Equine Management AnS 216

Basic requirements of a horse  Food  Water  Shelter  Health care  Hoof care  Exercise

Nutrition  Requirements may change  Temperature (season)  Type of use / activity  Age  Feeding Plan  Roughage source  Concentrate feed  Trace mineral salt block

Water  Available all the time  Average consumption gallons / day  Majority of drinking done at feeding time  Snow does not substitute for water  Clean water troughs / buckets  Warm water in winter

Horses housed outdoors  Adequate space  Outdoor facilities should have good drainage  Waste management  Water troughs  Safety of horses Outdoor pen12 ft x 12 ft Pasture turnout0.1 acre / horse Paddock500 sq ft / horse

Fencing  Considerations  Sturdy & durable  Safety  Height requirement  Maintenance  Cost  Types  Wire  Wooden board  Post & rail  Electric fencing  High Tensile wire  PVC

Shelter  Protection from environment  Cold, rain wind, sun  Wind break  Open front shed  100 sq ft / horse  Location important  Open side face away from prevailing wind  Width vs. depth

Stall housing  Ventilation  Adequate lighting  Safety  Watering device  Feeding area

Stall housing

 Size requirements Minimum size10 ft x 10 ft Preferred size12 ft x 12 ft Stallion stall14 ft x 14 ft Foaling stall16 ft x 16 ft

Bedding  Protects feet & legs  Absorb moisture from waste  Requirements  Dust free  Absorbent  Readily available  Easy to dispose of  Affordable

Bedding  Straw  High comfort  Little dust  Highly combustible  High labor  Large volume of waste  Wood shavings  More easily disposed  Less labor  More dust  More expensive  Careful of black walnut

Waste Management  37 lbs feces / day  2.4 gallons urine / day  51 lbs waste / day  70 lbs waste / day (including soiled bedding)  tons of waste / year for 1 horse!

Waste Management  Manure storage  Spread manure  Compost  Manure disposal

Health Care  Know what is normal for your horse  Regular vaccinations  Geographical location  Type of use / activity  Age  Regular deworming  Rotational program  Awareness of parasite life cycles  Annual dental exam

Health Care  First aid kit  Know your veterinarian’s phone number  Quarantine stall  New horses  Sick horses

Hoof care  Trim every 6-8 weeks  Shoes  Work  Therapeutic  Know your farrier’s phone number

Exercise  Pasture  Will obtain exercise himself  Stall  Requires exercise

Costs of maintaining a horse  Initial costs  Horse  Equipment  Board / pasture rent  Feed  Bedding

Costs of maintaining a horse  Veterinary care  Farrier  Vaccinations  Dewormer  Riding lessons / training  Estimated cost - $ (HIH 120-5)

Costs of maintaining a horse  Other Costs?