What toher "health care" for a horse is there besides the ferrier and wormer?

Question

I'm having trouble rembering all the health care and who comes to do what to the horse when you own one. Lol. Please help me!

Answer 1

Horses don't need a lot of care unless they are injured or become ill for some reason.

Food and plenty of water.

Brush them down, clean and service their hooves occasionally.

I squirt on a little homemade fly repellent when the biting flies get thick.

You may have to have their back teeth filed down - usually by a vet or the farrier (called "floating").

Answer 2

I agree with the above answers but wanted to add a few things. If you have a gelding - he is going to need his sheath cleaned. Some horses stay clean and only need it once or twice a year. Other horses need it cleaned more frequently. You can do this yourself or have your vet do it.

If you have a mare - if you plan on breeding her you will need to have your vet do a breeding soundness exam (BSE).

Also, equine massage can be considered part of health care.

My horses get - shots & deworming every spring and fall (4-way, west nile, rabies as needed), shoes/trim every 6 weeks, coggins every year, chiropractic as needed, BSE for my mare, sheath cleaned as needed, supplements daily for coat/feet/weight, teeth floated every 6 months to year. Vet for emergencies. Currently, my gelding is on a daily dewormer to kick out whatever is in his system.

Answer 3

You need to get the horses "teeth floated." I believe that's when they file down the really pointy teeth between their front teeth and rear molars. The vet does that.

Answer 4

Taking care of a horse's health requires a strict schedule and lots of hard work on the owner's part.  The owner must provide the following on a regular routine:

-The most obvious is feed. Feed varies between each individual horse, but there should be an adequate balance between grain, hay, and pasture.

- A pasture to roam around in several hours every day.  This keeps their feet down, gets their energy out, and allows them to just be a horse.  

- Stalls should be cleaned every single day.  Also, your horse should be provided with clean water and shelter at all times, even in the pasture.  Depending on the size of the pasture, it should be cleaned anywhere between once a week to once a month or so to keep the parasites down.  

- Your horse should get exercised at least once a week, whether it is longing or riding.  

- You should groom your horse preferrably every day. This is a good time to go over your horse's body and find cuts or bruises he may have gotten in the pasture.  You should also bathe your horse regularly, cleaning his sheath about once every six months if he's a gelding.

-Deworm your horse generally about once every month or so. Also, you should vaccinate your horse 1-2 times a year.  You may need varied vaccinations according to what your vet recommends.

The people who come out and provide their services to your horse:

-The vet should check on your horse regularly.  The amount of his visits depend on the health of your horse.

-The ferrier comes usually around every 6 weeks.  He comes to trim your horse's feet and keep them healthy.  Horses in the wild are used to walking 20-40 miles a day, which wear their hooves down naturally.  However, we keep our domesticated horses in stalls during the night and restrict them to a small pasture during the day.  Therefore, their hooves require the proper trimming and care of a ferrier.

-An equine dentist should float your horse's teeth about 1-2 times a year.  This is just to make sure his teeth are level and there's no problems with his mouth. If your horse develops a problem, it could make it uncomfortable to eat or put a bit in his mouth.  

-Finally, an equine chiropractor is optional.  A horse who has been acting sore under saddle could especially benefit from the chiropractor.

As you can see now, taking care of ONE measly horse is a ton of work.  And this is all for a healthy horse! Imagine if you had a horse who requires special care in addition to all of this.  Money is a big issue in the horse world. I see too many people nowadays who get a horse and think  it's just a big dog.  Owning a horse takes a lot of responsibility and knowledge.

I hope this helped!

Answer 5

Farrier - shoes the horses or trims their hooves.

Vet - give vaccinations and checks in case of injury.

Equine Dentist - floats horse teeth in case of pain or inability to be bitted/eat.

Equine Chiropractor - realigns spine to aid in movement and reduce pain.

Usually, the owner does most routine care (worming, minor injuries, etc.).

Answer 6

"health care" is very broad... cleaning your horse's stall or pasture is good for his "health", so is feeding him.  As far as regular veterinary care you will need:

Vaccinations.  These vary slightly based on where you are located and what you do with your horse.  Generally needed 1-2 times a year, but our "A" circuit horses are vaccinated every 3 months due to the fact they are exposed to more new environments.  Talk with your vet about WHICH vaccinations your horse needs and how often.

Coggins (EIA).  Every horse must get a coggins once a year - even if they don't travel.  Many people thing you only need this if you move or show but that's not true - FEDERAL LAW requires every horse to be tested every 12 months.

Teeth Floating.  Your horse's teeth need to be checked at LEAST once a year.  Some horses need to be checked more often.

If your horse is in a stall it should be cleaned at least once a day.  If he lives in a small or medium pasture it should be picked out at least once a week.  Even if it lives in a large pasture you should drag the field 1-2 times a month to help keep the parasite population down.

Grooming your horse regularly is important for the well-being of his coat and allows you to notice injuries right away.  Regular exercise is important for his cardiovasular, muscular and hoof health.

Get to know your farrier and vet well and be honest about what you do and don't know.  They shoudl be willing to help you set up a regular schedule of necessary procedures to keep your horse healthy and happy.

Hope This Helps! :)

EDIT:  Be sure you talk with your vet about which de-wormers you use and set up a regular rotation schedule based on your vet's recommendation according to where you are and your horse's exposure to parasites. :)

Answer 7

Besides de-worming and farrier work, horses must be vaccinated once a year.  There are several vaccinations to get and a few that may not be needed in your area.  Here are the ones your horse will definitely need: Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus, Influenza, Rabies, West Nile Virus, and Rhinopneumonitis.

You can also vaccinate your horse against Strangles, Botulism, Potomac Horse Fever and Equine Viral Ateritis.

If you are going to travel with or transport your horse, you will health certification and a negative Coggins document.  These have to be obtained from your vet.

Your horse's teeth shouldn't be overlooked either.  Teeth floating should be done as needed, sometimes once a year by either your vet or an equine dentist.

Of course, part of keeping a healthy horse is to provide hay, feed and water.  Make sure your horse has free access to a salt block, too.

Answer 8

vet

Answer 9

equine dentist twice a year...the vet needs to come out every few months for a check up and/or shots like coggins etc.