Having a horse is indeed a huge responsibility. You will need to make sure that its needs are met so that it is always in its top condition. You will need to tend to them, groom them and make sure that all their needs are met.
A horse needs to regularly graze on open pasture, and it is your responsibility to provide it with one. You will also need to provide an accessible shelter should the weather conditions turn unpleasant. Once you are able to provide your horse with these, you will want to regularly check to see if your horse remains safe and comfortable.
Access to Open Pasture
Your horse needs to spend quite a lot of time in open spaces. It needs regular physical activity as the exercise helps it to maintain its physical prime and good temperament. So allow your horse to enjoy an open pasture, but remember to take the necessary precautions to make sure your horse is always kept safe as it roams about.
For one thing, you will need to make sure that the pasture is free of any plants that could harm your horse. If your horse’s open pasture contains foxglove, acorns, deadly nightshade, laurel, locoweeds, star thistle, meadow saffron, ragwort, oak leaves, sorghum, privet, bracken, or castor bean, find a way to get rid of them. These plants can expose your horse to a number of health risks if ingested.
Another thing that you will need to remember is to put a fence around your horse’s grazing field. Make use of materials that are hard enough to secure your horse, but not materials that are too hard that they can cause harm to it. This fence will ensure that your horse does not stray too far from its home, thus keeping it away from harm. Leaving your horse to graze on a fenceless pasture isn’t advised, as it can wander off and get lost. But remember to give your horse at least an acre of land in order to give it enough room. As a result, it will likely maintain its good disposition in general.
Provide a Good Barn
Another very important thing that you will need to consider is a good barn which will house your horse. Prefab barns are becoming quite common nowadays due to a number of benefits they present. One particularly great thing about prefab barns is the fact that they are highly customizable. This gives you so many options and you can therefore provide your horse with almost everything it may need.
You can customize the barn to have an open exit leading straight to open field. This gives your horse the option of grazing whenever it feels the need to. You can add more windows to it in order to keep your horse well ventilated during warmer days. You can even add a steady supply of water, so that your horse stays hydrated even during the hotter seasons. You can also add an extra room for an office, so you can keep an eye on your horse and its health.
Prefab barns are easy to assemble as well. You can hire a helping hand and you will be able to the structure in as little as a couple of days.
Citations:
- http://www.sxc.hu
Gerard Cooper is a freelance article writer who writes articles about horse health, holistic care, horse training, and horse breeds. He also writes articles about metal barn