HORSE HEALTH TIPS- Will reduce veterinary budget and keep appaloosas, arab horses etc. happy

How many times have you changed the yearly veterinary budget and maintenance budget for your horse? You might have seen that it never comes down .But only goes up every year. As per studies, the yearly veterinary cost for a horse is somewhere around $200 a year. It goes up to $1000 in case something like colic, lameness etc. is extensive.

So, it is wise to take care of your horse not only because you love it, but also because it could become heavy on your pocket.

Below are few very important tips related to horse health which will be beneficial to your pocket and your adorable horse.

A typical horse has 44 teeth. A simple test to check the oral hygiene is to give 4 to 5 kg of hay to the horse on an empty stomach. If the horse can eat continuously with both sides of its teeth, then the horse is having healthy teeth. If it does not eat, then it will be mostly due to pain in the teeth. In which case, it is better to show to a veterinary doctor.

As the horses chew, their teeth gets worn out. This is not a problem as they keep growing teeth.

But the wearing down action could result in pointed teeth, which may be filed down to prevent injury to the gum.

It is advisable to learn the proper method of examining the teeth from your veterinary doctor. This will prevent last minute damage controls which can be rather painful to the horse, to you and to your pocket.

Give the horse as much exercise as possible. Imagine, how you will feel if you are kept in one place for 18 to 20 hours. The major effect of not getting proper exercise for a horse can be colic, gut ulcers, limb issues, behavioral problems.

Behavioral problems can be cribbing, stall walking, weaving, chewing and biting etc. Cribbing is an injurious habit in which a horse bites its manger and as a result swallows air. When a horse weaves, he is basically walking in place, swaying his front and neck from side to side repetitively. Many people believe that weaving is caused by boredom. Walkers will circle the length of the stall in a constant fashion, and the speed of the walk is directly reflective of horse's level of stress or anxiety. Colic is very expensive compared to taking the horse out for exercise. Stalled horses are more likely to develop stereotyped behavior and be nervous and harder to train.

Horses are gregarious animals who love moving and grazing around. They have to keep moving in order for breathing in fresh air, for circulation and for proper digestion. Pasture and company of other horses give a sense of safety and mental stimulation. Exercise gives proper lower limb circulation. Give exercise as much as possible. A horse should be taken outside its stable for at least 8 hours in a day. Younger horses will require at least 10 hours of turn out.

A healthy stable must have an excellent cushioning for animal comfort. It should be clean to reduce bacteria borne wet spots. The horse urine has ammonia. Dry stalls reduces ammonia buildup. Rubber protector mats are best for this purpose.

The stall should be around 4.5 yard by 4.5 yard for the horse to be able to move freely. It should have proper ventilation and fresh water supply.

A good shelter will protect the horse from intense cold and rain. A shelter must be open on one side for ventilation. Provide a good horse rug for old, sick or very young horses. Fly rugs reduces eye infection, sweet itch etc.

Learn about your horse's special needs. Each breed has its own unique need.

Breeds, susceptible to laminitis should be given less access to the spring grass. Appaloosas, which are little night blind may run in to a fence at night. Some are more resistant to cold weather. Some are less resistant to colic.

Thus breeds like Arab horses, Morgan, American Paint Horse have their different requirements. Also take in to account the behavior and medical history of the horse.

You can buy a book on these special horses to know their requirement or talk to an experienced vet.

It is very important to give natural food as far as possible. Pasture grass is very important. Hay can be given in winter. Digestive system related issues crop up in horses fed mainly on grain or commercial feed.

Oat meal with apples and sugar is a good combination. Many horses like watermelon, pear, mango (no seed), papaya and guava. But first give a piece and see whether your horse likes or not .

Berries like raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries are good. Vegetables like carrots, celery, beet greens, peas, sweet potato greens, lettuce, plantain and green beans are also good. Few horses, after a little persuasion, starts eating these food items.

Man-made food like Performance pellets must be given as per the direction of the veterinary doctor. Proper vitamins and minerals are needed for energy generation, muscle protection, maintaining immune system etc..

To improve appetite it is better to give Vitamin-B rich food. Bran mash is recommended for working horses who does large amount of exercise.

Not all horses like vegetables and fruits.

Check your horse each day. Know its normal daily behavior. Like, whether it is a quiet grazer or runs around more. How much does it eat daily? Any symptoms of being unwell like drastic changes in daily routine, stopped eating, should be investigated.

Colic, initial lameness can be easily treated if you are watchful. Daily watch and prompt treatment can reduce cost of treatment. Remove stones and other items from hooves daily. Check the horse for injuries and abnormalities during regular grooming.

Droppings of a healthy horse will be like hard damp balls. Even though color may change due to diet, but other things must be checked. Dropping frequency for a healthy horse will be around eight times a day.

A healthy standard sized horse will consume around 5 to 10 gallons per day of water. Any drastic change in water consumption unless because of climate change or sudden vigorous activity, must be immediately checked.

Depending on breed, type of food, activity etc. a horse will need food equal to 3 to 4 percent of its body weight .Any changes should be checked promptly. Any dramatic change in body weight ( with normal consumption of food) should be checked immediately .

Barb wired areas should be avoided. It can cause cuts and bruises. Take care for poisonous plants around the pasture area. Pasture with lot of green juicy grasses will be always welcome. It also is a place to meet fellow horses which will improve its communication skills reducing boredom and provides a sense of safety. This will reduce behavioral issues.

A good environment will keep the horse happy. Yet, care must be taken in some cases. Stallions may be kept away from close contact with mares. As, it may cause unplanned matings. This can also avoid fights to show dominance in front of mares.

One important thing is to buy a health insurance policy which will further aid you in reducing veterinary budget. Thus, little care from your side will control veterinary budget and will keep the appaloosas, arab horses and other breeds in your stable, happy.