Horse Care Basics

Series Summary

The horse has been used in warfare as early as 4000 BCE. There is archaeological evidence in the steppes of Eurasia of fortified towns being built to defend against horse-riding bandits and raiders. In 1350 BCE, the Hittite tribe developed a written manual for the successfully breeding and conditioning chariot horses. Thus, since before written history and throughout the recorded development of mankind, horses have been a powerful ally to victorious armies and successful agriculturalists. In Medieval Europe, the heavy armor of mounted knights required a new style of horses, strong like a draft horse but athletic like lighter breeds. The destrier , along with the courser and rouncey, became the type (not breed) of horse that would fetch the highest price among nobles and elite military officers.

In this free video series, expert Kelli LaBar shows you everything you need to take care of your special horse. You will learn all about hay and grain, how and when to feed your horse, the vitamins needed for a healthy diet, and more. Kelli also teaches you about grooming, cleaning stalls, and arranging the bedding for your horse’s health and comfort. She will also give you basic exercise advice, riding and lunging instructions, and tips for safety.

Video Transcript

"Hello! I'm Kelli for Expert Village. I'm going to show you some tips and techniques that I use for basic horse care. Just going to give you a basic overview of some things that you should definitely make sure that you should do on a daily basis to take care of your horse. Of course, you want to make sure that you are providing your horse with the proper nutrients, it's getting the adequate amount of hay and grain that it needs on a daily basis. Most people feed their horses 2 to 3 times a day which is sufficient. You also want to make sure that you have your horse under the care of a very qualified veterinarian and farrier and make sure that they get routine checkups that will ensure that you have a healthy horse. Also to use stalk hair is a real high priority. You want to make sure that you are keeping your stalls nice and clean and as well as making sure that your horse is getting some adequate exercise on a daily basis whether it is getting turned out in a pasture, you are lunging it or riding it. So these are just some basic tips that you want to keep in mind on a daily basis when you are taking care of your horse. "