There are many different breeds of horses and many different riding styles, but all horses require the same basic health care to stay in the best possible condition. It does not matter if your horse is kept in your back yard and you just ride him occasionally or if your horse is kept at a training facility and you compete at the national level, all horses still need the proper feeding, grooming, exercise, and regular check from your veterinarian to stay in top condition.

The most important thing to keeping a horse happy and healthy is proper feeding. Your horse should, at a minimum, get good quality hay every day. You can also give your horse grain; your veterinarian can help you select the best grain based on your individual horse’s needs. It you decide to change your horse’s feed, it is very important that you do it slowly over several days. Mix small portions of the new feed with the old feed, gradually increasing the quantity of the new feed while decreasing the quantity of the old feed until the change is complete. If you do not change your horse’s feed gradually, you could seriously harm them, and possibly kill them.

Your horse should also be groomed regularly, and preferably daily. This will keep your horse’s coat and skin healthy. You should also clean their feet as part of your daily grooming routine. This will ensure that your horse’s feet stay free of diseases and it will make sure that they do not get any foreign objects in their hoof that could cause a bruise.

Your horse also needs to get daily exercise. If your horse is kept outside in a large paddock this should not be much of an issue, but if your horse is kept in a stall it is very important that they get some sort of daily exercise. This does not mean that you have to ride them every day; it just means that they need to be either ridden or turned out in a paddock to play. If your horse does not get the proper amount of exercise it could reduce their bone strength over time.

It is also important that your horse have regular checkups with your veterinarian. This should include an examination of their teeth to make sure that none are broken or diseased. Your veterinarian should also make sure that your horse is current on all of their vaccinations, and they should make sure that your horse is on a de-worming program to prevent many different diseases that could harm your horse’s health.

Following these basic guidelines will ensure that your horse leads a very happy and healthy life.