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horses Interesting Facts about Horses China has the world’s largest population of horses, with over 8 million of them! Horses were voted as the fourth favorite animal in a worldwide poll. It was beaten by the tiger, the dog and the dolphin. Horse meat is consumed in some parts of the world and is exported from the United States. Police officers sometimes ride horses to control large crowds and patrol the streets. Horses can sleep both standing up and laying down. Horses are pregnant for 335-340 days. The oldest horse, ‘Old Billy’, lived to be 62 years old. Vets look at a the teeth of a horse to work out how old they are. Horses are hoofed mammals that have 24 teeth specially adapted for chewing their favorite foods. But what are these favorite foods? What do horses eat? This post will answer that question, and also look at some interesting facts about horses. were horses live Horses owned by people rely on their humans for shelter. Depending on the size of the horse and the depth of their human’s pockets a horses’ home can range from a stables inside a shed (or barn) to a patch of grassed fenced off with wire and star pickets. Some stables/barns/sheds (whatever you like to call it) can be quite fancy, but this is for the human’s pleasure, generally horses are happy with food and water, and the more space they have to move around, the happier they are.

As you would expect when horses naturally graze all day, they can develop habits in a stable environment, like cribbing (or chewing their stall), kicking and biting. These little habits start as just a result of boredom, but if you don’t attend to them straight away, can become ongoing habits for the horse, no matter where they live. 1. Wild Horses

Naturally, horses live out in the weather 24/7. They don’t have the luxury of a tin shed protecting them from wind and rain, instead they rely on their coats, thick through winter and thin through summer to keep the elements at bay. Horses are an introduced species to Australia, although there are some wild/feral horses around. In Australia and overseas they all live in similar conditions – where ever they can find food. Horses a grazers and move around a lot. They live anywhere there is grass to eat and water to drink. how to care for a horseYou must check for poisonous plants in your pasture weekly, at the very least. The most harmful plants are yew, deadly nightshade, ragwort, foxglove, buttercups, oak leaves and acorns, bracken, laurel, privet, meadow saffron, castor bean, locoweed, horsetail, star thistle, and sorghum.

Your pasture must be fenced, of course, to prevent your horse from escaping or being injured. White rail fences look great, but are costly to install and maintain. Plain wire fencing is fine if it is well-secured to strong wooden posts. Barbed wire is not recommended for horse fencing.

Your horse will require shelter to protect it from wind, rain, and the sun. A natural grove of trees provides good shade, but for shelter from the elements, a three-sided enclosure works the best. Make sure your shelter is large enough to enable all your horses to fit inside together, and build it so the back wall faces the prevailing wind.

Horses require a constant supply of fresh, clean water. If you plan to use a watering bucket, you must refill it at least twice daily and whenever it is empty. Putting the bucket inside a tire will keep it from being easily tipped over. A watering trough, supplied by a pipe, is better, but must be checked during winter weather to ensure the pipe and water surface have not frozen.

Proper bedding is vital for horses kept in a barn or stable. Horses should not stand all day on a hard floor, and they will lie down to sleep or rest. Straw is a popular bedding choice because it is inexpensive, warm, and comfortable. However, straw occasionally contains fungal spores, and the horse will occasionally eat straw bedding.

Dust-free wood shavings are clean and hygienic. You can also use rubber matting for a soft resting and standing surface, but you should put straw or wood shavings on top of it to provide warmth. Also, hemp has become a popular bedding choice recently.

The stable must be cleaned (‘mucked out’) daily. If your horse is stabled all day, it should be cleaned three times daily. To muck out the stable, you will remove any droppings with a shovel and wheelbarrow, and level the horse’s bedding.

After you have removed the droppings, separate the soiled bedding from the still-clean bedding material. Sweep, and then clean the floor with a stable disinfectant. After the floor is dry, return the clean bedding to its place, then add fresh bedding material to make up for the removed soiled amount.

If your horse is stabled most or all of the day, it will require grooming daily to keep its coat healthy. However, don’t over groom a horse that spends most or all of its time in the pasture. The natural oils in its coat help to keep your horse warm and dry. horse breeds

Popular Breeds of Horses Around the World (Pictures too) American Paint Horse - Has an easy going temperament & used for cattle work.

American Quarter Horse - Versatile, popular equine breed that's great for new riders.

American Saddlebred Horse - Result of selective breeding of four breeds of horses.

American Standardbred Horse - Most of this breed complete a mile race in 3 minutes.

Appaloosa Horse - This horse's spotted coat and fur is its most recognize characteristic.

Arabian Horse - Arabians are know for being affectionate and a dished head profile.

Clydesdale Horses - Known for their large frames and study working abilities.

Ponies - Distinctive pony breed (breeding two ponies) & is less than 14.2 hand high.

Hanoverian Horse - This breed of horse excels in jumping, dressage, and eventing.

Missouri Fox Trotter - Breed named after its unusual gait and smooth movement.

Morgan Horse - Historically the official horse breed of the United States.

Palomino Horse - Breed admired for their beauty, versatility, & endurance.

