Learning About Horses - Basic Horse Needs

Water  5-15 gallons a day fresh water daily

Salt horses need salt (93% NaCl - sodium chloride) EVERY day 2 U.S TBSP per 1,100 pound horse (12 grams per day for full-sized horse) 1 tsp = 2 grams of sodium palatability no more than 1 tbsp per meal 1 tbsp per 500 pounds of body weight best way offer granulated salt free-choice in a small container if ignores add to horse's meal make sure to calculate the amount of salt in commercial feeds and supplements salt blocks should be available for additional needs

Electrolytes minerals in blood that carry an electric charge affect hydration, blood pH, play important role in body sodium, potassium, chloride major ones lost in sweat only way horse can replace these is through their diet

How can horses get electrolytes?

• salt blocks do not work because horse's tongues are not rough enough
• you can not preload electrolytes
• putting it in water can cause a horse to drink less 

What does research show?

• daily electrolyte supplementation in GRAIN is a safe way to replace lost electrolytes from exercise, hot weather, shipping
• 50-75 grams of LOOSE salt to a horse's diet divided between the two grain feedings
• "topdressing" gives the horse what they need and any extra is eliminated as waste

Food trickle feeders designed to constantly take in food throughout the day (50-80% of day) 17-20 hours grazing on forage foundation diet must be forage 1-2% of body weight in forage high quality hay multi-vitamin supplement bridge the gap and ensure horse is getting all the vitamins and minerals they need

Companionship herd animals comfort in a group happy horse is a socialized horse live as part of a herd

Shelter

• hardy
• cope with heat and cold regulating own body temperature
• needs a place get away from elements
• safe and sturdy 
• shade and escape heat in summer
• protection from harsh wind, snow, freezing rain
• NOT a stall
• can cause colic
• long-term joint health
• standing still
• TURN OUT IS BEST

Professional Care

• regular maintenance and wellness schedule with horse's veterinarian 
• one vet exam every year
• dental schedule
• vaccination schedule
• deworming schedule
• optimal hoof health
• consistent maintenance schedule with a farrier
• every 6-8 weeks

Supplements

• healthy hooves
• resilient joints
• proper digestion
• shiny coat
• NOT EVERY HORSE needs them

Training working with horse one-on-one professional, reputable trainer can make working with your horse safer, more productive, less stressful, and more fun

Exercise

• paddock, pasture, to relax and stroll
• work with horse every day
• barbed wire NOT okay

Day in a life of a free will horse

• EAT, SLEEP, REPEAT
• 50-80% of day grazing
• sleeping 
• short periods of time throughout day and night
• less than 8 hours a day
• horses can sleep standing up because they have "stay apparatus"
• horse can lock his legs and relax his muscles
• horse stands with one hind leg cocked and resting, head hanging low, ears, lips drooping, eyes fully or partially closed
• horses can sleep lying down
• most lie down for brief period once daily
• flat on side
• propped up on their chests with their legs folded beneath them
• because of their size lying down is not as relaxing than standing
• the weight of horse's body puts pressure on internal organs cause stress on heard and lungs
• different stages of sleep - different brain waves
• slow-wave sleep 
• easy to rouse
• quality is light
• REM (paradoxical)
• brain active, experience dreams
• muscles very relaxed
• more difficult to waken
• horse MUST lie down to experience 
• if a horse can not lie down they can be sleep deprived

Dealing with the Elements

• Cold
• Horse grow long hair in winter
• have muscles under skin that raises hair
• traps air in the fluffy coat
• adds insulating layer
• worse than cold is wind and wet
• turn tail toward wind, stand next to each other
• shivering generates heat
• digestion generates heat

Heat sweat evaporation helps cool body sponging off a horse with water after a ride does the same thing heat brings insects at best annoy and distract them from eating or sleeping at worst draw blood, painful bites, and harass until frantic for relief have subcutaneous muscles that can make certain portions of skin twitch rapidly dislodge insects swishing tail

Form Follows Function

teeth tear and chew

esophagus peristalsis - swallowing a wave of contractions in the muscles ringing the esophagus pushes food along can see the muscles along bottom of horse's neck

stomach esophagus empties into stomach ONLY ONE WAY horses can not vomit, or burp digestive issues are serious and life threatening nonruminants - simple stomach small relative to animal's overall size maximum 4 gallons functions best with 2 1/2 gallons of food small amounts of food at frequent intervals stomach fills as horse eats and when it's 2/3 full digested food begins to exit to small intestines another muscular valve if too much food at one time material is rushed out of stomach won't be properly digested process is designed to accommodate the leisurely eating habits of a grazing animal

small intestines various enzymes act on fat, protein, carbohydrates absorbed through intestinal wall into bloodstream large meals certain enzymes not as effective muscle contractions move the contents  mostly fibrous material & water through small and into large intestines

cecum large capacity and relatively slow bacteria needs time to ferment and break down fiber

large intestines most useable nutrients and water have been absorbed formed into fecal balls

Colic all encompassing term used to describe ANY kind of abdominal pain eating too much grain not having enough roughage usually requires surgery leading cause of death in adult horses

Gastric Ulcers another common ailment large quantities of grain

Proper management is no guarantee against colic or other digestive ailments BUT minimizes the risk

Proper Management

• imitate natural diet as much as possible
• relying on roughage (hay or pasture) MAJORITY of horse's daily calories
• little and often
• use slow feeders for hay - free eating on pastures
• gains ONLY as necessary
• multiple small meals 2-3 times a day NOT big ones
• use slow feeders

Pray Animal Eyes on side of head can see 330 without turning when head turning 360 good vision better than dog's and cat's almost as good as human keen sense of hearing keen sense of smell ears can swivel flight NOT fight speed is their tool "spook" intrinsic and central to horse's being good training can help overcome this innate fear  carefully engineering of GOOD experiences, desensitizing, and establishing trust a good trainer doesn't punish spook allowing a horse to slowly be adjusted horses can learn to suppress their flight instincts through proper training and trust is remarkable ignorance  assume horse is misbehaving she is frightened DO NOT punish a scared horse

•