Horse Information?

Question

I need ALL the horse information I can get.

Washing and grooming

Supplies

How to clean stalls

Food

How To Tack

Diseases

When to see a vet, clean teeth, check shoes, ect.

And More ( If you can)

Please say EVERYTHING you know.

Sorry to ask so much of you!!!

Answer 1

I think you need to take some horsemanship classes...  go to the bookstore and get some books like Horses for Dummies, Horse Bible, etc.  We can't teach you about the entire horse world on a Q&A forum!

Answer 2

Almost all of this information you cannot learn from someone telling you online. I strongly recommend buying some horse books, like someone said, horses for dummies (not that you are) or basic horse care books and reading those, then go visit a local stable and watch someone do these tasks, ask them questions as they are doing it and have them explain it and show you. Then you can get some real world experience, its much better than learning it from us via the internet. Good luck.

Answer 3

Ok, well i recently got into horses, a year ago, so i'm not very knowledgeable, but i'll try my best:  

When you tie a horse up, you should have the knot at their face level, have someone show you a safety knot

When you walk behind a horse you should always be touching them, so they know you are there

Cleaning stalls is just scooping out the dirty stuff and putting down more shavings

you should have a farrier get you on a consistent schedule

when bathing the horse, naver spray its head

ask someone how much to feed based on the size of the horse, and always feed more when it gets more excersize

Always mount on the left side of the horse

hope i helped!!

Answer 4

With horses knowledge comes with experience. Please go to a local barn and see if they have a working student program where you can help out cleaning stalls in exchange for lessons. If you aren't willing to put the time in now you never will be.

My trainer has been working with horses for over 40 years and she's still learning. You won't learn everything from Yahoo! Answers.

Answer 5

take lessons and mayb sum classes.it is rly hard(pretty much impossible)2 tell u all of that on y!answers.u never kno everything about horses,there is always sumthin new 2 b learned.The Everything Horse Book is good 4 learning about horses when u dnt kno much.sry,i just cldnt type all the info i kno.if u hav any specific ?s u can email me at [e-mail] and ill try my best 2 help u.good luck.

Answer 6

Ok PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me an e-mail and we can go through this one by one and I can send you pics and give you real life experience and videos!!!!

I am a riding instructor so please e-mail me at [e-mail] I will REALLY help i promise!

Answer 7

try getting books from the library. or getting on the web they can show you step by step how to do and know all  those things.

Answer 8

For grooming and tacking up - Equisearch.com they'll have everything you need to know in a more in depth form than you can get here. Also, look for a trainer in your area, you might be able to learn by working for them (so you don't have to pay for lessons).

Feed -

   It really depends on your horse, but my Paints get a pasture full of grass and a scoop of Strategy in the morning (they are pleasure horses and brood mares). When the pasture gets bad they get free choice coastal round bales or alfalfa when in foal.

As for the vet / farrier stuff -

    Float teeth at least twice a year

    Shoes or trim every 6 - 8 weeks

    Make sure you get the sheath or teats cleaned at least 2X a year along with the ears. It's something some people neglect to get done

Answer 9

Maybe you should get a job with a stable or join 4H which is a great way to learn about horses. I used to help walk hot horses after polo matches and they paid me for it!! Little did they know I would have done it for free! I asked questions and learned a lot

Answer 10

the best thing for you to do is go to a stable and they will have a horse and be able to show you. most of the time they will tell you because they figure you are a potential customer.

a lot of the stables will have a farrier,vet that comes around on a schedule and looks at the horse's and leaves word what is wrong or if it's importune they will call you or leave word at the stable.that is if you don't live on some acrege.

Answer 11

Grooming:

Start at your horse’s neck and then work your way down the horse’s body from side to side. Make sure you don't forget their belly (esp. where the girth will go). Take special care to clean wherever tack is going (bridle, saddle, girth)

Begin by using the currycomb to remove any dry skin, dirt or loose hair on the horse’s body. You should use a circular motion on the body. Don't try to use it over their legs and face. Also be careful when going over the points of their hips (I am forever bumping Jazz's and he gets ticked off, it difficult not to sometimes so just be cautious)

Next, use a dandy/stiff brush to make short quick sweeping stokes over the body. Long strokes wont work well (it just spreads out the dirt).While sweeping the body, shake the brush away from the horse and yourself to shake off any excess dirt or hair to prevent brushing it right back onto your horse. Take your time and follow the direction of the hair to assure you have gotten all of it.

Now take a short bristled brush and use the same type stokes to finish the job up. This brush will smooth out the coat and pick up any remaining dirt. Use a small face brush for the face and the stiff/dandy brush on their legs (for large amounts or dirt/mud use a hose)

You also need to pick out their feet. Use a hoof pick to pick the dirt/stuff out from either side of the frog (be careful, the frog is sensitive). The area on either side of the frog can run deep or shallow so you need to know what your horses feet are like so you can be sure to get everything out.

Use a detangler on the mane and tail to prevent breakage. I never brush my horses tail (unless it is nastly, then I finger comb it or before a show). It will help their tail grow long and pretty.

Washing:

You wash a horse a lot like you wash a dog. I like to use Mane&Tail Shampoo for my bay. They sell it at grocery stores really cheap and it comes in big bottles. I also like to have a sponge and curry comb. If you have a white or grey horse, use a shampoo that is desgined for them. It is tyically purple/blue in color.

