The Fundamentals of Equine

Care
An Introductory Guide

Bibi Husana Abdullah

ENGL393: Technical
Writing

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Introduction
Have you ever thought about owning a horse? Perhaps your hero is Alexander the Great
and you want your very own Bucephalus. Maybe when you were five you asked your parents for
a horse on your birthday. In order to convince your parents, you would compare taking care of a
horse to taking care of your cat. Unfortunately, the amount of work that goes into caring for a
horse is much more strenuous than the work that goes into caring for your common house pet.
Horses require, a healthy, scheduled diet, substantial housing, daily grooming, routine
veterinarian and farrier visits, and exercise. Rain or shine, you will be taking care of your horse.
This guide is the introduction to horse care. It is meant to show the amount of hard work and
dedication needed in order to give a horse a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Nutrition
Proper nutrition is essential when it comes to horse care. Horses, like humans, need
carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, vitamins, fats, and water in order to have a healthy diet. The
intake of each nutrient depends on the health, age, and workload of your horse. An equine
veterinarian can determine what your horse needs for their diet.
Carbohydrates
The basis of a horses diet is carbohydrates, they make up about 75 % of a horses diet [1].
Carbohydrates break down into glucose during the horses digestion, which gives the horse
energy to perform its daily activities. Common examples of carbohydrates are grass and hay.
Horses obtain grass from their pastures, in which they will graze throughout the day.
When grass is depleting in the pasture, hay can be placed in the pasture to make sure your horse
is getting enough roughage. Do not feed your horse lawn clippings. Horses have a difficult time
digesting grass clippings which can lead to impaction.
Horses living in stalls will have constant access to hay. There are different types of hay
that can be fed to horses, grass hays and legume hays. Bermudagrass, orchardgrass, and timothy
make up grass hays, while alfalfa and clover make up legume hays. Your horses hay should be
free of mold and dirt, as well as be fresh and not old. Moldy and dusty hay can cause respiratory
problems in horses [2]. Old hay has little nutritional value. For example, the carotene in hay
decreases rapidly over time [3]. Horses need carotene for sight, cell growth, and recovery.
Proteins
When most people hear protein they think meat. For horses, proteins come in the form of
plants. Protein can come from hay, where grass hays contain less protein than legume hays [4].
Depending on the intake of proteins from roughage will dictate whether or not a protein
supplement should be added to your horses diet.

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Proteins consist of nutrients that are necessary for muscle development, as well as hoof
and hair growth. Protein is important in young horses, but it also benefits adult horses. Young
horses need proteins for development, while adult horses need proteins for maintenance [5].
Vitamins and Minerals

Equine Nutrition
Carbohydrates

Proteins

Vitamins &
Minerals

Fats

Vitamins and minerals are needed for

proper development and maintenance of horses. As stated earlier, the carotene in hay benefits the
horse in a few ways, but it decrease rapidly in roughage. Carotene is also known as vitamin A. If
a horse is eating older hay that has lost some of its nutritional value, a vitamin A supplement
should be added to the horses feed.
Fats
For horses who need more energy, such as competing horses, fats can be added into their
feed. Horses, on average, have three to five percent of fat in there feed. Therefore it makes a
small amount of a horses diet, as shown in the chart above. Horses who are fed excessive
amounts of fat can become obese [6].
Water
In addition to food, horses need plenty of water. Water is the most important nutrient of a
horses diet, they cannot survive long without it. On average, a horse will drink eight to twelve
gallons of water a day [7]. During the summer your horse will drink plenty of water on its own,
and it may even drink up to eighteen gallons a day. During the winter, your horse may not drink
as often due to the cold temperature of the water or decreased activity. As your horses caretaker
it is important that you supply fresh, clean water to your horse. Buckets and troughs containing
water should be scrubbed weekly to rid water of contaminants such as algae.
Feeding Schedule
Not only does it matter what you feed your horse, but when you feed your horse. It is best
to feed your horses in small amounts frequently, as opposed to one or two large meals a day.
Keeping a schedule of what times you will feed your horse is essential. Horses are able to sense
the time of day. They know when they should be fed once they are put on a consistent schedule.

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Failing to stick to feed your horse at their scheduled time could cause the horse to become
agitated, antsy, or even ill [7].