Peruvian Paso / Paso Fino - Breed known for an easy ride on rocky terrain.

Tennessee Walking Horse - Distinct breed with no trot - only a "running walk."

Thoroughbred Horse - Horse of choice for racing and speed related equestrian sports. Miniature Horses - Miniature Horse Breed Makes a Great Household Pet.

Pinto Horses - Their coloring provided a degree of natural camouflage.

Mustang Horses - Mustangs can range in size of between 13 and 16 hands.

Types of Equine Breeds

Coldbloods - Larger, gentle horses for working or hauling.

Hotbloods - Swift, fast horses used for racing and speed.

Warmbloods - Great breed for equestrian sports and competitions. horse helth care Common Equine Health Conditions

Allergies - Learn the basic symptoms and treatments for common horse allergies. Colic Basics - Understand the medical causes behind equine colic. Colic Causes - Learn what food and items in your horse's environment may cause colic. Colic and Corrective Surgery Options - Could surgery be an option for your horse? Colic Diagnosis - Learn about how colic is diagnosed by a veterinarian. Cushing's disease and Old Age - A pituitary tumor that can grow in a horse's old age. Dehydration Illnesses - Learn about horse diseases than can cause dehydration. Dermatitis & Skin Itches - Learning how to help you horse with itchy skin. Excess Salvia & Drooling - Caused by fungus introduced into the digestive system. Exuberant Granulation (proud flesh) - Helps heal wounds and repair injuries quickly. Heaves - Prevention and Treatment - Learn about this respiratory disease causes. Headshaking - Associated with nerve problems and allergies in horses. Navicular Disease - Intermittent Lameness - Can be hard to diagnosis and treat. Stomach Problems & Ulcers - Can be detected early with tell-tale lesions. Rainrot - Also called rain scald or dew poisoning, caused by a bacterium. Stifle Problems - Affect the "knee" joints of the horse. Stringhalt & Shivers - Illnesses that affect a horse's movement. White Line Disease - Growing problem that affects the hooves. West Nile Virus - Prevent by controlling mosquitos in your horse's area. General Health Care Information

Antibiotics Overuse - Learn about the dangers of giving these drugs unnecessarily. Castrating Horses - Understanding the operations and the after effects. Cold Weather Health Issues - Horses need a little extra care in the colder months. Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Treatments - Can reduce swelling and inflammation. Essential Minerals Horses Need - Certain minerals are essential to overall health. Euthanasia - Having a plan when you horse is suffering. Evaluating A Horse's General Condition - A health checklist for owners. Heat stress - Heat strokes and sunburns are harmful to horses. Helping a Horse Gain Weight - Getting your horse to a healthy weight. Keeping Your Horse Cool - When does your horse need a cool down. Post-surgical care - Helping your horse heal quickly. Swimming and Horse Rehabilitation - Swimming programs for rebuilding. Tetanus in Horses - Caused by bacteria growth in deep wounds. Teeth & Dental care - Dental exams are good preventative medicine. Using Laser in Horse Surgery - Technology helps horses too! Parasites, Worms and Insects

Controlling Horse Flies - Preventing painful bites from flies. Daily Deworming - What option is right for your horse? Deworming Schedules - A careful balence of keeping a horse healthy. Parasites - Has (or how) your horse been infested. Single-celled killers Possums can bring harmful bacteria to horses. Snake Bites - Signs and what to do. Tapeworms - Much easier to control these days. Types of worms - Common worms and horse parasites. Horse Behavior Changes and Illnesses

Cribbing - A sign or stress and nervousness. Hind limb interference - When a horse hits its back legs together. Mood swings & Temperament Changes - could be a sign of illness. Stall Walking and Weaving - Helping a bored horse. Common Injuries and Wound Treatment

Bump and Minor Hematomas - How they look, causes and treatments. Emergency First Aid - Helping your horse in a medical emergency. Lumps and bumps, knots and knobs - What's normal - What's not? Alternative and Natural Health Care

Alternative medicine - Natural treatments for horses. Chiropractic Horse Care - Can help bone, muscle and joint pain. Equine Thermography - Can show damage to a horse's body. Horse Acupuncture Treatments - How does it work? Horse Massage - Can help sore muscles. Therapeutic magnets - Stems from an ancient holistic practice. Healthy Horse Immune Systems - Herbs that may help your horse's immune system. Leg, Back, Tendon Problems

Back pain - Symptoms, causes & affects on older horses. Bowed tendons How to spot them and vet treatment Equine Broken Bones - Leg fractures can be healed these days. Horse Jogging & Proper Shoeing - What is normal? Joint Pain - Associated reason, diseases and treatments. Liniments and balms - How they are used and what is it? Splints - Large swollen areas on the legs. Standing Bandages Take Practice - Must be done correctly. Wrap a Horse's Leg - Goals, effectiveness of wrapping a horse's leg. Mature and Older Horse Care

Feeding Older Horses - Special nutritional needs for mature horses. Geriatric, Mature or Older Horses - Special health considerations.