Horse Health and Care


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Horse Health Care


Question
I drive by some horses every day that appear to be suffering in the heat. What can be done for them?

Answer
High temperatures are bad enough, but when the humidity creeps up too, it is very hard for animals to cope with a high heat index, without receiving some extra care from their owners. Every animal should have access to cool, fresh water 24 hours a day, especially during the summer. These animals should also always have some access to a shaded area, away from the direct sun. Some owners help keep their horses cool by hosing them off during the hottest part of the day and they put up fans. Horses should only be worked during the early morning hours or late evening hours, if at all, on high heat index days.

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Question
Is there anything special I have to do to prepare my horse for winter?

Answer
Food
Most horse owners are surprised to learn that hay is the best way to keep weight on horses that burn more calories than usual, simply by trying to stay warm. Instead of switching to corn or doubling the number of scoops of sweet feed you normally give your horse, just toss him or her a couple of extra flakes of hay a day.
Shelter
Horses need protection from the wind and driving rain or snow. If allowed access to the outside year-round, most will develop a thick winter coat that will keep them warm, unless the temperature is extremely cold or the wind chill makes it seem like it is very cold. At these times it may be necessary to put a blanket on the horse or it may become necessary to close the barn somewhat more, to prevent drafts and to keep in the heat. At least make sure that your horse has access to a three-sided lean-to that does not open to the north, the direction the worst weather usually comes from.
Water
Snow is not an adequate source of water. Neither is a frozen tank or bucket of ice. Keep tanks from freezing by installing an electric tank heater or buy buckets with heating elements already included. If you are using automatic waterers, be sure to check them every day to make sure they are still working.

Continue to provide your horse with consistent exercise during the winter and maintain a hoof trimming schedule even if you choose to remove shoes. Your veterinarian can tell you what vaccines and de-wormers are appropriate in your situation.

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Question
In subzero weather should all horses be blanketed?

Answer
No. Horses, just like people have different needs. Often, horses that are kept outside, with access to a shelter, choose to stand outside. When given the chance, most will grow an appropriate hair coat that is adequate for very cold days. They have gradually become acclimated to the cold and are able to withstand the temperature. Unless the horse becomes wet and/or there is a heavy wind, there is no cause for concern. Remember, once you blanket a horse, you will have to keep him blanketed throughout the cold weather. His or her hair coat will be flattened by the blanket and the guard hairs and undercoat will be unable to fluff up to provide maximum warmth.

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Question
Where can I learn how to care for a horse before I actually buy one?

Answer
We applaud your responsible approach to animal ownership. So many of our investigations result from people buying animals, but they do not know how to take care of them. Most resources available for learning about the care for horses can be found in your local library, on the internet as well as by taking certain classes in a local college. Contacting your nearest equine vet is another way of securing knowledge.

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Question
What can be done about my neighbor’s horses that always stand in mud?

Answer
Unfortunately, the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act does not specifically address the problem of horses that are forced to stand in mud. Section 3, which lists owner’s duties, says each owner shall provide for each of his animals:

sufficient quantity of good quality, wholesome food and water
adequate shelter and protection from weather
veterinary care when need to prevent suffering, and
humane care and treatment
Unless a hoof or leg condition appears, it is unlikely that the Department of Agriculture would support an investigation for horses standing in the mud.

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Question
I recently adopted a horse from a shelter and I want to hire a trainer who will bring out the best in him. Can you recommend someone in my area?

Answer
While we actually cannot endorse any one particular person, we can provide you with advice on how to make the selection yourself. Decide what it is that you want to accomplish with your horse. Carefully research the trainer’s personality and reputation so that you select someone with good horse skills as well as good people skills, and someone who gets along with both you and your horse. If your horse will be going to the trainer’s barn, be sure and visit the facility first so you know what horses are fed, how well the stalls are cleaned, when turnout is scheduled etc. By choosing a barn that is reasonably close, you can visit more often and maybe even participate in your horse’s training. Finally, get it in writing, so you know exactly how much you have to pay, by when, for what period of time and what is included in the service. Fees for turn-out, blanketing, holding for the farrier and others, can add up over a month time. Despite the time and effort it takes to find a trainer that works well with you and your horse, the final result will be well worth it!

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Question
Every day I drive by some horses that live in a small dirt lot. Should they not be on a pasture?

Answer
There is no state law in Illinois mandating that horses have a certain amount of acreage per head or even that they get turned out every day for fresh air and exercise. In the Humane Care for Animals Act, owner’s duties include “food, water, shelter, veterinary care and humane care and treatment.” While it could be argued that keeping horses stalled for long periods of time or only allowing them outside on small lots is in-humane, what we are really dealing with is an owner’s preference on horse keeping, not the law.
Most equine veterinarians would recommend that most horses be turned out as much as possible and have forage in front of them throughout the day, since this is how horses are supposed to live. There are times however, when free movement or free access to grass is not in the best interest of the horse.