Housing
Unfortunately, horses are large animals and require ample living space. Appropriate
housing for horses typically revolves around three things: enough space to exercise, access to
water, and protection from the elements. There are two ways to house your horse: stalls and
pastures. In most cases, the two forms of housing are combined. Depending on the season, a
horse will divide its time between a stall and a pasture. During winter months, a horse will be
turned out during the day, and kept inside a stall at night. During the summer months, horses will
spend their nights in the pasture, and their days in the stall. This form a scheduling is too keep
the horses at the best temperatures, while still providing them the ability to graze and roam as
they wish.
Stalls
Stalls are located in the stables. They will give protection from the elements and constant
access to water. Due to the confined space, horses dont have much to move around. If your
horse is not being turned out in the pasture, then it must get another form exercise. The exercise
does not have to be intense, your horse just needs to work enough so that stress isnt put on its
joints and tendons by standing around all day.
Stable vices can sometimes develop in horses who spend all their time in the stall. There
are several types of stable vices. Some of these stable vices include cribbing or windsucking,
kicking, weaving, and wood chewing. Descriptions of these vices are listed below.
I.
Cribbing and Windsucking
The sucking of air is known as cribbing or windsucking. The difference between the two
is that cribbing involves the horse latching on to an object and sucks in air, windsucking
occurs without an object. Cribbing or windsucking can be dangerous, as it can lead to
colic, an impaction in the intestines [8]. Crib collars can be used to prevent, but not cure,
frequent cribbing [9].
II.
Kicking
Horses who are waiting for their meals to be served to them or fights with stall neighbors
can cause them to kick at stall doors and walls. This stable vice can be harmful for horses,
as it can cause injury to their joint, tendons, muscles, and hooves [10].
III.
Weaving
Daniel Mills describes weaving as An obvious repetitive lateral swaying movement of
the head, neck, forequarters and sometimes hindquarters; box walking, circular route
tracing within the stable [11]. Studies have shown that weaving is caused to due to a

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IV.

lack of social contact. When horses have stall neighbors or a window giving them a view
of other horses a decrease in their weaving occurs.
Wood chewing
Horses have a natural need for fibers that they can receive from wood. When they do not
have access to trees or fall branches they will chew on the wood of their fences or stall.
There are a few ways to cure this habit. Diet and exercise are the main two. Horses who
are fed diets of concentrates instead of hay or lack in physical activity can be prone to
wood chewing [12].

Susan Lyon, from Ontario Canada, invented Neigh Station [13]. Neigh Station is used
to prevent horses from developing stable vices by keeping them occupied with a mirror, a
clicking, sliding latch, and a toy rider. Cheaper versions of a horse toys can be stuffed animals,
playground balls, and traffic cones [14], these will help keep your stall bound horse occupied and
prevent them from developing naughty habits.
Pastures
Horses enjoy being allowed to roam free. Pastures allow them the freedom to do what
they please. A rule of thumb is that pasture should allow 1 to 2 acres per horse, especially if the
horses only source of food is grass. Some states have different rules, or no rules, for the amount
of acres your horse needs. It is best to check with your state laws on horses allowed per acre. For
example, Maryland counties do not have a law on how many horses are allowed per acre [15]. In
addition to plenty of space, pastures should have proper fencing, a shelter for harsh weather and
constant access to water. As stated earlier, horses can develop a vice known as wood chewing. In
order to protect your pastures fencing, you can line it with wire or coat it in a undesirable,
nontoxic, substance. Shelters should be able to withstand harsh weather, such as blizzards or
thunderstorms, and provide shade from the sun or protection from rain. Water troughs should be
placed throughout the pasture, and filled routinely to provide horses a continuous access to a
water supply.
Boarding
The majority of people wont have the space to own a horse. In these cases, horses can be
boarded at a stable in their area. Unfortunately, the cost of boarding can be expensive, ranging
from about $400-$600 a month. The amount of money per month depends on the whether the
horse is being placed in a pasture or in a stall. Pasture boarding tends to be less expensive than
stall boarding. This is due to the fact that the horse is being kept in a pasture, and the only person
caring for it is its owner. When a horse is boarding in a stall, the price is much more expensive.
Typically, stable hands will care for the horse on a regular basis. For example, the horses would
be fed at their scheduled times, their stalls and water buckets will be cleaned daily, and they will
be turned in and out of their stalls to be given exercise for the day. Therefore, due to the
extensive care a horse receives while boarding a stall, the amount paid per month increases.

