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How to Care for Your Horse After Riding

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By eHow Contributing Writer
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Part of being a responsible horse owner is knowing what your horse needs on a daily basis. Besides the basics, such as food and water, horses need plenty of exercise. Care for your horse after riding him and help to maintain his overall health.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Exercise your horse for at least an hour every day. Know that walking only is usually not enough exercise for horses, especially if they're in their prime. Warm your horse up a bit before vigorous exercise.

  2. Step 2

    Trot, canter and gallop your horse around in an arena or in a safe area outside. Look for holes or obstructions in a pasture before letting your horse gallop full blast across it.

  3. Step 3

    When not riding, make sure your horse has plenty of water. Keeping hydrated is important.

  4. Step 4

    When done riding, cool your horse out by walking him on a loose rein.

  5. Step 5

    When you dismount, loosen his saddle.

  6. Step 6

    If your horse is hot, walk him for a few minutes before removing the saddle.

  7. Step 7

    After removing the saddle, if your horse is hot or sweat while riding and it is warm outside, hose him off with cool water. You may want to put liniment in the water to help ease muscle aches.

  8. Step 8

    If it is too chilly to hose your horse off and he's hot, place a wool cooler on him.

  9. Step 9

    You can allow your horse to drink several gulps of water, and then begin walking him until his breathing returns to normal and he cools off, stopping occasionally to let him have another drink.

  10. Step 10

    Once he's cool and dry, brush him down and put him in his stall or paddock.

Tips & Warnings
  • It is best to not feed your horse for at least an hour after heavy exercise.
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