Horses, like people, need shoes to protect their feet. Most breeds of horses have hooves that are simply not strong enough to sustain them in their working environment. The horse that spends all day working on a farm needs the kind of foot protection necessary for long working life. Most horses work through mud, dust, water, and grass on a daily basis. Each of these things has a different effect on the foot. Foot infections, parasites, cuts to the foot and infection-all of these quickly invade the body and damage your horse’s health. So it’s clear that horses need shoes, but who invented these things?

There is no one clear line back to the first horseshoe. It appears that several societies noticed that their equine friends becoming injured and dying off too quickly from disease and injured feet. There is evidence that Romans devised a shoe that made of leather and cloth. The shoe apparently hugged the hoof and was tied down with the same leather straps that people used to make their sandals. With the development of the iron, many cultures began to make shoes that would last a long time and protect the horse’s feet from stones, sticks and other sharp objects found across paths and roadways. During the crusades, special horseshoes were made to protect the horse’s feet during battles. Ironsmiths were the secret heroes of many battles, capable of keeping the horses feet protected. It is believed that the iron horseshoe was invented in the 1600s, but it was not until the 1800s that the iron horseshoe was patented and mass-produced.

In the 1600 and 1700s, ironsmiths began to regularly produce horseshoes. This was exceptionally laborious work and many smiths could not keep up with the demand. After a horse died, the iron was often recycled. These horseshoes were often melted down and recast into new shoes. Nails were often put through the same process. Many iron horseshoes were used as currency throughout Europe. Automation was in its infancy during the 1800s, and the first massed-produced horseshoes are thought to have been sold in Boston, with a patent being developed soon after. Gone were the days of extensive waiting periods. Owners could now take their horses for a fitting and have new shoes by the next day. Horse labor became more attractive as less time was needed in order to fit a horse for a pair of shoes. Many horses were saved from early deaths thanks to these new innovations in hoof protection.

Horseshoes are now a staple that we can’t imagine living without. Even though most horses are used for racing or entertainment purposes rather than for regular work, every horse still needs a pair of reliable shoes that will protect their feet from the harsh conditions. When a hoof gets injured, this can easily lead to infection and even death. Thus, horseshoes have not lost their hold in the hierarchy of important horse accessories.

Horseshoes have taken on a whole new meaning in recent times. Hanging a horseshoe above a doorway is considered good luck. Iron has a history of being valuable, and it has long been thought to bring luck and prosperity to those who possessed it. This superstition persists to this day, although most people have horseshoe charm bracelets or such smaller objects rather than hanging real shoes over the door. Horseshoes have also developed as a source of entertainment, as in the popular horseshoe game. To play horseshoes, place a metal spike thirty or forty feet away and then take turns pitching horseshoes to see who can get the horseshoe around the spike. Although simple, the game can be quite challenging and fun, even spawning its own league of players.

The main purpose of horseshoes is still to protect the horse’s feet from objects that might injure it. A good set of horseshoes and regular maintenance can go a long way to protecting your equine friend’s health and well being for years to come.

Learning how to feed your horses correctly is one of the most important pieces of knowledge that you can learn as a horse owner. This article provides a brief overview of the nutritional aspects of hay.

The kind of hay that you feed your horse is one of the most important decisions you will make as an owner. Horses that spend six out of seven days in the pasture or paddock with little exercise will require a different kind of hay than more active horses. If you feed hay that is high in alfalfa content, then you will need hay that is high in protein. You can choose a grass hay with about a quarter alfalfa, as this is a good healthy mix.

Horses that are worked more frequently will need a higher alfalfa or protein content. This will help keep your horse’s energy up to perform his best. Here are some things that you should consider when making your hay purchase. First, make sure you understand exactly what you are buying. Here are some things you should watch out for when choosing your hay. First, look out for signs of mold or mildew. Either one of these will make your horse sick if he ingests it. Dust is another thing you should look out for if you are looking for hay. Dusty hay has been known to cause horse heaves. This condition is the human equivalent of emphysema. Dust will often affect your horse negatively, causing him to breathe with difficulty and cough. A horse’s cough may become so bad that it cannot be ridden, as exertion may only exacerbate the problem.

It is important to maintain a good relationship with your hay seller in order to ensure that you continue to get the best hay. Hay for horses-a nutritional aspect helps ensure that you get the most for your dollar. As a general rule, you should feed your horses the best quality hay at least twice a day. The ideal and more acceptable feeding schedule would be four times a day. This is because horses have small stomachs and thus need to graze on a long-period basis. Horses do not eat large meals and then digest, but rather they eat in small amounts, frequently.