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Grooming
Every horse owner needs a grooming kit. Grooming kits should contain brushes, curry
combs, and hoof picks at the minimum. Each tool not only promotes physical health, but also
enhances the horses beauty. Brushes and curry combs come in a variety of styles. The image
below shows nine types of horse grooming supplies [16]. The names of these tools are: 1. Harhd
brush. 2. Sponges. 3. Comb. 4. Hoof oil 5. Soft brush. 6. Towel 7. Cactus cloth. 8. Hoof pick. 9.
Curry comb.
Curry Combs
Curry combs are the first grooming tool used. They are applied to the horses body in a
circular motion. Curry combs are great for scrubbing off caked mud on a horses body, and they
stimulate a horses muscles and skin [17].
There are two types of curry combs, plastic and rubber. There uses are described below:
I.
Plastic
Horses like to roll in the dirt or mud to either keep cool or scratch an itch they cant
reach. Curry combs made of plastic are great for removing caked mud on a horse. They
are made up of tiny plastic teeth that pull apart mud and lift it from the horses coat.
Plastic curry combs are also useful cleaning off brushes that have dirt or hair stuck in
between the bristles. Plastic curry combs shouldnt be used in sensitive areas such as in
the face or tendons.
II.
Rubber
For horses who are more sensitive, a rubber comb is a better choice. It functions the same
as a plastic curry comb in the way that it removes dirt from the horses coat.
Warning: Do not use metal curry combs to groom your horse. They are too rough for
your horse and can cut your horses skin.

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Brushes
Brushes are distinguished by the stiffness of their bristles: hard, medium, or soft. When brushing
your horse, use quick flicking motions in the direction of hair growth. The quick motions pick up
the dirt left behind by the curry comb and dust it off the horses coats. Below are the descriptions
of each kind of brush.
I.
Hard
Hard brushes are used to remove caked dirt on a horses coat or to brush off top layer of
dirt or hair. Typically used after the curry comb.
II.
Medium
For horses that are more sensitive, a medium brush can be used in place of a hard brush.
III.
Soft
When grooming, soft brushes are often used in conjunction with curry combs. They help
remove the smaller particles that come to the surface while using the curry comb. The
soft brush can be used on all parts of the horses body.
Hoof Picks
Hoof picks are named after what they are used for, to pick hooves. Although, some horses
wear shoes, known as horseshoes, they do not keep dirt, rocks, snow, and other harmful
substances from getting packed in the horses hoof. Substances get packed into the frog of the
hoof, as well as the sole (shown in the diagram
to the left [18]). Surprisingly, a horses foot will
remain cleaner when it does not wear a
horseshoe.
A horses hooves should be picked on a
daily basis. To pick a horse foot, stand by the
horses side and run your hand down the length
of the horses tendon and squeeze. Instinctively,
the horse will lift its leg, which will allow access
to the hoof. When picking a horses foot, be sure
to point the hoof pick in the direction going away from the horse. In other words, pick towards
the ground instead of towards the horses body.
Inability to clean your horses hooves can lead to complications. A common problem that
can arise in your horse is a condition known as thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection that causes
rotting of the horses frog [19]. Thrush can easily be identified from the foul odor that is
produced. Daily cleaning and keeping your horses hooves dry can prevent thrush from
occurring. Daily hoof picking can also keep you aware of your horses hoof condition. For
example, a horse could step on a nail or stone, which could injure the horse and cause lameness.
In this case, a veterinarian must be called. Missing shoes or bent horse shoe nails could also
occur, in these cases a farrier should be called.

