Horsecare
Having problems? Questions and answers are regularly added to this page...
To help solve some of your basic horse management problems read on...
Q1. Help! My horse is a bad traveller...
A1. There are genuine reasons why a horse will not travel in either a trailer or horsebox.
1. The horse may of had a bad experience in the past, just bad driving, giving an unpleasant journey can upset a horse and make him reluctant in the future.
2. The horse may like to travel forwards in a trailer than side on in a horsebox, and vice versa.
3. The partitions may be too wide apart, in which case they will not give the horse the support he needs, again they may be too narrow and preventing the horse from gaining his footing sufficiently.
All these things can contibute to problems loading in the future. So take time to make travelling in the horsebox or trailer as comfortable for your horse as possible.
Q2. Why does my horse persistantly tear his rugs?
A2. The main reasons for rug tearing are:
1. He is hot and is trying to tear off the rug.
2. If the rug is uncomfortable and doesn't fit properly.
3. Bordem is another factor.
Rug tearing can be a hard habit to break but one that can be prevented in the first place.
Q.3. My horse windsucks, what can I do?
A.3. Windsucking is where the horse swallows in air and makes a gulping noise. It can be associated with crib-biting. There is no cure but finding things to keep the horse occupied can help as windsucking as with mainly all vices has a lot to do with the horse being bored. Also a cribbing collar can be useful as it prevents the horse from arching his neck and being able to suck in air. Turn the horse out as much as possible, if not walks in hand will break boredem for him. Even stable toys can do the trick!
Q.4. How do I treat Mud fever?
A.4. Mud fever is a skin complaint that affects horses mainly in the winter.It affects horses that are left in wet, muddy paddocks. To treat mud fever soften the affected area with warm water, remove the scabs, the area will look sore and will feel sore to the horse but by adding an ointment containing cortisteriod, for example Dermobion, will aid healing. A barrier cream can be used if the horse has to be turned out but keeping the area dry is the best remedy.
If you have any horse riding or horsecare problems that you need advice on then you can E-mail me on:
If not then this page will be updated regularly and you may even find your question on here for all to see!!!