For the best experience possible in raising and caring for horses, it is important to match the rider and the horse. Searching options in horse ownership is exciting, but it is necessary to foresee the immediate and long-term expenses involved.

Know beforehand what you will expect from your horse. Various breeds have differing abilities, so it is only fair to have realistic expectations about the type of animal you want. For instance, a race horse would not be an appropriate or safe ride for an inexperienced rider. Likewise, a docile, old nag would not be much fun for a rider with even a little skill and experience in horse riding.

Cribbing is one of the various bad habits which horses can develop. It appears to develop as a result of boredom, in particular when a horse is confined to a stall for most of the day and has never been observed in horses which live in a natural environment (e.g. pasture based). With cribbing, the horse grabs an object (e.g. fence rail or feeding trough) with its front teeth, then arches its neck while pulling on the item, then sucks in air. Although the reason for this activity has not been proven, it is believed that the horse does it because it results in the release of brain chemicals (such as endorphins) which are pleasurable. The terms ‘crib biting’ and ‘wind sucking’ are also used.

Those who own horses know how wonderful these animals are to have as a companion. They are smart, sensitive, and fun to be around. These beautiful and majestic animals require a lot of care and love. It is important to make sure your horse is happy so you can have a pleasant and gentle companion.

The following are the top 10 ways to make your horse happy:

If you are looking to set up a feeding program for your horse or horses there are a lot of choices available to you. There are so many choices that the decision can be overwhelming. Of course any good program is going to begin with hay. Horses are grazing animals, and their digestive systems are meant to process the roughage found in hay.

Alfalfa hay, fed for years by horsemen, has many benefits. It also has it’s drawbacks, not limited to cost and availability. Feeding too much of this fine, rich, nutrient packed hay can potentially cause health and possibly behavioral issues. A little bit of alfalfa will go a long way.

When deciding on a new horse, a key factor is its health. Although one cannot be 100% certain that a horse is absolutely healthy, there are some basic checks.

One begins with the general external appearance. The coat should be even, shinny and lie flat. The body should be well filled out, with well toned muscle. It should not be overweight or underweight. It should stand evenly on all four legs, with all four hooves pointing straight ahead. It is normal to rest a hind leg (but not a front leg), provided that it is not always the same leg which is rested.