphate, avermectine, etc.) the next year. Most de-wormers must be used every 60 days. Paste de-worming is as effective as tube de-worming. It is best to consult with your veterinarian when establishing a a de-worming program.

Find easy and practical Horse Information at Front Range Frenzy.

Horse Vaccinations

It is important you develop a partnership with a veterinarian prior to an emergency. You can begin developing a partnership by consulting your veterinarian for your horse's routine and preventive health care.

Vaccinations: Your horse should be vaccinated at least once a year, typically in the spring. What vaccinations your horse requires is determined by age and overall health. The time of year also influences the risk of infectious diseases, such as West Nile. Your veterinarian can recommend what vaccinations are needed for your horse.

Find easy and practical horse information at Front Range Frenzy.

Giving Your Horse Water

Water: Your horse needs plenty of clean, fresh water at all times. Approximately 50% of an adult horse's body is composed of water. A horse will drink 10 to 12 gallons of water each day. In winter months, stock tank heaters will help to stop ice buildup so that your horse will have access to water.

Make sure a hot horse, such as after exercising or doing heavy work, does not have free access to water right away. Only allow for just a few sips, and then walk him to cool him down. Once the horse's body has cooled down and breathing has returned to normal, let him have water freely. Some horses may refuse to drink later if not offered a small amount of water fairly soon after his workout.

Regularly scrub out buckets, containers, troughs and automatic drinkers. Clean and disinfect community water sources if a sick horse is detected in a group. Sick horses should have access to a separate water source until they are considered healthy again.

Tip: Keeping the mosquito population down
West Nile Virus is a concern. You can put feeder goldfish in pasture water tanks and they will feed off the mosquito larvae that mosquitoes deposit in the water. The goldfish will live throughout the winter as long as the water does not completely freeze.

Tip: To keep the water tank from completely freezing over
In areas susceptible to very hard freezes, a tennis ball or soccer ball floating in the water tank will keep it from completely freezing over.

More easy & practical Horse Information

Feeding Your Horse Grain

Grain: A grain mix of oats and corn should only be added to the diet when you increase your horse's training, work, or activity. Younger and older horses may also need grain. Horses have small stomachs and short intestines; therefore, they cannot handle large amounts of grain fed to them at one time. When providing grain to horses, it should be done in small amounts (3+ times daily). Be careful not to overuse the grain supplement. It is not healthy for a horse to consume large amounts of concentrated grain and if overused, can cause colic, ulcers, and high insulin levels. A minimum of 1.0 percent body weight of roughage (pasture, hay, or other forage) should be offered daily to ensure adequate intake and digestive health.





For a 1,000 lb. average horse

No work ~ No grain
Light work (1-2 hours per day) ~ 1-1.5 lbs. grain per hour of work
Medium work (2-4 hours per day) ~ 1.5-2 lbs. grain per hour of work
Heavy work (4 or more hours per day) ~ 1.5-2.5 lbs. grain per hour work

Salt should always be available to your horse - either add approximately one to two ounces to your horse's feed or make available a free-choice salt block.

Tip: Does your horse greedily gulp down its grain?

Try this: Put a few large rounded rocks in the bucket (large enough that they can't be eaten or swallowed). The horse will have to nose around and push the rocks aside to get to the grain. This will help to slow down eating so it is not so hurried.

Visit Front Range Frenzy for Easy and Practical Horse Care Tips.

Before You Go Horse Shopping

Know what attributes to look for in a horse and what to ask the owner.

"Horse buying--it's almost magical when you get the horse that's right for you!"

What you need to consider when buying a horse.

Buying a horse--what to consider before buying a horse, choosing a horse, where to look for a horse.

What you need to know before you go horse shopping...

Horse & Tack Online Classified Ads

Front Range Frenzy has added online classifed adds for horses and tack.

View and post ads for horses and horse tack. We list new and used horse tack and saddles for sale, horses for sale, wanted horses, wanted tack, and much more. Tack stores, other horse businesses, and private individuals are all invited to create ads from any riding discipline.

Front Range Frenzy Horse & Tack Online Classifieds

Providing Water for Your Horse

Water: Your horse needs plenty of clean, fresh water at all times. Approximately 50% of an adult horse's body is composed of water. A horse will drink 10 to 12 gallons of water each day. In winter months, stock tank heaters will help to stop ice buildup so that your horse will have access to water.

Make sure a hot horse, such as after exercising or doing heavy work, does not have free access to water right away. Only allow for just a few sips, and then walk him to cool him down. Once the horse's body has cooled down and breathing has returned to normal, let him have water freely. Some horses may refuse to drink later if not offered a small amount of water fairly soon after his workout.

Regularly scrub out buckets, containers, troughs and automatic drinkers. Clean and disinfect community water sources if a sick horse is detected in a group. Sick horses should have access to a separate water source until they are considered healthy again.

Tip: Keeping the mosquito population down

West Nile Virus is a concern. You can put feeder goldfish in pasture water tanks and they will feed off the mosquito larvae that mosquitoes deposit in the water. The goldfish will live throughout the winter as long as the water does not completely freeze.

Tip: To keep the water tank from completely freezing over

In areas susceptible to very hard freezes, a tennis ball or soccer ball floating in the water tank will keep it from completely freezing over.

For more on feeding and watering your horse, visit Front Range Frenzy...