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Question
Is it true that de-worming my pregnant mare will hurt her foal?

Answer
According to Karen Briggs, author of “Drugs for the De-worming War” in The Horse magazine, all de-wormers on the current market are safe for use in pregnant mares if so labeled. The FDA requires careful testing and research before allowing a manufacturer to stamp their product safe for pregnant mares. The exception according to Briggs is “Praziquantel”, which has not yet been approved, not because it is necessarily dangerous, but because it is a fairly new drug and has not undergone complete testing yet. Therefore, feel confident in continuing your de-worming program for your mare during her pregnancy. Consult your veterinarian, so you can de-worm your mare at the most effective times to keep her and her foal parasite free.

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Question
What can I do to keep my 25 year old horse from losing weight?

Answer
As horses become older, various problems can make it difficult for them to keep up their body weight and condition. Here are 10 tips to maintaining the weight of your older equine:

  1. Float your horse’s teeth. In a horse over 15 years old, teeth should be floated twice a year, because dental problem can appear quickly and wreak more havoc than in younger adults.
  2. Feed highly digestible fiber. Some fiber such as stemmy hay can be hard to chew and digest by older horses. But fiber is a necessary part of the diet, so choose a type than can be digested easily.
  3. Change your feed. Consider switching to a feed that isn’t as hard to chew such as a complete feed specifically designed for seniors.
  4. Make feed more palatable. Adding water to soften polluted feed can help horses with those dental issues to more of it.
  5. Choose processed grains. Processed grains help make nutrients more readily available to be digested, and they are easier for older horses to eat.
  6. Feed frequently. Since the digestive system is less motile, feeding smaller amounts more frequently helps the horse gain maximum nutrition from feed.
  7. Change your energy source. Too much starch can contribute to gas production. Consider adding calories without upping starch by coating feed with oil.
  8. Moisten hay. Wetting hay lessens dust, which could help decrease irritation of the respiratory tract.
  9. De-worm regularly. Parasites compete with nutrition your geriatric can’t afford to lose. Make sure you monitor your de-worming program for effectiveness.
  10. Feed older horses separately. Aggressive herds can keep older horses from getting enough feed.

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Question
When should a farrier start trimming a foal’s hooves?

Answer
According to Dr. Steve O’Grady, farrier turned veterinarian, foals should have their first foot trim at one month and at monthly intervals afterwards. In the article “Building a Foundation of Foot Care”, available on the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) owner education website www.myhorsematters.com, O’Grady says that careful examination of a foal’s limbs at birth and throughout its first few months, along with accurate record keeping and a good working relationship between you, your vet and the farrier, are the keys to a sound, athletic horse in the future.

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Question
What is a Fecal Egg Count (FEC) and why does my horse need one?

Answer
A Fecal Egg Count (FEC) or quantitative fecal examination is a measure of the number of parasite eggs per gram (EPG) in a horse’s feces, specifically strongyle parasites. It helps determine if the de-wormer you are using is effective and it is time to de-worm your horse again.

Anyone who owns a dog is familiar with bringing a fresh sample of feces to the veterinarian for a “fecal”. Solution is added to the sample, causing the parasite eggs to rise to the top of the container where they stick to a slide. The slide is examined under a microscope for the presence or absence or roundworms, hookworms and other parasites common to dogs and cats.

It is a little different when it comes to checking parasites in adult horses. Because strongyles are the main offenders and because most horses receive de-wormers throughout their lives, a Fecal Egg Count is performed to determine if a horse has a low potential to contaminate the pasture with parasite eggs (less than 150 EPG, high potential (greater than 500 EPG) or moderate potential (between 150 and 500 EPG). Those with moderate to high potential should be de-wormed. If they had recently been de-wormed, it would be a noted that the last de-wormer was not effective and should not be used again.

To perform the exam, a measured volume of solution s added to a weighed sample of fresh feces, mixed well and strained to remove hay and other large particles. The resulting liquid is squirted into the middle of a special slide that has counting chambers visible under the microscope. Every egg that is inside a box is counted and that number is multiplied by a factor to obtain the number of parasite eggs per single gram of feces.

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Question
Is there anything you can do about horses standing out in the cold?

Answer
According to the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act “each owner shall provide for each of his animals adequate shelter and protection from the weather.” However, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that inadequate shelter and protection from the weather is having a harmful effect upon a horse (weight loss in the winter or heat stroke in the summer), this law is difficult to enforce. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, “shelter and protection from the weather” does not necessarily have to be a man-made structure such as a barn or building. Anything that serves as a windbreak in the winter, such as a line of trees, a gully or even one side of a barn, is acceptable. If you see horses in winter in a confined area such as a round pen or paddock with no windbreak, please contact us and we will do our best to work with the owners to provide the horses with at least some protection.

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