Supplies Needed to Care for a Horse

Do you know what you need to properly care for that new horse you have just bought. Before even bringing him home, you will need several things. First you will need to make sure you have some sort of shelter for him to get in out the rain, heat, snow, and cold. Yes, a horse can sunburn and should have plenty of shade to get in. They also do not need to be out in freezing rain or sleet. You should also have a good pasture field for him to run in. At least one acre is a must for him to get proper exercise and grass to eat.

Second you will have to have a watering trough and a feed trough to put in the pasture. Also a feed pan and water bucket are also needed for a stall or shed where you will be keeping the horse if for some reason you have to keep him up.

Third, of course, you will have to have horse feed. You will need to ask the person you are buying him from just what kind of diet the horse has been on. You definitely do not want to change a horse's diet abruptly. Changing his diet gradually and a little at a time should be alright. The best place to purchase horse feed is at a Farmer's Co-op or somewhere that specializes in feed for horses. And you will also want to have a plentiful supply of hay on hand for when there is not enough grass in the pasture field.

Fourth and a must is to have brushes, combs, hoof picks (or something to clean the hooves), fly spray (for fly season), medication and bandages for cuts and scrapes, shavings to put in a stall where the horse will be kept, lead ropes, and halters. Now this is not everything you will need, but the rest you will need to figure out as you go.

One thing you want to always make sure you have when you take the horse home is time. You must be able to care for him, work with him, and treat him properly. If you just take a horse home, turn him out to pasture, and just let him go, you may be asking for trouble the next time you try to do anything with him. Some horses, if they are not ridden at least once a week and worked with at least once a week, will get stubborn and strong headed. And this will sometimes leave you (literally) in the dirt when you try to ride them again.

In conclusion, it takes a lot of equipment and supplies and time to take care of a horse properly. Make certain you have the means and time before buying a new horse.

Source:

Having horses for over 20 years