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save hay in the long run by giving the horse only a little more than what it will eat at one time.

In early spring, take a little time every day to acclimate the horse to fresh spring grass and you'll avoid problems with colic, laminitis and gas. In fall, around the first killing frost, replace half to three-quarters of the daily forage consumption with hay. Sugars in the dark green grass can cause digestive upset for horses, whether it is the first grass of spring or frozen grass of fall.

7. WATER IS LIFE

Water is the most important aspect of a horse's life. Water aids in digestion, dissolving nutrients and distributing them throughout the body. Water is so important that if a horse loses even five percent of its body water content, it begins to show signs of distress.

Keep water available to horses at all times. Clean water buckets once a week with dish soap or baking soda to ensure fresh, clean water.

In hot weather, provide an additional water source if needed. In winter, providing warm water ensures horses get enough to drink.

Any time that you limit the consumption of a horse's water you are affecting their health. That said, cool a sweaty horse slowly with short drinks of cool water and do not let them drink until they have completely cooled down.

8. MAINTAIN GOOD GROOMING

Grooming ensures your horse's skin is healthy. Plus, the act of grooming itself is a bonding mechanism between you and your horse. It also allows you to inspect the horse for bruises, injuries and wounds that might need your attention.

You will need different tools for different seasons. A rubber curry comes in handy when a horse sheds in spring and a soft brush may be all you need in summer to remove dirt and check for pasture injuries.

Too much grooming, however, can be a bad thing. Avoid bathing the horse too much as it removes oils that protect the horse from bugs, irritants and harsh conditions. Bathe the horse only as much as necessary to keep your horse healthy. And remember, a dirty horse is not necessarily an unhealthy horse!

9. "AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE"

The best way to keep a horse healthy is to prevent it from becoming UN-healthy. Through a regular schedule of vaccines and deworming, your horse will be able to fend of nasty bugs and worms that can make it sick.

Worms can quickly infest a horse, causing anything from poor condition to colic or death. Worming horses with a rotation involving a variety of medications that eliminate a variety of worms, given at the optimal time of the year, ensures your horse will stay relatively worm-free.

There are several vaccines on the market for a variety of diseases. The primary diseases to vaccinate for are Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, Rabies, Tetanus and Influenza. Depending on your geographic location and disease frequencies in your area, your vet may also recommend vaccines for Potomac Horse Fever, African Horse Sickness and more.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

It takes only a little time and investment to ensure a horse's health. But when you compare it to the cost of calling the veterinarian in an emergency with possible emergency surgery and the costs of recovery and rehabilitation, the costs are much less.

The trick is to keep a good relationship with your farrier and veterinarian. They are your two best allies when it comes to defending your horse's health. For the health of your horse, keep your relationships long-term with equine professionals, leaving only when necessary. Also, maintain communication with them. They will value your willingness to learn and that you took the time to talk and get to know them. In an emergency, that's what gets them to come when you call.

Learn more about this author, Mary Knetter.
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