Horse Welfare Blog from Animal Friends Equine
As an ethical insurance company, the welfare of horses is a major concern to us and has been highlighted by the media lately with the high-profile Amersham horse cruelty case.
Thankfully, there are many organisations that are doing their part to make sure horses are not mistreated.
The Blue Cross, for example, has applauded new code of practice guidelines to ensure that horse owners take their responsibility seriously.
These basic guidelines have information as to what a person has to provide for their horse. Some of the codes of practice include such common sense needs like making sure they have plenty of water and food. A horse also needs adequate shelter and plenty of space to roam and graze.
Any horse owner needs to have adequate skills and knowledge on how to take care of a horse, which is why the British Horse Society - the UK's largest equestrian charity - run courses and tests which cover various aspects of horse care, offering four levels of certification.
A horse is a very intelligent animal and they also have excellent memories. The more you interact with the horse the more you will become accustomed to their behaviour and actions. Your horse will also get to know you better and understanding each other happens over time. once you have created a strong bond your horse will remember it for life.
If you are gentle with your horse and treat them with kindness they will be much more agreeable and easier to handle. A horse like many domesticated animals will perform and listen better to positive interactions and training. Negative training can cause your horse to develop behavioural problems such as aggression or stubbornness.
A horse has a long lifespan and forms close relationships with owners and handlers. If you are kind to your horse you will be rewarded with a well behaved horse who will respect you and bring you much joy. If a horse reacts to your negativity it could lead to them being disruptive and impossible to ride.
Having a horse is a huge responsibility and should never be taken lightly. A horse should be cared for with patience and kindness. A person should never use force when handling a horse. Another important issue is to make sure that you are financially able to properly keep and maintain a horse before even considering buying one. You'll need to have available resources to cover unexpected veterinary bills - a wise idea is to buy horse insurance to help with these, as treatments for horse illnesses and accidents can quickly run into the thousands. If you can't personally take care of your horse on a day-to-day basis, it is your responsibility to make sure you find quality caring people who will be kind and loving to your horse. There are hundreds of excellent livery stables which offer a variety of services to help give your horse the care and attention he deserves.
Do you have any advice for our readers on caring for horses? Animal Friends Equine Insurance would love to hear what you have to say. Please post your comments below if you would like to share your opinions or experiences with other members of the Horse Community. Thank you and enjoy the blogs!
