Practices For A Healthy, Happy Horse
Howdy Friends,
These practices are offered as my point of view, as a horse
lover, advocate and admirer. Not a clinician, veterinarian, or specialist of
any kind.
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| Kessy, Miss Kitty and Saturday together at one of Kessy's slow hay feed nets. They stroll the paddock paradise known as "Kessy's Wood" together. |
Horses will get along, as many of them prove over and over
again, with less than ideal conditions and treatment, but that does not mean
they are happy, healthy or thriving. In my opinion we owe it to our horses to
provide for them with as natural a lifestyle as we can possibly provide. Each
of us as owners or caregivers have limitations placed on us by such things as
economics, lifestyle, jobs, property, riding disciplines, and more. Our efforts
must be to do the best we can within our own circumstances for the physical and
mental health of our horses.
Basically we could sum up a lot of the healthy, happy needs
for our horses in one sentence. "No shoes, no stalls, no grain, limited
grass, and seeing everything from the horse's point of view." That's
pretty much my focus; to me those are the most important things to the secret
of a happy, healthy horse.
No shoes. Friends who've been following me here on our
Coffee Clutch, or on facebook, already know I'm adamant that all horses can go
barefoot – and will be healthier for it. All the arguments against it, to me,
fall short, and lay in the camp of seeing it from the human's perspectives, not
the horses. Of course a few things must be done differently, and that may take
more effort than some are willing to devote. See Why Barefoot?
No stalls. This includes no stalls with small paddocks or
pastures. The only time a horse should be confined to a stall is illness,
traveling (shows, performances, etc) or other special short time circumstances.
Even if space to roam is an issue, the
Paddock Paradise or track system can turn an unhealthy half-acre paddock, or unwholesome
2 or 5 acre toxic lush grass pasture into a playground for health and
contentment. This only takes a little effort to set up, and then it's there
forever, and can be constructed anywhere, even with limited funds. See Paddock Paradise.
No grain. That's it, simple. Horses are designed to be
forage eaters. Grain, and today's high potency grasses, do bad things to the
insides, and the attitudes, of a horse. Again they can deal with it, but it
will eventually take its toll. Don't you think it's odd the epidemic of ulcers?
Slow hay feed nets positioned at several locations offering low sugar hay
around the clock, will promote movement, health and clear headedness conducive
to solid relationships, health and happiness .
Limited grass. We've touched on this, but the normal
pastures filled with lush grass, or patches of grass mixed in weeds are as
toxic to horses as fast food and overstuffed couches in front of televisions
are to humans. Again, make it your mission to have horses under your care
thriving in a track system. Horses, even in big pastures with other horses,
move about 5 miles a day, or less. Horses in the wild move 20 and more miles a
day ... Horses benefiting from a track system mimic the movement of wild
horses. Health benefits are seen within weeks of making the change.
Seeing things from the horse's perspective. Housing, feeding, riding, training, everything ... the horse must come first.When that drives
every thought and action of a horse owner or caregiver things take a paradigm
shift toward a healthy happy horse. When that shift occurs, everything becomes
easier, no matter the discipline the horse and human play in. I see having a horse as a part of my life as a privilege, and every horse I've ever known has given freely to me their friendship, time, energy, willingness and spirit ... I feel I owe them nothing less.
Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry
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