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Other Grooming Supplies

There are several other supplies used in horse grooming. These tools include, sponges,
combs, hoof oil, cactus cloths and towels can also be used for grooming.
I.
Sponges
The eyes and nose of the horse cannot be cleaned using a curry comb or brush. Instead, a
wet sponge can be used. Small sponges can be used on the face to clean up mucus or dirt
caught in your horses nostrils or around its eyes. Large sponges can be used for bathing,
where equine shampoo and conditioner can be rubbed into the horses body with the
sponge.
II.
Combs
One of the key characteristics of a horse is its mane and tail. In order to maintain a tangle
free mane and tail, a comb is required. Combs can also be used to remove burrs from a
horses mane and tail. In some cases, a horses hair may be too tangled. For this, an
equine mane and tail conditioner can be applied to the hair. With the conditioner lathered
in, you will be able to comb through the tangles much easier. After combing, the
conditioner can be washed out, leaving your horses hair soft and shiny.
III.
Hoof Oil
The use of hoof oil is not common. It is designed to provide a remedy for cracked
hooves, but in reality it has no added benefits, and prolonged use isnt healthy for the
horse [20]. If problems arise in the hoof, call your farrier instead of using hoof oil.
IV. Cactus Cloth
During the warmer seasons, horses who are being worked out intensely will sweat
profusely. It is important that sweat is cleaned off of a horses body after a workout, as
sweat can irritate the horse.
Sweat scrapers are also a great way to remove sweat on horses. These tools are run along
the horses body, in the direction of hair growth, and the sweat peels off of the horses
body.
V. Towels
After bathing, towels can be used to help dry horses off. Towels are usually used during
the spring and fall to rid the horse of heavy amounts of water before being turned out.
Excessive water on the coats can cause the body temperature of the horse to drop,
especially in cooler seasons.
Equine Maintenance
Horses should have visits from their veterinarian and farriers on a regular basis. In order
to increase the chances of longevity in your horse, these visits are necessary. Veterinarians and
farriers each have their own abilities in horse care, but veterinarians are much more
knowledgeable when it comes to caring for horses. If any concerns or emergencies arise, it is
best to call your horsess veterinarian.
Veterinarian

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As with any domesticated animal, veterinarians are essential to a horses health. Equine
veterinarians specialize in horse care. Their abilities range from
giving vaccinations to performing surgery. In most cases, equine
veterinarians come to the horse as opposed to owner having to
bring the horse to them. Healthy horses get a visit from the
veterinarian once or twice a year. These visits are check-ups.
During these check-ups physical examination of the horse occurs,
as well as, bi-annual or annual vaccination, such as tetanus and
equine flu shots, are given. A veterinarian will also check a horses
teeth. Horses teeth are prone to wear and tear. Their teeth continue
to grow to replace worn down areas of the teeth [21]. Worn down
teeth can become sharp, and they are required to be shaved down
to prevent discomfort. This process called floating. A
veterinarian will also map out a de-worming program for your horse. De-worming is important
for your horse, because the parasites that live inside your horse can cause health concerns and
even death.
A record of your horses vaccinations, de-worming, shoeing, and other vital information
can be kept in an equine maintenance record binder like the picture on the right [22]. It is also
important to have this binder in case of emergencies. If your horse is in need of medical and your
regular veterinarian cannot make it out, your replacement veterinarian will need to know the
history of your horses health. Your binder will give the veterinarian all the information he or she
needs.
Farrier
Much like human nails, a horse hooves continuously grow. As a horses hoof grows,
complications can arise if they are not trimmed. A few of these complications are loss of a
horseshoe, cracked hooves, and strained tendons. Farriers specialize in the upkeep of hooves. On
average, a horse must be visited by a farrier every 6-8 weeks [23]. During this visit, horses will
have their hooves trimmed and their horseshoes replaced (if
necessary). Farriers can also check for injuries in the foot. Since
farriers have extensive knowledge on the anatomy of the hoof,
they are able to check for troubled spots. A hoof tester (shown
on the left [24]) can be used by the farrier to check for issues in
the hoof [25].

Common Concerns that Require a Veternarian or Farrier

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I.

II.

Colic
An impaction in the digestive
tract, known as colic, is a
common concern in horses. It is a
painful experience that can be
fatal if not treated properly. Colic
can be caused be several factors.
Parasites, pregnancy,
transporting, crib-biting and
previous episodes of colic can increase a horses chance of colic [26], but the most
common cause of a colic in a horse is feeding. What and when a horse eats can dictate
whether or not the horse will develop colic. After heavy exercise is it important that a
horse does immediately eat or drink, as this can lead to colic. Consumption of mowed
grass or sand can also lead to colic, due the horses inability to properly digest cut grass
and sand [27]. Common signs of colic include: nipping at the stomach, rolling onto back,
sitting on hind end, sweating, and no interest in eating. The photo above shows a horse
suffering from colic [28].
Lameness

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III.

