How to Be a Responsible Horse Owner
Most people learn about horse care so they can take good care of their horses. But they also have a responsibility to other horse owners and other people who don’t own horses.
These responsibilities revolve around good horse care like buying field shelters and keeping them clean and tidy. Here are tips to help you become a responsible horse owner.
Keep the horses disease-free
Some diseases spread quickly among the horse community. There are infections that can spread to other animals quickly too. By making sure that your horses get vaccinated, you will be protecting them and protecting other animals.
Most vaccinations for horses protect horses from the common contagious infections. Other diseases such as strangles cannot be prevented using vaccines.
Learning the right time to quarantine your horses and when you should stay away from the places where infected horses might be can be helpful when it comes to making sure that your own horses are healthy.
Keep in mind that something as simple as washing your hands properly is a responsible way of preventing the spread of an infection from one horse to another.
Keep your horse’s home
‘Good fences make good neighbours.’ This is an old cliché but holds some truth. A good fence will keep your horses from accessing your neighbour’s field, roads and yards.
You should also keep your horse’s home clean. That way, your horse can stay healthy, and you can worry less about your horse getting diseases.
Keep the horse well-fed
Have you ever realised that humane societies and other similar organisations are kept busy by individuals who deliberately fail to offer their horses and other animals basic care?
Making sure that your horse is well-fed means that you aren’t squandering your community’s resources.
Keep the horse safe to be around
Some horses are difficult to handle. Whether untrained or has been handled in such a way that it has become bad mannered, such a horse isn’t safe for anyone. Therefore, you must control your horse in your property, and what it may be willing to put up with.
What if it gets out? What do you do if it has to be reformed? Keep in mind that it is recommended to have a horse with manners for the sake of the animal itself and the people it is likely to come in contact with.
Think critically about breeding the horse
Probably you have read this in a magazine, online or had a horse that ended up wandering down your driveway.
Generally, there are many unwanted horses. Some of them will end up in the slaughterhouse, and others are unadoptable. Therefore, if you have a colt, the best thing you can do is to geld it.
In case you own a mare, you should think carefully before breeding her. Remember, there is no shortage of horses already.
Think about the environment
Well, keeping a horse needs lots of resources, but it also generates a lot of waste. The largest portion of the waste will become manure. It is wise to make sure that your horse’s manure is clean so that it does not become a breeding environment for insects.
Also, the manure should be disposed of in such a way that it does not foul natural sources of water. Horses should be vaccinated and treated whenever they get sick.
All old medications should be disposed of properly. Typically, a vet clinic will take the unused drugs or even tell you how to get rid of them properly.
