Whether you’ve just bought yourself a first horse or have owned them for many years, there’s nothing wrong with picking up some new tips. Today, we want to provide exactly this with regards to caring for your horse. By the end, even beginners should walk away feeling more confident about this rewarding and amazing experience.

Tip #1: Get the Basics Right 

Before anything else, make sure you have the basics set up and working well. For example, this includes:

• Living conditions
• Grooming
• Routine for the horses
• Equipment
• Feed
• Understanding health

With these basics in place, they have a suitable place to live, they have somewhat of a routine, and you understand the important aspects such as equipment, feed, and monitoring their health.

Tip #2: Adhere to the Rules 

When caring for your horse, there are some general steps that you need to follow. We’ve listed them below:

• Stables must remain clean, safe, and suitable for purpose
• Check on your horse twice a day (if not more!)
• Schedule regular horse checks
• Ensure that grazing remains free from poisonous plants and other hazards
• Always provide enough feed to cater to their breed and workload
• Regularly check that water is topped up
• Keep all equipment in good condition
• Keep a schedule for worming and vaccinations

Tip #3: Muck Out Correctly 

While some people love mucking out, others absolutely hate it. Either way, it’s rewarding to see the difference between a dirty stable and a clean one. However, it’s important to remember that your horse doesn’t care about appearance…just that the stable is clean. As long as you’re clearing up wet patches and droppings, your horse will be happy. Of course, they also need a comfortable bed and banks around the edges. With this, you might be able to shave some time off your mucking out procedures.

Tip #4: Learn How to Feed

Again, there are some general rules when it comes to feeding. If you want to keep your horse happy, you should:

• Create a balanced diet
• Feed the best quality possible
• Pay attention to their weight, workload, and size when choosing portion sizes
• Always make adjustments over a period of time
• Provide clean water
• Keep tabs on feed measurements
• Avoid concentrates in the hour before and after exercise
• Stick with a feeding routine once established
• Always feed after the work is done
• Feed little and frequently

Tip #5: Take Your Time with Grooming 

When caring for your horse, grooming will be an important part of the process. For us, the secret to a well-groomed horse is time. Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, we recommend investing time into grooming. For example, it starts with a hoof pick and cleaning out stones and dirt. While doing this, you can also check the condition of their shoes and feet.

From here, brush with the horse’s coat and keep yourself in a safe position while brushing; you should also be careful of the more sensitive areas. Once they’re brushed and clean, you can help them sparkle with a metal curry and brush. Even after this, you might want to use specialist wipes for the ears, eyes, and nostrils.

With these five simple tips, you can care for your horse in the right way and ensure that they stay healthy both now and long into the future. Hopefully, this guide has provided a foundation for beginners while also still adding something useful for those with lots of experience!