by Maureen Bordelon

Created on: June 17, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Looking through the window onto my pasture, I can see three of my retired horses happily cropping grass. Their coats are glossy as if featured in a television shampoo commercial. As in humans, health and vitality is mirrored in their hair. Should you wish your horses to have the same health and vitality, there are a few simple steps toward your goal.

First and foremost is a good feeding and deworming protocol. How and what you feed your horse is evidenced by what is on the outside, his coat. In the wild, horses crop grass and saunter on to crop more grass. This means that their diet consists of a constant flow of roughage as nature intended. Your feeding protocol should reflect as close to Mother Nature as possible.

If you are fortunate enough to have your ponies turned out on a good quality grass pasture, then you really don't have to feed grain; but make sure you monitor their weight as some horses may require a little extra boost of nutrients found in prepackaged feed mixes. However, if, like so many of us, your horse is stalled, then your feeding program is much more restricted.

If your horse is stalled, try to purchase the very best grain and hay that your pocketbook will allow. If possible, whatever grain you feed, the appropriate amount should be broken down into, at the very least, two meals a day. Free choice hay is optimum. A constant supply of good grass hay mimics how a horse will eat naturally during a twenty four hour period. Most prepackaged quality feed mixes contain all the daily vitamins and minerals an animal needs so there is no need to waste money on additional supplements. Grain should be fed according to the directions usually found on the outside of the bag of feed. However, as before, monitor your horse's weight so that he doesn't gain nor lose too many pounds and feed accordingly. A balanced diet for your stalled horse is the key.

The signs of a wormy horse can be reflected in the coat. During the spring, they may not shed their winter coat properly and the hair will be coarse and dull. Consult a veterinarian. He or she will be happy assist you in a good deworming program. Follow their directions explicitly. You will soon find that rough, dull coat sloughing off and underneath, new hair brilliant and glossy.

Another cornerstone to a silky smooth coat is exercise. Horses weren't meant to stand in a stall all day and night, seven days a week. They must move, whether under saddle, in harness, or walking aimlessly in a pasture, to maintain

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>