:: neighborly advice

Equine Routine Care

What routine care should be given to your horse? When stalled they should be fed twice daily, watered and their stalls cleaned daily. All horses need certain routine management, such as care of teeth and hooves. Horses require routine annual dental care, especially as they become older. Fall is the preferred time to check a horse's teeth before winter feeding of coarse hays. Sharp edges on the horse's molars can be removed or "floated," which makes it easier for the horse to chew feed and results in more efficient feed use. Any time a horse holds its head to one side to chew, feed falls out of its mouth, and/or whole grains appear in the manure, you should have its teeth checked by a veterinarian. Horse's hooves should be cleaned before and after every ride. Depending on the type of riding, where ridden, surface ridden, on and overall hoof condition, shoes may be necessary. Most horses need to have their hooves trimmed, or shoes reset every six to eight weeks, even in winter. Never turn horses out on pasture for extended periods with shoes on, unless you routinely inspect them. A loose shoe can severely injure a horse.