Hacks For Caring For Horses

Horses are incredible animals whose strength, grace, and emotional intelligence have greatly influenced history. While today’s horseman is more concerned with pleasure riding or equine activities, caring for these gorgeous creatures is no less difficult. One thing that every beginner to the horse world immediately learns? Horses require extensive care, which entails a significant amount of work. We can provide assistance! Continue reading for some horse care tips from a Tulare County equine veterinarian.

Storage For Feed/Grain

An old deep freezer might be an excellent storage solution for grains. It’s robust, insulated, and practically hard for rodents to enter. For safety reasons, you should choose one that cannot trap a person inside.

Pre Warmup Warmup

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that putting a cold piece of metal in your mouth will be unpleasant, especially in cold weather. A crock pot can be a useful tool for warming up on a cold day. You might also use an electric kettle for this purpose. Plus, you’ll always have hot water on hand for cleaning, hot toweling, or simply washing your hands. Simply select something that will switch off on its own and ensure that it is plugged into a surge protector. It’s also a good idea to double-check that it’s turned off before leaving the barn at night. Fire is one thing that you can never be too careful about in a barn.

Using Your Head

Equestrians are required to wear helmets for safety reasons. However, they can grow pretty hot in the summer and do not keep you very warm in the winter. Putting on a bandana underneath can help with both.

Health-Related Hacks

Keeping Silver’s hooves healthy is critical to his general health, mobility, and well-being. Unfortunately, many horses may experience foot issues, such as abscesses or thrush, at some point. Poultices can be used using infant diapers. They can also be moistened and frozen to create ice packs.

Dispensers

Do you need to apply something directly? Take an old ketchup bottle and clean it. This is a good way to apply hoof oil. You may also grab a dish scrubber and load it with your favorite whitening product for Silver’s socks. This is a good item to have on hand for shows.

Dustbuster

Dust will find a way to get everywhere in your stable, no matter how clean it is. One thing you can do to keep your tack safe? Grab some clear shower curtains and hang or drape them over your saddle racks. 

Finishing touches

Shower caps can also be useful for portioning out grains. Set them over buckets to keep flies out of your horse’s food. This could be a game changer if you like to divide up your portions at night to make those early-morning feedings easier.

Baiting and switching

Deworming is normal and necessary for our equine buddies. However, we have yet to explain to Silver why it is necessary. You can ease him into the procedure. The next time you need to give your hooved companion parasite control, clean the tube and fill it with molasses. With enough treats, Silver will become less resistant to his treatment.

Tip for Your Apron

Aprons exist to protect your clothes. While they were invented to keep cooks from getting stains, they’re also extremely useful in the barn. Wearing one while grooming Silver minimizes your chances of being totally covered with horse hair. Furthermore, the pockets are ideal for storing brushes, hoof picks, and tiny bottles. (Your horse will not object to you using them for carrots or apples, either.)

Preventing Mistakes

Are you planning on boarding your horse? People frequently find it difficult to keep their belongings separate from others’. Mark Silver’s belongings using baggage tags or patterned tape. (In an ideal world, everyone at the barn would do this, but that’s another matter.)

Hacking IDs

Luggage tags can come in handy on treks. Simply write your contact information on them, and voila! Your horse has been fitted with ID tags. If your horse gets loose, he will still have a connection to you.

Trail Savvy

When it comes to trail rides, consider wearing a fishing vest. All of those pockets are ideal for carrying munchies, your phone, a hoof pick, and a first-aid kit. (Along with apples and carrots.)

Create A Windbreak

Hedges have long been the standard in the United Kingdom, and not merely for aesthetic purposes. They are helpful for marking land boundaries and protecting local fauna. They also work well as windbreaks for cattle owners. Look for non-toxic, quick-growing alternatives. Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), Prunus, Photinia, and Thuja are excellent choices.

Lighting the way

A miner’s helmet or headband is an excellent equipment to have on hand if you are working at night or in a dark region. This is unquestionably preferable to having but not needing. Also, keep one in your trailer.

Saving Time

This is a minor hack, but it has the potential to significantly improve things. Do you make your bedding from shavings? Instead of tearing the bag open along the perforation, cut an X across the broader flat area. When you turn it over, all of the shavings come out at once. This is much easier than holding the bag up and shaking everything out.

Ice Blocker

Even in the coldest months, horses require exercise. Before releasing Silver onto a snowy pasture, apply hoof treatment or conditioner to his hooves. This will keep the snow from clinging to his feet and generating ice balls.

Tangle-free Polo Wraps

Wraps are a reliable staple, but they are not the most convenient to clean. When washing them, use a lingerie bag to keep them from tangling.

Book An Appointment With Our Tulare County Equine Veterinarians

Are you looking for a great equine veterinarian in Tulare County? Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about your horse’s veterinarian treatment. We look forward to offering exceptional service as well as great care!