Gage County
1115 West Scott St.,
Beatrice NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-1384
FAX: (402) 223-1370

News Column

Paul C Hay, Extension Educator

Horses Require Time, Energy, and Money

Owning a horse requires an investment of time, energy and money. New owners and those planning to purchase a horse should be aware of their animal's housing, grooming and health care needs. Stalls must cleaned, or "mucked out," daily to provide a comfortable, clean environment for the animal. To clean the stall, remove solid waste and wet, soiled bedding. Replace the old bedding with an equal amount of new bedding. Sawdust, wood shavings and straw are good bedding materials because they absorb urine, encourage the horse to lie down, provide secure footing, smell pleasant and are comfortable and dust-free.

A horse needs grooming before and after rides to remove dirt from the coat, bring out the coat's natural oils and increase circulation. Extra grooming is required in spring to remove the long winter coat. Proper grooming makes the horse look and feel good and forms a bond between the horse and its owner.

A horse need about 2.5% of their body weight in dry matter every day. On pasture this would be over 160 pounds of fresh grass daily for a 1000 pound horse. A horse needs about 4 acres of pasture for summer grazing. Anything less will be damaged by continuous feeding and hoof traffic and will become a weed patch. In the winter that same 1000 pound horse will need about 30 pounds of dry hay per day. Cost would be about $1 per day. I have helped numerous acreage owners improve their land use for horses and other animals they want to raise.

Horse owners also should clean the horse's hooves before and after every ride. Horse shoes may be necessary depending on what the hooves' condition are, where the horse is ridden and what type of riding is done. Reset horseshoes and trim hooves every six to eight weeks to prevent injuries from loose shoes and hoof problems such as sores, infections and cracks. Inspect shoes often if horses wear them while roaming pastures for extended periods.

Horses require annual dental care, especially as they become older. It's best to check teeth in the fall before horses start their winter diets of coarse hay. However, a horse's teeth should be checked anytime the animal holds its head to one side while chewing, feed falls out of its mouth or whole grains appear in its manure. A veterinarian can remove sharp edges on the horse's molars, making it easier to chew feed and use it efficiently.

A health care plan needs to be worked out with your veterinarian for vaccinations, worming, insect control, and injury treatment. Horses can provide a great deal enjoyment for youth and adults. They do require a good deal of care and time away from the air conditioner and TV. Be sure the dedication is there before you invest.

For more information on caring for horses, consult NebGuide G02-1446-A, Tips for New Horse Owners. There is a wealth of horse information on the gage.unl.edu Website by clicking on livestock and horse.

View other Gage County News Columns & News Letters: http://gage.unl.edu/news/news.htm

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
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