There are several contributors to lameness in a horse. Hoof punctures from nails or
stones, abscesses in the hoof, and laminitis are a few common causes to lameness. Each
of these issues require immediate veterinarian attention. A punctured hoof can be painful,
and without proper treatment can lead to infection, which ultimately results in lameness.
Abscesses in the hoof occur from infections in the hoof, which could have been caused
by a punctured hoof. White blood cells build up to fight the infection [29]. In an effort to
isolate the infection, dead white blood cells get trapped and die off. The trapped white
blood cells causes an abscess to form. Abscesses are painful and horses are considered
lame when they develop one. Laminitis is the inflammation of the horses hoof.
Symptoms of laminitis include fever (heat) in the hoof, reluctance to move, and sticking
front legs out in front of them [30]. As the laminitis progresses the bone inside the hoof
begins to separate
from the hoof itself
[31]. The separated
bone will start to
grow downwards
(as shown in the
image to the left
[32]), and
eventually grow
through the sole of
the hoof. This is
known as chronic laminitis or founder.
Any symptoms relating to laminitis should raise a red flag, and you should call your
veterinarian immediately.
Injuries
A horse will come across some form of an injury during their lifetime. Tendon and joint
injuries require care from a veterinarian. These injuries can occur during exercise, roughhousing between horses in pastures, or inside stalls.
An example of an injury that can occur is a laceration in the tendon. Deep cuts located in
in a tendon are required to be checked by a veterinarian immediately. Though these cuts
arent life-threatening, they can lead to infections if not properly bandaged [33].
Veterinarians will determine whether or not the cut should be stitched or bandaged up,
and whether or not medications should be given.
A rule of a thumb for calling the vet: When specific symptoms that mean a disease, i.e.
coughing or nasal discharge, coincide with nonspecific symptoms, i.e. colic or loss of
appetite, a veterinarian should be called to exam your horse [34].
Exercise

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To promote a horses health and performance, exercise is an important aspect of their

weekly routine. Horses who are not exercised regularly can become ill or irritable [35]. Horses
must exercise at a minimum of three days and a maximum of six days a week. These workouts
should be thirty minutes to an hour and half long, depending on the intensity of the workout is.
There are three ways a horse can be exercised: pastures, ground-work, and riding.
Pastures
Naturally, horses will get exercise from walking, running, and playing in their pastures. If
there are multiple horses in a pasture, they will tend to herd. Herds will travel with one another.
When feeling playful, they will race or chase one another around the field. Horses can also play
with toys, such as balls, while in their pastures.
Ground-work
If you are not interested in riding your horse, or you are physically unable to, you can
exercise your horse through groundwork. You can take your horse on a walk using a lead rope
for about half an hour [36]. If you want your horse to have a more intense workout, you can
lunge your horse. Lunging is form of ground-work in which you train your horse without having
to ride it. If you have not lunged a horse before, it is important that you have a professional
show you how. You can cause harm to your horse if you are inexperienced in lunging.

Riding
Horseback riding has been around for hundreds of years. It is a considered a sport, and
many competitions take place throughout the year all around the world. In present day there are
two styles of riding, English and Western. The main difference between the two forms in the
contact with the horses mouth [37]. In English riding, riders are in direct contact with their
horses mouth, while Western riders rarely have contact with their horses mouth. If you have not
ridden a horse before, you can take riding lessons at stables near you. Check your local stables if
you are interested in learning to ride.
Conclusion
It is highly advised that deep consideration goes into deciding whether or not a horse is
right for you. Horse care is a huge responsibility to take on. There are a plethora factors that go
into caring for a horse. Proper nutrition, adequate living space, physical maintenance, healthcare,
and exercise all make up the to-do-list for horse care. Failing to keep up with one of these
factors can cause your horse to become ill. If possible, see if the local stables around you are
offering leases on horses. Leasing can give you an idea of how to take care of a horse, without

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the horse being your responsibility. After leasing, you can decide whether or not a horse is right
for you.

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