Caring for Horses

Supplying daily nutritional requirements - Horses have nutritional demands that producers must meet each day. Many producers utilize nutritionists or university animal scientists to develop the best food mix.

Grooming - Ranchers provide regular grooming to ensure the comfort of their horses.

Hoof trimming - Professionals routinely trim horses' hooves to keep the animals comfortable and their hooves healthy.

Providing periodic dental exams - Professionals routinely check horses' mouths for healthy gums and teeth.

Cleaning bedding - Horse barns require regular cleaning to provide a comfortable environment.

Allowing ample time for exercise - Ranchers give their horses daily rides and access to outside areas to ensure they are healthy and content.

Cleaning tack - After exercising a horse, the producer must clean the tack, or riding equipment.

Providing Veterinary care – If a horse is injured or sick, the producer will isolate it to provide one-on-one care and call in a veterinarian for advice.

Offering foaling birthing assistance – Many producers stay with their mares (mother horses) throughout the foaling (delivery) to ensure the safety of both animals.

Record keeping - Numerous records are kept to ensure the quality care of every horse.

Horses have many roles including transportation, helping with farming and ranching, sport, therapeutic training, mounted police, search and rescue, and recreational riding. Horses in an agriculture or rural setting are mainly used for:

Sport

Equestrian event
Rodeo events

Help with cattle production

Checking pastures and fences
Herding cattle in a stress-free manner

Recreational riding