Some people spray the horse down then put soap and water in a bucket then use a sponge to put it on the horse. I find it easier to spray the horse down then put soap directly on him from his shoulder to tail. Use a sponge or curry to really scrub him down. Then spray him off and go to the other side. Again put soap from the shoulder to tail and scrub and rinse. Then I go back and clean the mane and both sides of the neck at the same time. Its just easier and you dont have to rinse the same spot two or three times. I dont wash faces because my horse flips his lip up and ends up eating soap. Their faces dont usually get to dirty either. You clean their tale by wetting is and putting soap in it and washing it like your own hair. Some people fill a bucket and hold it up to the bottom of the dock then scrub it but this always causes a mess. Double rinse your horse or any left over soap makes him itchy which will make him role. Dont bath to often 1-2x a month is MORE than enough. You will stip the hair of its natural oils.

Supplies:

Hoof Pick - $2

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Hard Brush - $8

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Soft Brush - $8

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Curry Comb - $3

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Mane/Tale Brush - $4

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Grooming Box - $10

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Shampoo - $14

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Or you could do:

Oster Grooming Kit - $50

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Saddle - $260 to $2,900

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Bridle - $35 (reins included)

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Bit - $20 to $100

This one really depends on what your horse needs

Saddle Pad - $17

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Girth - $35

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Helmet - $27

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Fly Spray - $6

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Halter - $25 (get a safty halter)

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Lead line - $6

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Blanket - (what your horse needs depends on where you are)

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Stirrups - $35

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Leathers - $35

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Pitch Fork - $19

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Muck Bucket - $13

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Muck Bucket Cart - $48

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Obviously you can by the more expensive version of each and they tend ot be of nicer quality and last longer. There are also lots of extras like gloves, show sheen, jump boots, polo wraps, show pads, half pads and loads of other stuff.

Cleaning Stalls:

Basic:

Take the horse out (not completely necessary but it makes things easier) and gather your supplies. Pick up all the piles and nuggets. These are some times burried a little so be sure to get all of them. Toss out wet and soiled bedding. Add new bedding as needed.

Stripping:

You need to completely stip the stall occasionally. I do it when all the bedding just stops looking fresh. Every week or so it probably good. In this case, keep filling your wheelbarrow until the stall floor is bare. Use the shovel to scrape up remnants of bedding and the broom to sweep it clean. You may want to put down odor control solution or stable disinfectant. Let the floor dry before re-bedding.

Food:

What food your horse recieves and how much depends upon his health needs, the work he is doing and outside conditions. There are lots of different types of feeds and even more brands. These are the basic types of feed:

http://www.northyorkfarmers.ca/images/Fe...

there is also Oats: http://www.dkimages.com/discover/preview...

and some people feed corn but I have never seen it done.

How to clean tack:

I just use this spray on cleaner and conditioner:

http://www.custom-wheel-polish.com/lexol...

It works really well and I love how my leather stuff feels afterward. I just spray the cleaner onto a rag or sponge and follow the directions on the bottle. Be sure to clean your saddle every couple weeks at least (once a week is better but few have time for that).

I soak my stirrups and bit in water for 30 mins then go over it with a cloth.

Diseases:

Your going to need to narrow this one down a bit.

Vet:

Once a year at least. More often if you have 6 month shots or have an accident/injury. Vets or equine densists take care of teeth. You need to have them checked/floated at least once a year. More often if your horse has issues.

Farrier: Every 6 weeks usually. Some horses can only go 4-5 without a trim. Others can go 6-8 or even to 10 weeks (bare foot horses). Horses with shoes need to be checked and trimmed every 6 weeks at least. Inbetween visits for pulled/loose shoes or other feet problems. Not all horses need to have shoes though. My OTTB (off the track thoroughbred) has amazing feet. We get a trim like every 7 weeks and he goes barefoot. He does lower level eventing/hunter stuff. We went last Friday and did 3' jumpers without a problem. Horses dont need shoes and studs to be good.

Chiropractors/Massage People/Saddle Fitters: These people have their place in the equine world. They are however, luxuries for most of us. Some people swear they couldnt live without their chiropractors working on the horses but all the guys at my barn do just fine without it. I would love to have one come out and check my horse but he needs boots to protect his legs more than that in my opinion.

More:

Like diseases, this is very open ended.

E-mail me at [e-mail] and I would love to help answer questions. I am on everyday (usually a couple times a day). Hope this helps!

EDIT: I agree that the best way to learn this is to experience it but it helps to have some clue going in. Thats why I answered instead of saying go work at a farm and learn. Besides those jobs are hard to get. I have yet to find a barn that would let me 'work off' some of my lessons.

Answer 12

i agree w/ dreamer you should go to bookstores and get some book! cant hardly explain all of it to u online!

Answer 13

dude, therre is sooo much information tht horse pple need to know.

if u have any specific questions, email me at [e-mail]

i might be able to help in some areas :]

Answer 14

If you tell us why you need the information, we can help you a lot better, i.e. you are writing about horses for a school assignment; you want to get a horse; you want to work at a barn; etc., etc.

Answer 15

There are entire books devoted to all these subjects. Please consider getting some and reading them. You will get much more accutate and complete information that you will get on YA.

www.amazon.com