Horse Healthcare
How much better does your horse live than you? And what are some classic examples to prove this? My horse, Buck, officially has an appointment for a massage. In August, I trailered him to the chiropractor. This is getting a stiff neck from getting cast in his stall. He was seen by the vet last winter for a sniffle he had, and that wasn't cheap. All told - it equaled to be about four hundred this past month in expenses.
When I sleep wrong on my neck, I have to chug Advil and keep on going. I had a cold last week – I just got some extra sleep and waited for it to be over. He had a dental in April, I finally went to the dentist this year after waiting two years to get around to making an appointment.
So, let's discuss the horse healthcare industry and how it's grown over the past years. Way back when, there was no such thing as a chiropractor for a horse. Nor a someone to massage your horse when he casted himself in his stall. Now, there are bags you attacch like a crupper to a horses tail so he doesn't poop in a parade, and just about any supplement possible.
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Buying the horse is the easy part, but after that it's an emotional rollercoaster and your money has a first-class seat to ride along. Now, in our economy a good horse can go from 250-1000 dollars. Which, is decent enough. However, depending on what you want to do with the horse - you'll get stuck paying the essentials. Food(grain, hay, or even hay pellets), shelter, farrier, tack(halter and leadrope are the bare essentials), and vet bills. Most horses are well enough to just have their feet trimmed and go barefoot, and don't require expensive shoes. But, some people aren't very lucky and get stuck paying for shoes which can range from 60 to 100 dollars. Some horses need to be sedated, which is also expensive.
Shelter really depends on other peoples views on what a horse should need. My horse gets twenty-four hour turnout spring-thru-fall, and in the winter time he stays out until dark and I bring him in at night. However, his barn door is always open so he can walk in and out during the good weather. In the state of Maine, a horse must have a three walled building that serves as a shelter to keep safe from the elements. However, some people are die-hard cowboys and believe a horse can survive anything. Which, may be true but is not legal.
A farrier is a man/woman who trims horses feet to prevent them from overgrowing. Horses usually needs to have their feet trimmed every eight to ten weeks, but some horses need to have it done sooner due to quick growth. Some horses have softer feet and require shoes and a blue liquid called Thrush Buster, which kills the bacteria from the hoof. To allow excessive amounts of bacteria and length of the hoof to grow and produce -- could led to future lameness inssues, and very well death.
Whether you believe it or not, or you're simply one of those people who wait until something bad happens -- you absolutely need a vet, regardless of your opinions or beliefs. Because, once your horse goes down from Colic or has broken a leg -- there is very little you can do, if anything at all. Vet's are expensive. It's like a doctor for a very, very large child. It usually costs one hundred dollars for the vet to come out, not including the price of a checkup, shots, gelding, etc. All of these are vital for a horse to prospect and grow.
All in all, some of these things seem pointless. If a horse can live in the wild - why can't he live outside? Over the years people have 'humanized' horses by putting blankets on them during winter, given them polo wraps for the legs to not pull muscles when working, and teaching them the art of 'dressage' that a horse in the wild would never dream of performing a 'piaffe'. However, the said things above are esstenial and without it, your domesticated horse wouldn't be the same. Well, he would, but his performance and ability would be greatly hindered.
Everyday new things come out for horses: Water treadmills, heated stall pads, a trailering hat so he doesn't bang his head while exiting the trailer. And everyday we grow stronger and stronger to humanize these creatures that would've done nothing of the sort wild and free. But, is it for the best? Personally, I believe so.
When I sleep wrong on my neck, I have to chug Advil and keep on going. I had a cold last week – I just got some extra sleep and waited for it to be over. He had a dental in April, I finally went to the dentist this year after waiting two years to get around to making an appointment.
So, let's discuss the horse healthcare industry and how it's grown over the past years. Way back when, there was no such thing as a chiropractor for a horse. Nor a someone to massage your horse when he casted himself in his stall. Now, there are bags you attacch like a crupper to a horses tail so he doesn't poop in a parade, and just about any supplement possible.
--
Buying the horse is the easy part, but after that it's an emotional rollercoaster and your money has a first-class seat to ride along. Now, in our economy a good horse can go from 250-1000 dollars. Which, is decent enough. However, depending on what you want to do with the horse - you'll get stuck paying the essentials. Food(grain, hay, or even hay pellets), shelter, farrier, tack(halter and leadrope are the bare essentials), and vet bills. Most horses are well enough to just have their feet trimmed and go barefoot, and don't require expensive shoes. But, some people aren't very lucky and get stuck paying for shoes which can range from 60 to 100 dollars. Some horses need to be sedated, which is also expensive.
Food, is essential. I pay twenty-four dollars for two, fifty pound bags that usually last about two months. My horse, at his age, eats five pounds of grain at each meal and is followed with two flakes of hay. Hay, can cost from anywhere from three dollars to five dollars. It depends on quality, but usually you can find good prices if you're willing to look around for it. Full grown horses eat half a bale in one day, and there are usually eight flakes in a bale. And depending on the amount of work given; four-to-eight pounds of grain daily, from a fifty pound bag such as the one shown below(which is the brand my horse eats!)
Shelter really depends on other peoples views on what a horse should need. My horse gets twenty-four hour turnout spring-thru-fall, and in the winter time he stays out until dark and I bring him in at night. However, his barn door is always open so he can walk in and out during the good weather. In the state of Maine, a horse must have a three walled building that serves as a shelter to keep safe from the elements. However, some people are die-hard cowboys and believe a horse can survive anything. Which, may be true but is not legal.
A farrier is a man/woman who trims horses feet to prevent them from overgrowing. Horses usually needs to have their feet trimmed every eight to ten weeks, but some horses need to have it done sooner due to quick growth. Some horses have softer feet and require shoes and a blue liquid called Thrush Buster, which kills the bacteria from the hoof. To allow excessive amounts of bacteria and length of the hoof to grow and produce -- could led to future lameness inssues, and very well death.
Whether you believe it or not, or you're simply one of those people who wait until something bad happens -- you absolutely need a vet, regardless of your opinions or beliefs. Because, once your horse goes down from Colic or has broken a leg -- there is very little you can do, if anything at all. Vet's are expensive. It's like a doctor for a very, very large child. It usually costs one hundred dollars for the vet to come out, not including the price of a checkup, shots, gelding, etc. All of these are vital for a horse to prospect and grow.
All in all, some of these things seem pointless. If a horse can live in the wild - why can't he live outside? Over the years people have 'humanized' horses by putting blankets on them during winter, given them polo wraps for the legs to not pull muscles when working, and teaching them the art of 'dressage' that a horse in the wild would never dream of performing a 'piaffe'. However, the said things above are esstenial and without it, your domesticated horse wouldn't be the same. Well, he would, but his performance and ability would be greatly hindered.
Everyday new things come out for horses: Water treadmills, heated stall pads, a trailering hat so he doesn't bang his head while exiting the trailer. And everyday we grow stronger and stronger to humanize these creatures that would've done nothing of the sort wild and free. But, is it for the best? Personally, I believe so.
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