Why is good quality hay so important for your horse? It will keep your horse’s digestive system running smoothly. The body works hard to digest the hay, especially the fiber in it. The digestion process will aid in keeping your horse warm. In general, you can feed hay all year around if you choose to supplement your horse with it. This can work as long as you keep your horse on grass pasture at the same time. Hopefully, both are available to you. If your horse doesn’t have access to a grass pasture, it is perfectly acceptable to feed hay each day.

How much hay should you feed to your horses? Some people feed large round bales to their horses. This can help eliminate some of the work associated with feeding several times a day, although it may cause quite a mess. Most horses like the grazing options that open feeding offers. Make certain to feed the same kind of hay for horses-a nutritional aspect on a consistent basis. Many horses have sensitive stomachs and will not take well to sudden changes in their diets.

Colic is one problem that many horse owners must eventually deal with. One way to describe this problem is as a bad stomachache in horses. Colic can be caused by any number of problems. One of the most common factors is a sudden change in the horses diet. Always make sure to make the change gradually if you need to change your horse’s diet. Once a horse has gotten colic, they are more likely to get colic again.

There is still some controversy surrounding the feeding of alfalfa to horses. When considering hay for horses-a nutritional aspect, alfalfa is indeed a very good supplement at any working level. Of course, you don’t want to feed an excess of anything. Feeding free choice hay is not the issue. A horse will not make itself sick on hay. In general, free choice hay feeding is a good option for feeding. However, just because you are feeding your horse on a free basis doesn’t mean you shouldn’t constantly check up on him.

What are the benefits of hay feeding? Grass, alfalfa, clover and timothy are easy to handle and easy to store and transport. The hay you feed your horse is as important as the water you give him. Thus, you will need to analyze your horse’s needs and make a choice as to what kind of hay and combination of grains will work best for your horse. If you have any questions, it’s best to seek the advice of your veterinarian.

Choosing a saddle is one of the first things you will need to learn about after becoming a horse owner. Ideally, a saddle will be the best fit for both you and your horse. At minimum, it is recommended that you spend a minimum of $250 for a quality saddle. The next most important purchase you will be making after the horse is the saddle you choose. A saddle can potentially make or break your riding experience. Both you and your horse will experience a more comfortable and pleasant riding experience with the ideal saddle. You want your time together to be as enjoyable as possible. A bad saddle can cause discomfort and pain to both of you. A horse ridden with an ill fitting saddle will tend to display his discomfort by head tossing, rearing, balking, kicking, biting, head shaking, and refusing to make certain transitions.

If you want a quality, long-lasting saddle, you will want to spend a minimum of $250 to a few thousand dollars. Clearly, not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars on a saddle. You should be happy to hear that there are plenty of quality saddles available to fit almost any budget. You should start by visiting a few tack shops. You will also want to check out some mail order catalogs or even the Internet. It can be very easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer variety of saddles that are offered. Your best bet is to take your time and discriminate carefully.

If you buy a saddle through a mail order catalog or the World Wide Web, make sure to familiarize yourself with the stores return policy. It can be hard to choose the right saddle by looking at the picture. Even though the saddle comes highly rated and recommended does not mean it is the best for you. You want to make sure that you will be able to return the saddle if it doesn’t work out. The last thing you want is to own an expensive saddle that you can’t even use.

You wan to make sure that you are comfortable with your choice of riding position before you choose a saddle. The kind of saddle you choose will depend on whether you ride Western or English. If you choose Western, you will have your pick of reining, stock, roping or pleasure saddles. English riders can choose from the saddle seat, the hunt seat or dressage. Take the time to research the various brand names of the saddles made specifically for your riding style. Visit different web sites or contact the manufacturers directly. You can ask them about their products and any special features you may be interested in. Visit with tack shop owners or other riders in your discipline to get the perspective and see what brands they would recommend.

Although it can be tempting to get the first shiny saddle that you see, make sure that you get the right one for your riding needs. Try not to scrimp however, since spending money on a top quality saddle can save you money down the road. Ideally, you will want to purchase a well-made saddle that can last at least twenty years under good maintenance. The last thing you want is to purchase a cheap saddle that will need to be immediately replaced. That will add up fast. Make sure that the saddle you choose is comfortable and will not cause any behavioral problems stemming from ill-fitting equipment.

Here are some saddle shopping tips:

Go ahead and sit in the saddle to ensure it fits you comfortably. Saddles come in many sizes, so come prepared to try many out.

You’ll ideally want to place the saddle on your horse and make sure it fits him comfortably as well before making a purchase. If possible, take him for a ride using the new saddle. There are many tack shops that allow customers a minimum of 24 hours to make sure the saddle fits right.

Make observations on how the saddle fits your horse. No part should be touching the horse’s spine or pressing down on the withers. Take the saddle off when you’re done test-driving. Make sure there is no sweat or dry spots on the withers.

