| Equines are among the most amazing animals which | | | | The legs of horses must be cleansed and brushed |
| humans have interacted with. Even during the olden | | | | daily to check for lacerations and swelling. If the leg is |
| times, horses already play important roles in human | | | | injured, it must be properly bandaged and wrapped. A |
| civilization. Horses are employed in sport, entertainment, | | | | too loose binding which could dangle in the feet would |
| work and even in assisted learning and therapy. They | | | | cause alarm and panic while a too tight bandage |
| appear as sturdy and brawny animals, but just like | | | | would further injure tendons and ligaments. |
| anything else, horses also need proper caring and | | | | Horses are also affected by various diseases and |
| grooming. | | | | infections such as colic, thrush and other internal |
| Caring for some owners could only mean feeding and | | | | parasites. These ailments can be prevented by routine |
| cleaning, but horses actually require particular attention | | | | veterinary check up, vaccination and worming. |
| from humans for best possible fitness and long life. | | | | Worming is done by two processes. One is by purge |
| One thing to consider is the horses' living environment, | | | | worming, where a single strong dose is given to the |
| whether they are kept in pastures, barns or stables. If | | | | animal. Another is by continuous worming where small |
| in a fence, the type and material used to build the | | | | does are given to the animal, mixed in the horses' feed. |
| fence is also of importance not only to keep them at | | | | The teeth of horses grow continuously through out its |
| hand but to ensure their safety as well. | | | | lifetime and could develop unevenly. Uneven teeth |
| As for feeding horses, the animals' food requirement | | | | growth could cause pains in horses when feeding or |
| based on their body weight. Usually a horse needs | | | | when ridden, thus should be regularly checked by a |
| 1.5% to 2.5% of its body weight in food and must take | | | | veterinarian or equine dentist. The process called |
| 10 to 12 gallons of water a day. Also to be considered | | | | "floating" is used to eliminate jaggedness in the horses' |
| in feeding horses is the activity performed by the | | | | teeth. This is done by grinding down the teeth with a |
| animals. Improper feeding may result to illnesses or | | | | rasp until smoothness is achieved. Sedation is |
| imbalance nutrient intake. | | | | implemented if a complex dental procedure is required |
| Grooming on the other hand is also of importance. | | | | or if the horse objects to the process. |
| Although horses only need to be brushed suitably and | | | | Horse owners should keep a well stuffed first aid kit |
| they do not require regular bathing, horses' cleanliness | | | | so they could instantly attend and give immediate care |
| and health must be ensured especially if they are | | | | of the animals should they be injured or during the first |
| ridden. Shampoos and conditioners can be used on | | | | sign of sickness or distress. Also, keep at hand |
| horses, must be thoroughly rinsed.But too much use of | | | | important numbers of veterinarians and animal supplies |
| such chemicals is not advisable as it could strip the hair | | | | provider in case of emergencies. If a veterinary is not |
| coat of its natural oils and could dry out. Horses' | | | | available, a veterinary emergency handbook could |
| hooves must also be checked and picked out clean | | | | prove to be a helpful resource as well. |
| regularly to strike out lameness and hoof diseases. | | | | |