Owning a horse requires significant time and effort.Owning a horse can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Whether a horse is used for pleasure riding, competition or just kept as a pet, it can make a wonderful companion and activity.
There are many important responsibilities associated with owning a horse. Owning a horse is a long-term commitment, requires significant time and effort, and is expensive.
As a horse owner, it is your legal responsibility to make sure that your horse is provided with the basic requirements to keep it healthy and happy.
The basic requirements include adequate and appropriate feed, water, shelter, space and exercise, company, health care, and treatment of illness or injury.
The basic requirements for caring for horses are as follows:
Feed
Horses must have access to an adequate amount of good quality feed in the form of roughage (pasture, hay or chaff) to keep them in good body condition. A guide to the amounts to feed is 1–2 kg per 100kg of bodyweight.
You may need to supplementary feed a horse that is being worked regularly or if there is not enough pasture and the horse is losing body condition. Provide a salt lick or mineral block in paddock. Check with your veterinarian for suitable supplementary feeds – grass clippings and many food scraps are not suitable feed as they can cause a horse to become ill.
Water
Clean water must always be available. A dam or self-filling trough is best. Bath tubs, if used, must be checked daily and re-filled if necessary. Dams and self-filling troughs should also be checked frequently. Buckets are not suitable as a permanent water supply as they can be tipped over. As a guide, a horse may drink 25-45 litres per day in hot weather.
Feed and water general guide
| Horse size | Forage/Roughage requirement (pasture, hay or chaff) | Water requirement | Supplementary feed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pony (up to 13.5 hands, 200–350kg) | 3–7kg/day |
Clean water must always be available – dams or self-filling troughs are the most appropriate.
If your water supply is not self-filling it must be checked daily.
25–45L in hot weather
|
Clean water must always be available – dams or self-filling troughs are the most appropriate.
If your water supply is not self-filling it must be checked daily.
25–45L in hot weather
|
| Galloway (13.5–15 hands, 350–500kg) | 7–10kg/day | ||
| Horse (15–16.5 hands, 500–650kg) | 10–13kg/day | ||
| Heavy Horse (16.5+ hands, 650+kg) | 13+ kg/day |
Shelter
Horses need shelter from extremes of sun, wind and rain. Trees or a walk-in shed / stable make suitable shelter. A waterproof rug can be used to protect the horse from cold weather but must be checked daily to ensure it is not rubbing, slipping or leaking.
Exercise/Space
Horses must have enough space to walk and run around, unless they are exercised daily. Sick horses may need to be confined under the directions of a veterinarian.
Tethering of horses is only acceptable for short periods of time and requires daily supervision and inspection, provision of adequate feed and water, suitable tethering equipment and flat terrain. Horses must not be tethered long-term.
Paddocks
Fences must be kept in good repair to prevent injury and escape. Remove rubbish and weeds regularly to prevent injury to the horse. Be aware to prevent threats such as loose wire or attractions such as a neighbouring horse that can cause a horse to be injured by a fence.
General health care
Feet
Have a farrier trim the hooves every 6-8 weeks to prevent them chipping or becoming too long and uncomfortable for the horse. Shoes are only needed if the horse is to be ridden on hard or rocky ground.
Teeth
Horse's teeth need to be checked by a horse dentist at least once a year for a horse kept in a paddock. If not treated they can become sharp and cause pain and mouth injuries.
Horses under the age of 5, or those fed grain, need a dental check at least once every 3–6 months.
Worming
Worm your horse regularly to prevent worms building up in the stomach and intestines. Many worming pastes require use every 6-8 weeks. Follow the directions on the product as dosage frequency and amounts vary. Reducing the build-up of manure in your horse's paddock is also a simple way to reduce worm contamination of pastures.
Vaccination
A veterinarian should vaccinate your horse for diseases such as tetanus, viral respiratory disease and strangles. Your vet will advise what your horse should be vaccinated for and how often.
Monitor body condition
Do not let your horse get too fat or too thin. As a guide, if the ribs are showing it means the horse is too thin. A round rump, big belly and crested neck means the horse is too fat.
Ideally, ribs should be able to be felt but not be seen. A horse's body condition must not be allowed to become less than body condition score 2.
See Condition Scoring Horses for further information.
Laminitis (founder)
Some horses that get too fat, particularly ponies, can develop laminitis. This is a very painful hoof condition that may be untreatable and require the horse to be "put down".
