Horses are wonderful animals that require a fair amount of work. Whether raising work horses or race horses or just pleasure horses, there are some basic rule to keeping the animals. These are easy steps to follow, although they can be labor intensive. The reward for the work are healthy, happy and well-trained animals that will make your experience raising them a better one.
1 Have a barn (or stable) ready before you bring the horses home. You will stall for the horses, a tack room for the equipment, another space to keep hay bales, and bins for grain and sawdust. It should also have a water supply such as a spigot or hose.
2 Fence in a place outside the barn, too. How big a pasture you will need depends on and number of horses you plan on keeping. A single draft horse, for example, should have about 5 to 6 acres of pasture with room to run.
3 Make sure that in addition to grazing (grass), the pasture has access to water. A natural source, such as a stream, is best, but a water tank will work. Fencing to keep the horse inside the pasture is also wise.
4 Use a halter(or harness) around the horse's head, as well as a lead--like a leash but for livestock, usually rope or chain--to take the horse from the barn to the pasture, or into the horse trailer when you transport the horse.
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5 Use a round pen where you can train your horse with simple commands. The pen should be a circular, fenced-in area. You'll also need a riding crop for those moments when you need to gently correct the horse with a tap on the side or hindquarters.
6 Make sure that every day each stall has a water bucket with clean water. You may also want a hay rack, but you can put the hay on the floor. There should be a good coating of sawdust on the floor, not only for the horses comfort but to help absorb odor and waste.
7 Clean the stall daily. A sifting fork allows you to scoop up the waste left behind without taking the clean sawdust with it. A wheelbarrow makes it easier to remove the waste to a compost pile as well as get fresh sawdust ( usually keep in a bin) to re-line the stall when you are done.
8 Feed the horses grain and hay each day, even if they are also grazing. Grazing horses need less hay, but if you live someplace where winter are harsh, they'll need more in winter. Grain is easier to feed the horses if you use a grain dish that you can remove from the stall when they are done.
9 Clean your horses when they get dirty. Use a brush to clean the horse and help remove excess hair. It also helps you and your horse bond
Impress your friends with your friendly, hand shaking horse. Teaching this trick is easy and rewarding. Training goes quickly once the horse understands his reward. You can teach horses other behaviors like nodding, shaking their heads, bowing and rearing using this method. Use the following steps to teach a horse how to shake hands.Purchase a bag of hard, disc-shaped peppermint candy.
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