Classic Equine Equipment horse stall front panels with sliding door

Classic Equine Equipment horse stall front panels and horse side partitions

The hooves of a horse should be trimmed at regular intervals by a person with the necessary skills. The frequency depends on a number of factors, including age, use and whether the horse is shod. As a guideline, horses that are shod should be trimmed and have shoes renewed every 6 – 8 weeks. If horses are used for sport or leisure without shoes, the hooves should be inspected after use for overwear. Other horses for example brood mares should be checked for horn growth at regular intervals, and be trimmed at appropriate intervals to maintain the hooves in a good and healthy condition. Hooves should be cleaned and checked for signs of illness, such as thrush, cracks or foreign bodies (stones for example) at appropriate intervals.

Horses wear their teeth slowly when they chew. This may cause the formation of sharp edges or hooks, which will cause discomfort to the horse, and may be the cause of weight loss or abnormal behavior such as avoiding or fighting the bit and head tossing. Half chewed feed, which drop out of the mouth is another sign of dental problems. A number of other dental problems may arise during the life of a horse. To avoid these conditions to become a problem, it is advisable to have the teeth checked at least annually by a veterinarian or other competent person.

Horses should be fed a wholesome diet of a sufficient quantity to maintain them in good condition and fulfil their nutritional and behavioral needs. As mentioned above in chapter 2, the digestive system of the horse is adapted to a more or less continuous intake of food with high fiber content (roughage). Roughage will ensure a sufficient chewing time resulting in production of saliva, which is believed to contribute to minimizing the risk of stomach ulcers and otherwise promote gut health. The modern horse especially when used for racing or other energy demanding purposes can normally not live on grass or other types of roughage alone; they also need high energy feed (crib feed) to ensure a correct supply of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals The supply of crib-feed will depend on the use of the horse. The ration should be divided in two to three meals a day, and should not be given immediately before or after strenuous exercise. Horses that have been given a tranquiliser for example due to veterinary treatment, should not be given crib-feed or roughage while still tranquilised, nor should horses be given roughage immediately after strenuous exercise, as this may increase the risk of constipation of the esophagus. Care should be taken not over-feed horses with crib-feed. The ration should be cut down on days when the horse is not used/trained, as the horse otherwise may be at risk of developing laminitis or tying-up.

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