| For as long as people have made horses a part | | | | have blown there from a nearby road. |
| of their lives, there have been horse related | | | | |
| emergencies. Those who don't know much about | | | | Evaluate How the Herd Gets Along |
| horses are often surprised that these | | | | |
| seemingly graceful and beautiful animals are | | | | If your horses repeatedly come in "beat up" |
| so accident prone. If you are just getting | | | | and bear scars from bites and kicks from |
| involved with horses, moving them home for | | | | other horses, you may need to re-evaluate |
| the first time, traveling to your first | | | | your pasture set up. Horses can usually get |
| competition or simply want the peace of mind | | | | along, but sometimes one "bully" can spoil |
| that comes with being better prepared, there | | | | the whole bunch and may need to be removed |
| are simple steps that you can take to lessen | | | | from the herd before he inflicts a severe |
| your chances of an emergency resulting from | | | | injury on another. Even without a bully, if |
| an neglect, accident or illness. | | | | horses are crowded into a small area, they |
| | | | invade each other's space and end up |
| At the barn, many emergencies crop up during | | | | fighting. You may need to separate horses or |
| the time a horse is pastured. Roughhousing | | | | provide additional space. |
| with pasture mates and running off excess | | | | |
| energy seem like the most at risk times for | | | | Monitor What is Growing |
| injury. However, many accidents occur when | | | | |
| horses become bored and get into trouble | | | | A barren pasture with nothing to eat is a |
| finding alternative ways to entertain | | | | recipe for bored, irritated horses that fight |
| themselves. | | | | and get into trouble, and it is unhealthy as |
| | | | well. For optimum nutrition and well being, |
| Check Your Pastures | | | | pastures should always have grazing available |
| | | | as well as fresh water. At times of the year |
| To start, check that your pastures use | | | | when grass is scarce, pastures should be |
| fencing materials that are high enough, | | | | supplemented with hay. If horses become |
| visible enough, and sturdy enough for horses. | | | | territorial and fight over the hay supply, it |
| Barbed wire should never be used in a horse | | | | should be separated into smaller piles. |
| pasture, as a horse can become tangled and | | | | |
| injure or even kill themselves struggling to | | | | At other times of the year, grass can become |
| get free. Pastures should be inspected on a | | | | lush within a few days and it's sudden |
| regular basis for any damage to fencing. Not | | | | abundance can cause illness. Always introduce |
| only can your horse get caught, cut or hung | | | | horses to fresh grass gradually to lessen the |
| up on broken fencing, but you also run the | | | | chances of colic or founder, and do the same |
| risk of horses escaping and causing havoc and | | | | when bringing a new horse into the herd that |
| possibly severe injury. If you're already out | | | | is not accustomed to fresh grass. Keep in |
| inspecting fencing, use the time to check for | | | | mind that at the same time nutritious grass |
| any holes or ditches in the ground as well. | | | | is thriving, weeds usually are as well. Using |
| | | | a book that identifies toxic plants, inspect |
| If you use wood fencing that horses are | | | | your pastures and destroy any weeds, flowers |
| particularly fond of chewing on, cover them, | | | | or grasses that are poisonous to horses. |
| use electric wire, or coat them with a | | | | |
| non-toxic substance to prevent horses from | | | | Provide Shelter |
| ingesting pieces of wood or getting splinters | | | | |
| along their digestive tract. Make sure the | | | | Horses pastured for long periods of time also |
| entire pasture area is free from foreign | | | | need shelter to escape the elements, as well |
| objects that can cause injury to a curious | | | | as insects in the summer months. Inspect the |
| horse, or illness to a horse that decides to | | | | inside as well as the outside of shelters for |
| nibble on something interesting that may | | | | loose boards, nails or siding. Shelters |
| result in poisoning or impaction. Your | | | | should be positioned so that they block the |
| pastures should be free from all debris, from | | | | prevailing winds and rain, and should be |
| rusting farm equipment to litter that may | | | | large enough to accommodate all the horses. |