Mecanicien

Posts Tagged ‘horse maintenance’

Horses are some of the most beautiful creatures to walk the face of the earth; but as pets, they require lots of maintenance and attention. Simple feeding and brushing is not enough for these animals and if you ask any horse owner or veterinarian, they will tell you that you need a great deal of patience to take care of these pets. The following are 7 tips for grooming your horse and keeping your horse happy and healthy.

Cleaning the hooves of your horse is one of your main duties. Hoof picks are inexpensive and these should always be a tool that you have on hand. You can routinely check the hooves of a horse every day and use this to dislodge any small pebbles or other debris that is found. These types of things can ruin the hooves and feet of these animals. If you do not clean the hooves regularly it can create a painful situation for your horse, and you run the risk of the animal going lame or becoming victim to infections.

Just like you would wash your face after an intense workout, you should wash your horse’s face after a ride or any other rigorous exercise. This will help prevent unnecessary hair loss and infections that can occur due to fungal infections. Sweat and moisture can ruin the coat of your horse. Often times, it is the case that the face of the horse if forgotten. Use a squeegee that is made especially for horse to wash your horse’s face. This is a comfortable material for your horse and does a great job at cleaning. Using the squeegee can also help to avoid getting rid of hair from your horse’s face.

Use a sponge to clean different areas on your horse. Keep these separate and do not use the same sponge on the dock that is used for the face. If you remember to keep the sponges separated you will prevent cross contamination of bacteria and other microbes from one area to another.

The tail of a horse requires the same kind of maintenance as a girl’s hair. It must be washed, conditioned, and detangled weekly. The tail should also be brushed everyday to prevent serious tangling and to prevent snarls and sores on your horse. If you want, you can use a tail bag to protect your horse’s tail, but be certain to tie the bag below the horse’s tail bone.

Horses with darker coats need to spend time in the shade, outside of the sun. The sun can turn their coats a different shade and cause damage. It is also important that your horse be rinsed with water after coming from an intense ride, or after a rigorous exercise activity. The salt in the sweat can also speed up the fading process and cause damage to the coat of your horse. However the rinsing will stop this and is something very simple for any horse owner to do.

Don’t forget that over bathing your horse can be just as bad as not bathing him at all. So do not over shampoo or wash your horse; you can create a dull look for his coat. You should at most be bathing your horse once a week with shampoos and soaps.

Use a coat polishing spray after bathing your horse. If you use one of these products, it will not only create an incredible shine, but will prevent dust from adhering and building up on the hairs. Less dust means a healthy coat and decreases the chances of skin infections and allergies.

Following these 7 grooming tips will not only improve the overall health and happiness of your horse, but will keep him looking good too.