Caring for Your Horse. Lesley Ward
Roger Sipe, Special Projects Editor
Lindsay Hanks, Associate Editor
Matt Hennings, Art Director
Jessica Jaensch, Production Coordinator
June Kikuchi, Andrew DePrisco, Editorial Directors
The horses in this book are referred to as he or she in alternating chapters unless their gender is apparent from the activity discussed.
Text copyright © 1998, 2003, 2010 by Lesley Ward. Previously published in different-sized formats in The Horse Illustrated® Guide to Caring for Your Horse.
Back Cover photo courtesy of Moira C. Reeve. All other photos by Lesley Ward.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of BowTie Press®, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ward, Lesley.
Caring for your horse / by Lesley Ward.
p. cm.
“Previously published as “Horse illustrated guide to caring for your horse” by Lesley Ward.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-935484-51-6
eISBN 978-1-937049-38-6
1. Horses. I. Ward, Lesley. Horse illustrated guide to caring for your horse. II. Title.
SF285.3.W37 2010
636.1’083--dc22
2010014069
BowTie Press®
A Division of BowTie, Inc.
3 Burroughs
Irvine, CA 92618
Printed and bound in the United States
14 13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5
acknowledgments
I would like to thank the following people for their help with this book: Kim Abbott; Marian Abe; Sharon Biggs; Jane Butteriss; Marge Fritze; Jane Frusher; Allison Griest; Paula Grimstead; Diane Harkey; Moira C. Harris; Lon Hyers; Kelly James; Denise Justice; Eric Matthews; Julie Mignery; Carol Nelson; Jennifer Nice; Sherry Pascual; Heather Hayes Schram; Jennifer Smith; Annette Slowinski, D.V.M.; Katherine Waldrop; Holly Werner; and finally, my father, Alan Ward, for his excellent editing skills.
Contents
Understanding Horse Behavior • Horse Sense • Horse “Talk” • Catching a Horse • Turning out a Horse • Leading a Horse in a Halter • Leading Problems • Tying up a Horse
The Pasture-Kept Horse • Routine Pasture Checks • Paddocks • Stables and Stalls • Stable Vices
Feeding Rules • Food to Feed a Horse • Vitamins and Supplements • Treats
Taking Your Horse’s Temperature • Health Problems • Regular Veterinary Checkups • First Aid • Modern Health Therapies
Grooming Kit • Get Grooming! • Bath Time • Farewell to Flies • Hoof Care • The Farrier
The Halter • The Bridle • Reins • Bits • Curb Bits • Hackamores • Nosebands • Breastplate or Western Breast Collar • The Saddle • Saddle-Related Tack • Boots and Bandages • Blankets
Carrying Tack • Tacking Up English Style • Tacking Up Western Style • Does Your Tack Fit? • Untacking English Style • Untacking Western Style • Cleaning Your Tack
What Kind of Trailer Do You Need? • Looking for a Trailer • Traveling Gear • Loading a Horse • Driving a Trailer • Unloading a Horse • A Caring Relationship
Introduction
You’ve finally found the horse of your dreams. He’s passed the vet exam, you’ve paid for him, and you’ve taken him home. Now the fun truly begins. Your new horse is going to need a lot of your time, and it is up to you to keep him healthy and happy. The way he looks and feels largely depends on the way you care for him, so you should do it right.
This book describes the basics of horse care and management: important information that every horse owner needs to know. You’ll learn how to handle your horse and make his new home a comfortable and safe place. You’ll also learn about grooming, feeding, and tacking up. This book is full of tips to keep your horse healthy and in tip-top shape. You’ll know if your horse isn’t feeling 100 percent and what to do if he gets injured.
Owning a horse is a major responsibility. Even if your horse is kept at a boarding facility and others do most of the work for you,