Consider buying a high quality used saddle if you can’t afford a high quality new saddle. It’s always better to buy a high quality used saddle than a brand new one that is poorly built. A well-built saddle will not lose its value due to age or usage. If you decide to buy a new or used saddle, make sure you stay within your budget and that it fits properly.

Anyone who expects to raise healthy livestock these days should know the basics of animal vaccination. The new horse owner should be no exception. Here are a few basic medical terminologies of vaccination that you will probably grow more familiar with as you learn more about vaccination. These include, oxoid, antitoxin, passive and active immunity and complex term attenuated vaccines. Here is a brief overview that will hopefully get you up to speed in case you don’t recognize these terms.

Passive Immunity

Passive immunity is most often described as the amount of resistance power that the mother passes to its offspring through the first milk. Antiserum injections are artificial means for passing such temporary resistance. This important antiserum is made from the blood serum of animals that already have developed this immunity. These provide protection against canine distemper, human measles and other diseases.

Active Immunity

Active immunity describes the process of antibodies in systems that are created by the animal itself after contracting and recovering from a disease. This principle is used in the development of all kinds of vaccines.

Attenuated vaccines

All vaccines are initially produced from viruses that produce diseases in a weakened state. This ensures that the vaccinated test subject or animal does not contract the deadly disease. Only a mild version of symptoms of a disease can help ensure long lasting immunity. A virus is either dead or living, but attenuated known as the modified live virus. Another type of active vaccine is known as the toxoid, which combats the toxins of a bacteria rather than a virus.

The Horse Owner’s Guide

Horses are highly prone to viral and bacterial attacks. These attacks are often of varying degrees, from mild to debilitating diseases. Most horse owners don’t recognize the importance of a scientific and well-planned vaccination program. This can be a key factor for the successful management of your horses. Your horses have a greater chance of contracting diseases on the move. A charted immunization program provides a basic care plan for a horse to remain viable and healthy. A vaccination program will vary depending on the type, number, and purpose of the animals reared. You will need guidance from a good vet for putting together a good vaccination program.

A Few Common Tips For The Vaccination Program

Visit your vet to get started on a good vaccination program. Your horse will likely require booster doses of vaccines. These are the most important and should be administered at suggested intervals. You should follow your vet’s recommendations carefully and follow the vaccination program to a tee.

Besides the vaccination program, you should make sure to rear your horse in a healthy environment, providing proper nutrition that helps build disease resistance. You will also want to administer the correct vaccine at the right time. A vaccination can be counter-productive if not given at the proper interval or dose.

Vaccines should always be kept in refrigerated conditions. Gloved hands should administer them. Be careful not to use expired vaccines that may not act on the animals. Administering the injection can be tricky. Beginners often make the error of giving a subcutaneous injection in place of an intramuscular injection, which tends to defeat the purpose of vaccination. Always give the proper doses and use a clean and hygienic syringes or disposable needles. You will most likely require the help of a vet to set up your vaccination program.

Vaccinations are to be used in order to prevent sickness or to reduce the intensity of illness. Make sure you understand the whys and how’s of putting your horse on the right kind of vaccination schedule. This is a crucial part of keeping your horse healthy, happy and disease-free for years to come.

Caring for a horse is an excellent way to gain new skills and build a strong bond the animal. However, it is important to practice safety procedures when handling your horse. There can be some risks involved in handling horses. They are large animals which are very strong, and can easily hurt you. This is why it is important to have an understanding of these animals.

If you encounter a horse that is owned by another person, you never want to feed them without the permission of the owner. You always want to make sure you approach a horse from the side or the front, and never from the rear. Be sure to announce your presence. Approaching the horse from behind can cause it to become startled, and if it kicks you in the head it could easily paralyze or kill you.

When caring for your horse, you want to make gentle movements. Never move quickly or run around horses, as they may become frightened or agitated. You also want to speak quietly around the horse and avoid making loud or strange noises. Always keep children and other pets such as dogs under control at all times. If you want to ride the horse, always wear the proper footwear and a good helmet.

Like many animals, horses are the most dangerous when they are scared. When they become scared, the only thing they are concerned with is survival, and anyone in their path will get hurt. The best way to avoid a situation like this is to understand what scares horses, and how you can avoid scaring them. Horses are herbivores, and have always been the target of predators.

Because of this, horses have developed the ability to easily detect potential predators. They are always alert, and their long necks and eyes assist them in watching their environment at all times. When looking at a horse from a distance, it is important to pay attention to its body language. When horses are startled they will display up to three signs with their bodies.

The first thing you want to watch for is a horse which suddenly freezes. This is a sign that it is startled. It freezes to be make it harder for predators to detect it, and will slowly look around in the direction of the disturbance. A horse will also spin around or jump, and this is designed to injure potential predators. When cornered, a horse will fight, and its feet and hooves can be deadly. Always use caution when handling horses.