Horse Worming
There's no cheap way around proper worming but if you follow the basic rules, you'll get the most out of your wormer.
Make sure you worm your horse every 6-8 weeks and give the correct dose for his weight, as underdosing is as bad as not dosing at all and is a complete waste of money.
Make sure you change brands regularly so your horse, or rather, his worms, don't build up immunity to the chemicals in one particular brand.
Again, you'll just be wasting your hard earned money if you're shoving worm paste into your horse but it's not really doing anything.
It's also false aconomy to buy wormers in bulk as some could go past their use by date.
Make sure you include a wormer that includes a boticide over the summer months.
Pick up the manure in your horse's paddock on a daily basis, or at least regularly, every weekend if you can, as worms depend on manure to complete
their life cycle. You can always bag it up and sell to help pay for your horse's keep!.
Horse Care
Accidents Happen
How true is this when it comes to our horse friends, they have to be the most accident prone animals I know!
Doing what you can to prevent accidents could save you a fortune in vet bills long term.
Make sure your fencing is in good order with the top of any star picket posts covered. Check your horse's paddock for holes, rocks, tree branches, sharp edges, anything that could cause an accident.
Make sure your horse's tetanus and strangles injections are up to date.
Go into horse ownership with your eyes open, knowing what the costs are likely to be. Do some research, ask people who already own horses for advice and draw up a budget, allowing for unexpected costs.
Learn, learn learn. The more you know, the more you'll discover ways to get the most out of purchases.
Don't be tempted to skimp, buy the best you can as this will save you money in the long run. It's okay to love your horse with all your heart, but use your head to care for him or her properly, responsibly and hopefully economically.
Equine Tips
What To Do If Your Horse Is Stolen
Report it immediately to the police who will contact your local livestock service.
Have an up to date horse ID form ready plus recent photos of your horse.
Use your own contacts and ring around, pony clubs, saleyards, horsey friends, local radio stations and councils.
Check horse classifieds in your local paper.
Put up notices at as many feed stores/saddleries as you can.
Place a lost and found ad in your local and regional newspapers.
Alert livestock saleyards and knackeries and check them regularly.
Put flyers up in your area, at intersections, local shops, libaries and vets.
Hand out flyers at nearby horse events and shows.
DONT GIVE UP !.
Horse Care
Water
Horses need 45 litres of water every day, and more in hot weather.
A proper water supply is most important and lack of it will lead to dehydration and colic.
The self filling water bowls are best but troughs and bathtubs are suitable provided they are regularly topped up. They should have a plug in the bottom for emptying and easy cleaning and any sharp edges should be removed or covered.
The water supply should be sited in a well drained area away from any trees that are likely to drop leaves or shed bark, particularly gum trees.
Natural water sources are suitable only if the bottom is stony or rocky, shallow, silty beds and stagnant ponds are worse then useless and will be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Buckets are unsuitable as they are easily knocked over and should only be used as an emergency or temporary measure.
If you're lucky enough to live in a rural area then you'll have access to maybe FREE paddocks, but these require maintenance.
They must be well fenced as one of the most common ways horse's injure themselves is in fencing, which can cause nasty cuts.
Electric fencing is great if you afford it.
Count yourself even more lucky if you have access to more then one paddock, as you can rotate them by resting one
while your horse grazes in the other.
If your paddock is small, then this will have an impact on your budget so good pasture keeping is a must.
Your paddock represents 100% of your horse's environment and he must have
enough grass to eat in order to maintain bodyweight.
If there's only sparse grazing, then you will need to supplement with grass hay.
This can be pricey, but you shouldn't risk taking short cuts when it comes to your horse's well being.
Remember you get what you pay for!
Buy the best saddle you can afford at the time and look after it.
Leather gear will last decades if kept clean and supple. Most saddleries offer a free saddle
fitting service, use it as getting it right the first time could save you a costly
re-purchase or re-stuffing.
Check out saddle shops sales for bargains. Ebay is another really good source of cheap gear, you often pick up bargain priced gear for a fraction of it's retail price.
Agistment and Feeding
Horse Tips
Saddlery