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Bonding with your horse will allow you to learn and respond to his feelings and reactions in different situations. Over time you will learn his body language. A horse that is calm and responsive is generally happy. They will keep their head lowered, and have soft eyes and a relaxed jaw. By not invading your personal space your horse is showing affection by seeking your love and respect; this is a sign of a happy horse. Surprisingly, yawning is a sign not of boredom but of relaxation and calm. You can tell by the way a horse holds himself if there is something wrong; a troubled horse will be reluctant to stand still and will hold his head high with a tense jaw and darting eyes. You must let the horse settle down in his own time, otherwise he may feel trapped and possibly go into “flight” mode, making him even more stressed.

Grooming your horse gives you the opportunity to check him over regularly. You should perform regular inspections of your horse’s teeth, eyes, hooves and shoes as well as keeping an eye on his droppings. Any change in the normal should be reported to your vet at the earliest opportunity – any delay could cause you extra worry, expense and a potential claim on your horse insurance. Your vet will be able to advance book the appropriate appointments for regular worming and vaccinations. There are many different types of worms and parasites and you should rotate medications to get the best benefits and to stop them building up immunity. The result of insufficient or unsuitable medicines and treatment could be a colicky equine, with potential heart and immune system problems. Vaccinations for encephalitis, rhinoneumonitis and influenza are essential for a healthy horse. A good idea would be to have tetanus and rabies vaccinations too. Regular users of trailers at show and equestrian events may need to show a negative Coggins test for presence of the incurable virus EIA or equine infectious anaemia.

Having regular farrier visits is also essential for a happy and comfortable horse. If you allow your horse’s hooves to get too long it will soon be uncomfortable and this will of course affect the mood and performance of your horse. Remember that if your horse’s feet are not taken care of properly that this could lead to bigger problems requiring veterinary treatment – if you are negligent whether interntionally or otherwise you will probably find that your horse insurance will not cover the cost of treatment.Your farrier will need to trim your horse’s hooves every six weeks or so.

During wet and cold weather you should provide a blanket or coat for your horse, and in the summer he will need a fly-protective sheet. Horses can produce a soapy lather when they sweat, so it can be good to use a horse cooler after exercise. Horses are not supposed to drink water after being ridden as it could put their bodies into shock. Also, after exercising, ensure that your horse has regained its normal body temperature and breathing before feeding. After eating you should give your horse at least an hour before exercise.

Horses are happiest when they know that they have a purpose – this could be showing, jumping or therapy, for example. A horse will be happy when he feels that he is performing a useful function. A horse needs to feel a purpose and that everything is ok – a young horse in particular should be praised often even for simply standing still. As horses are naturally inquisitive animals, they will become more brave, positive and confident the more new experiences you introduce to them.

A horse is a beautiful and magnificent creature that deserves a good home for life with excellent care. You have a responsibility as a horse owner to provide the very best in care and welfare. Keeping a horse can be a very expensive business, and without good horse insurance provided by a specialist equine insurer, it is possible to quickly run into financial problems if your horse should become sick or sustain an injury. Providing the very best for your horse will reap you the rewards of love, loyalty and devotion from your equine companion.

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