Horse Health matters!

Every horse owner wants his horse to be as healthy as possible. Horse health is the prerequisite for performance.

Good health care is vital for your horse and it will prevent problems and expenses. It is an investment in the future!

Basic Health Care Duties:

• Regular vaccinations: consult with your vet for a vaccination schedule. Every country has different requirements. Certain vaccinations are also needed if you take your horse to shows and competitions.


• Parasite Control: look here for more info on horse worming


• Teeth: have them checked by an equine dentist or a vet once or twice a year. Read more about teeth and dental care for your horse here.


• Be alert and watch your horse! Is your horse not performing as usual? Is there a change in behavior? This can be an indication for pain. Follow it up before it becomes a big problem!

Tips for keeping your horse healthy:

• Regular exercise is important! In nature horses are moving around for most of the day. If you have your horse stabled, try and have him out several times a day. Exercise is important for the respiratory system, blood circulation in the hoof, cartilage, joints, muscles and tendons. Increased blood cirulation means increased metabolism!
  No exercise is stress for a horse!


• A balanced diet is critical for equine health! Grass or hay alone is not sufficient. Consult with a horse nutritionist if necessary.


• The horse is a social animal. Keeping horses on their own is stressful!


• Make sure that your horse always has clean and fresh water available. A lot of horses are dehydrated! Never make it hard for your horse to get to water e.g. by putting stone around the water tank. Horses with sensitive feet will not frequent areas like that enough.


• Keep an eye on the weight of your horse. Overweight horses have a much higher risk for metabolic diseases like Equine Metabolic Syndrome or Laminitis. A Body Condition Score of 5 is ideal. Too much weight will also affect joints, tendons and hoof health. Remember: Force = Mass x Acceleration!

Good pasture and property management is important for creating an enviornment that is beneficial for the health of your horses. Read on here (opens new window) for more info on horse property management.

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