Consult a vet if the horse appears lame or uncomfortable. Further information is available under General health/Laminitis.
Colic
Colic is a name for a range of problems related to a horse's digestive tract (gut). Colic can be very painful and can have very serious consequences, including death.
Symptoms include lying down or rolling frequently, teeth grinding, restlessness, repeatedly kicking or looking at their flanks or sides. If you suspect your horse has colic seek urgent veterinary attention.
Disease in horses
Horses, like other animals, can suffer from a variety of diseases, some of which are notifiable in Victoria.
General horse care guide
Feet
|
Should be trimmed by a farrier every 6-8 weeks.
Shoes required if horse is being ridden on rough or rocky ground.
Cost: $35-$100
|
Teeth
|
Must be checked by a horse dentist every 12 months.
Horses under 5 years of age or being fed grain regularly should be checked every 3-6 months.
|
Worming
|
Worming horses prevents worm build up in intestine.
Should be done every 6-8 weeks.
Reduce manure in paddocks to reduce worm contamination.
|
Vaccination
| Veterinary advice should be sought regarding vaccination against tetanus, viral respiratory disease and strangles. |
Body condition
| Avoid allowing your horse to become too fat or too thin – see page Condition Scoring and Weight Estimation of Horses for more information. |
Laminitis
|
Occurs in overweight horses.
Painful hoof condition that can become untreatable.
If your horse appears lame, uncomfortable or stands in water for long periods consult your vet immediately.
|
Company
Horses are herd animals and need the company of others, whether in the same paddock or a neighbouring paddock. Keeping a horse on it's own so that it can not see other horses may lead to behaviour problems in the paddock or when out riding.
Supervision
Check your horse carefully at least daily to make sure it has enough feed and water, and is not injured or ill. Consult a vet if the horse is injured or ill. If handled frequently, your horse will be easier to manage when the farrier, vet or dentist comes.
Stallions
Stallions are difficult to manage and are not suitable as companions. Have all colts and stallions desexed (gelded) unless they are to be used for breeding. Geldings and mares make much more controllable companions than stallions.
Disposal
If you can no longer care for the horse, you must arrange for it to be cared for by someone else, sell it or have it "put down" by a vet or knacker. It is much kinder to have the horse disposed of than let it suffer from neglect.
Selling a horse can be done privately such as through a friend or in the paper, or the horse can be taken to a saleyard for public auction.
Riding
If your horse can be ridden, attending pony club or having regular riding lessons will help you to learn to ride properly and enjoy your time with the horse more.
If you have little or no experience riding a horse you should seek professional training from a riding instructor, pony/adult horse club, or riding establishment.
Purchasing properly fitting riding equipment is essential to ensure your safety and prevent injury to your horse. Consult with your local saddlery and/or riding instructor for advice on the appropriate riding equipment for you and your horse.
Breeding
Breeding horses is expensive, time consuming and requires special facilities. Breeding horses should not be done indiscriminately and should only be done by, or with the advice of, experienced people.
Buying a horse? Things to consider
- Can you provide all of the above requirements?
- How much time and money do you have to spare? Keeping a horse requires substantial commitment and is expensive.
- Do you have a suitable property to keep the horse on that is appropriately fenced, suitable for catching and working the horse, contains adequate pasture or other feed, and is close enough to home to allow daily visits?
- Do you have enough money to feed the horse if the pasture becomes inadequate?
- Can you afford to purchase gear, including a saddle, saddle blanket, bridle, grooming gear, feed and water containers, and riding clothes, including a suitable hard hat and riding boots? Also include the cost of, and access to, a pony club or riding lessons.
- Arrange an examination of the horse from your own vet before buying. While expensive, this may save you from buying a horse that is unhealthy, lame or otherwise unsuitable. If possible, take an experienced horse person with you to assist with selection of a suitable horse to buy. A trial period before buying is ideal so you can be sure that the horse is suited to you.
Emergencies
Make sure you have a plan for your horse in an emergency. Consider having your horse microchipped and make sure your property has a Property Identification Code (PIC). This will help to identify your horse, you and your property in an emergency, should the need arise.
The emergency management arrangements for animals in Victoria are outlined in the Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan.
More information about managing animals in emergencies can be found on the Emergencies page
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