How to Be A Responsible Horse Owner
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Most of us learn about horse care so we can take good care of our horses. But, we also have a responsibility to other horse owners and the non-horse owning public. Most of those responsibilities look like good horse care. But in reality, they benefit many people, including non-horse owners.
Keep Your Horse Disease Free
There are diseases that spread quickly throughout the horse community, and there are diseases that can spread to other animals too. You are not just protecting your own horse by vaccinating them. Vaccinations help protect other horses and animals, even humans. The core vaccinations protect from some of the most common contagious diseases. Other diseases like strangles can’t be prevented by vaccines. Knowing when to quarantine your own horses, and when to stay away from places where sick horses might be can help keep your own and other horses healthy. Even something as simple as washing your hands is a responsible way to prevent the spread of disease from horse to horse.
Keep Your Horses Home
There is an old saying ‘good fences make good neighbors’. Good fences keep your horses out of your neighbor’s garden, play yards and off of roads.
Keep Your Horses Well Fed
Humane societies and the like are kept very busy by people who fail to provide their animals with the most basic care. Feeding your horse properly means you won’t be squandering the resources of your community.
Keep Your Horses Safe to Be Around
A horse that is difficult to handle, whether it is untrained or has been allowed to become bad mannered isn’t good for anyone. An owner may be able to control a poorly behaved horse on their own property and may be willing to put up with quite a bit. But, what if the horse gets out? What if the horse must be re-homed? It’s responsible to have a horse with basic manners for the sake of the horse and the humans it might come in contact with.
Think Very Carefully About Breeding Your Horse
You may have read about it online, in a magazine or even ended up with a stray horse wandering up and down your driveway. There are a lot of unwanted horses out there. There are thousands going to slaughter and thousands of ‘unadoptable’ feral horses in North America. A lot of resources go into dealing with the problem. If you have a colt, the responsible thing to do is to geld it. If you have a mare, think long term before you breed her. There is no shortage of horses. There is a surplus that you don’t really need to add to.
Consider the Environment
Keeping a horse requires a lot of resources and can generate a lot of waste. The largest portion of that waste will be manure. It’s responsible to make sure your horse’s manure is cleaned up so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for noisome insects. It should also be disposed of so it doesn’t foul natural water sources. Old medications and other medical refuse should be disposed of properly. Usually a vet clinic or pharmacy will either take old drugs or tell you where to get rid of them properly. |
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