Q&A for How to Take Care of Your Horse

Horses need lots of room to live happy lives. In addition to having a comfortable stall, make sure to give it a few hours each day to roam around a large, open area without anyone riding or leading it.

Yes, horses are difficult to manage and require a lot of time and effort. However, if you do it correctly and in a dedicated fashion, then the horse will earn your trust and things will get easier.

They get spooked by fast moving things that they cannot see. For example, they are scared of snakes and mice because they are small, fast and out of sight. They are also scared of loud noises like thunder.

Horses are naturally very intuitive animals, meaning they can pick up on how you feel, and it most often affects their feelings too. Horses can read human facial expressions. However, they require a lot of time and money. You need to be able to pay for everything listed in this article without saving up. The cheapest part to owning a horse is buying the horse itself. Vet bills, tack, grooming supplies, food and water, shelter, hoof care, and additional items can pile up and become very overwhelming. But if you do have everything needed to owning a horse, and you spend time with it, maybe work it in a certain sport, it pays off!

Give your horse more hay then you usually do, groom him, and put a blanket over him or put him in a warm stall.

Yes, people have goats, donkeys, miniature horses, and even cats as companions for their horses.

Contact someone certified with treating horses immediately. There are many illnesses a horse can contract, and some more severe than others. Contacting a vet is the first and best option. Do not ask for help from someone who just has experience or knowledge of horses, like someone who rides with you, etc. Vet bills may be expensive, but they are necessary in order to care and maintain a horses health. If you are hesitant to have a vet come in, due to financial reasons, then you should not own a horse.

Yes, taking care of a horse is big responsibility in terms of time, money and work.

Sometimes, your local town will have an "equestrian store," which has tack and all you could ever need for a horse. 99% of the time, the workers there are experienced horse people, and will help you out. However, if you don't have a store, Tractor Supply and Ace Hardware usually have feed and more simple horse supplies, though this would not be the best place to go, as workers may have no experience with horses whatsoever. If that doesn't work, consider ordering online. This may be expensive. You also need to know your horse very well if you wish to order tack online. Like human clothing, tack usually comes in different sizes. (Warning: ill-fitted tack and lead to many problems.)

Yes, you should contact animal control and let the experts determine if the horses are being properly cared for or not.

No. Don't do this as you don't know what might be cut up in there!

You can give them small amounts of grain and the occasional carrot and apple.

They apply to all breeds, but not health conditions.

Jobs dealing with horses include large animal vet or vet tech, farrier, trainer, breeder, stable hand, and many more.

Horses provide love, comfort, and emotional support. They can help you deal with pain and stress when times are tough. They also provide joy when being ridden or just when hanging out with them. Horses can be a very positive influence in your life.

Gelded male horses make better pets. If you have a mare, you may see her experience mood swings when in heat. If you have a stallion, you could be dealing with a wired horse. Most stallions tend to be a bit wild.

Yes, horses are very expensive to keep.

Yes, horses must have a barn or stable or some other form of shelter.

If your horse is young, than that would be fine. If it's older, make sure you tie thicker knots or your horse will escape.

As much as you think it would need. The more time you spend with it, the quicker and deeper the two of you will bond.

Yes, because you can save money on more expensive treats. Just make sure you only use recipes that have ingredients that horses can eat.

Horses respond to calm, happy, and peaceful emotions. Your horse will pick up on whatever you are feeling, so if you're nervous, they will likely be nervous, too. If you're happy, they will be, too. Keep this in mind. Reading does sometimes soothe horses, but it depends upon the horse and the horse's personality. A lot of horses respond to soft, quiet, gentle singing, so you can try reading to them in a sing-songy, quiet, and happy/peaceful voice. Or you can just flat out sing. All in all, your tone and mood can be picked up by your horse, so be aware of it.

It always depends on the horse, some horses could compete at 20, some need a lot of rest. All of them need a lot of loving care, though. Old horses often need to go on a special diet, and they also might catch illnesses or go lame more easily. If you're a beginner rider, you should maybe consider getting a younger one. A lot of 10-15-year-old horses are patient and lovely with beginners. Also, please consult your trainer before buying a horse, as (s)he knows you best and can help you decide if a horse is suitable for you or not.

Yes, they are. That is why they like to be held in stables with other horses around.

Place the pad or pads on the horse's back. Look up the different types of pads and their purposes to see which one is right for you. Most horses use a cotton saddle pad and sometimes a half pad with that. Make sure your horse is never left unattended with the saddle pads or saddle on their back without a girth, as they can fall off and this may spook your horse. Proceed to place the saddle on your horse's back. You should already be sure that it fits correctly. Make sure both pad and saddle are high enough on the withers. Hook the girth on the two outside straps of the saddle, then do the other side. Make sure you can fit four fingers under the girth, no more, no less.

Horses need constant care and attention, so you should not get one if you are too busy.

If your horse gets lost, post flyers around the neighborhood/town with a picture of your horse and your contact information on it. Post details on social media as well. It might also be a good idea to call the local ASPCA/animal control facility and let them know you're missing a horse in case anyone calls in to say they've seen one.

Not every horse will automatically fall in love with you. They have to trust you first and know that you won't hurt her. I suggest you spend some quality time with her.

First of all, check if the horses have access to enough water, and if not, fill a few buckets and give it to them. Then, if you're underage, tell your parents about this issue and ask them to help you deal with it. If you're an adult, try talking to your neighbor first. It's important not to be too challenging or (s)he might get defensive. Keep calm, be polite, don't get in a heated debate. If the horses are still neglected after you talked it through, call the police or a local animal shelter/animal rights association.

Yes, if you are fairly experienced.