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