Horse Health

Caring for your horse's health

Keeping any pet healthy and happy is a pet owner's No. 1 concern, and it's no different for horse owners. Your horse is a big investment — emotionally and financially — and it's your job to make sure it is feeling its best. But horse health can be a tricky field to navigate.

Horse Health Information

There are countless books and websites devoted to keeping your horse in peak physical condition, but the best source of wisdom is usually people who have been there — i.e., longtime horse owners and veterinarians. Besides reading all you can about horse health care, you might want to join a horse owners club in your area and make sure to become friendly with your vet.

Horse Health Products

Horse health is a booming industry, and myriad products promise to boost your horse's health, but besides love and proper nutrition, there is no miracle potion for any sort of ailment.

Nutritional horse supplements can be helpful to ensure your horse is eating correctly, but even that field is clogged with hundreds of products making hundreds of claims. Be sure to check with your veterinarian before using any product on your horse; the vet has likely seen it all and has a vast knowledge of what works and what doesn't.

Horse Health — Warts

Warts, particularly around the ears or mouth, are actually fairly common in younger horses. They are caused by the papillomavirus, and though they usually clear up on their own, they are contagious, so exercise caution.

There are certain creams and medications (even homeopathic remedies) that can help heal the warts faster. Also, once a horse has had warts, it will build up immunity to them, so it shouldn't be a recurring problem.

Horse Health Insurance

Just as you insure your house and your car, you can insure your horse. Insurance is particularly useful for horse breeders or horse owners who use their animals for horse shows, trail rides or riding lessons; in other words, if you use your horse for some sort of income, consider horse insurance.

Horse insurance policies can cover major surgeries or diseases, unexpected death and stallion infertility. There is also insurance for people around your horse; if you frequently have visitors to your farm or have strangers riding your horses, you'll want to make sure any injuries would be covered by a policy.