Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Keeping Stabled Horse Happy
Keeping Stabled Horse Happy
BRAIN
• Keep stabled horses in a routine – they are creatures of habit and like to do things at
the same time every day.
• Feed forage to keep them occupied and maintain a healthy digestive system.
• Exercise is important for a horse’s brain. Time spent going on the walker on top of their
work splits up their day.
• With stressful types, fit a mirror in their stable which can reduce separation anxiety,
and keep a radio on at a low volume so they don’t feel alone.
• Use small-holed haynets for stabled horses to slow down their consumption of forage
and make it last longer.
• Make sure your horse leaves his stable for at least an hour a day.
• Ensure he has plenty of company and can see other horses stabled nearby, and try
stable toys such as treat balls or hang vegetables from the stable rafters to keep him
entertained.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
• Feeding and watering horses from the ground can aid respiratory health because they
lower their head and neck to open their airways.
• Feed good quality hay or haylage and soak or steam if necessary to reduce dust spores.
• Cut down on stable dust by using good quality and dust-free bedding.
• Ensure the stables are well-ventilated and that the urine-soaked bedding is removed
daily.
FEET
• Use anti-fungal hoof oil inside and out on stabled horse’s hooves to prevent nasty
infections occurring.
• Apply a daily moisturising hoof application to prevent the hooves drying out and keep
them well trimmed and shod.
COAT
• Bath the horses where possible on sunny winter days to stop the build up of grease, and
regularly wash their base rugs.
• Put your horse in a chest bib to stop the rugs rubbing their shoulders.
• When grooming clipped horses, use a hot cloth with baby or pig oil to remove the grease
and scum, and take their rugs off daily to check their condition.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• Feed forage to keep the gut moving, alongside a quality diet fed according to the
horse’s workload.
• Consider feeding a supplement to support the digestive system and ensure your horse is
getting the appropriate vitamins and minerals.
• Ensure your horse has access to clean, fresh water at all times.
LEGS
• Ensure they get regular walks out and exercise to increase their circulation.
• Keep their legs clean through grooming, and stable bandage at night to reduce filling.
• Don’t always wash your horse’s legs as this can increase the likelihood of mud fever.
Sometimes it’s better to allow the mud to dry and then brush it off, and always towel
dry legs after they have been washed.