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360 deg. look at keeping horseswww.horsesa.asn.au
An invitation for busy people with horses kept on small properties
The busy horse owner
FeedClean(Ride)WorkFeedClean (Ride)
$Cost of keepingShopping onlineGet advice
+/‐ agistment
Fast food/ food miles
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Take time to observe how much “horse” is in your horse
• Grazing several hours a day
• Browsing• Rubbing• Rolling• Scratching• Running around• Mutual grooming• Swish flies• Walk• Do nothing• Lie down flat• Stand under a tree• Put a rump to the weather• Find peace• Find friends• Enjoy humans• Routine vs stimulating
environment• Run, kick and buck• Snort, neigh & nicker iStock
‐ How much time in each 24 hours does he eat, rest, walk, run or drink?
‐ Do you watch what plants he prefers to eat in the paddock? Does he vary eating with his head down with occasional head up (browsing)?
‐ Is he interested by his environment? Bored?
‐ Are his companionship needs being met?
‐ Is the shade and shelter provided useful for him?
‐ Are we aware of how “trends” & marketing are affecting our decisions? E.g. rugs, worming products
‐ Are we aware of how the behaviour of the horse needs to be utilised to help us manage his living environment better?
How does your horse use his space?
‘Reading’ a property can provide some insights into how horses are using their living environment.
e.g. Patterns of walking and standing showing up as ‘wear and tear’ on the groundPatterns of grazingUse of water points Uses (or not) of infrastructure
Do we ‘get used to’ paddock behaviours or can we work to new expectations?
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Observing horses:
Health related behaviours e.g. toxic poisoning
Behaviours possibly influenced by property design and/or social grouping and/or routine choicese.g. playing/fighting over fences, wearing out gateways,banging on gates
Behaviours that are possibly influenced by low roughage diets, long gaps between meals, care timetables e.g. oral stereotypies e.g. crib biting, wind suckingaggressive pre‐feeding behavioursplaying with water/ moving frequently between feed & water
Behaviours that may require further investigation e.g. poor social skills in a herd or group, constantly acquires low level injuries
It is worthwhile seeking advice for problems from professional equine behaviour experts and/or property
managers to resolve issues early.
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The puzzle
Keeping horses happy & healthy AND making sure his living environment is robust enough to contribute positively to his well‐being ‐ Grass is most important – today let’s look at trees. Photo: J Raphael
Many horse owners are aware of the benefit that trees & shrubs can provide
e.g.Shelter beltsBiosecurity barriersReduce wind erosion Stabilize soilShade & shelterPromote biodiversity
Protecting trees: On smaller properties or in smaller paddocks, especially where a “set” grazing regime is used, trees & shrubs may need protecting if horses have regular or prolonged access.
Tree benefits
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When trees are not available to horses, “tree benefits” will need to be provided artificially
• Shade from sun• Shelter from wind & rain• Place to “loaf around” &
socialise• Somewhere to scratch & rub• Relief from flies (leaves/tails)• Variety in diet (some trees are
tasty)• Variety in eating styles –
browsing
Tree benefits
Photo: J Raphael
Providing Tree BenefitsBiosecurity barriers, scratch & rub surfaces, browse (eat at different heights & locations),
places to socialise, undertake mutual grooming
Photo: Robyn Warren
Photo: MB Equine ServicesPhoto: Equiculture Jane Myers
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Providing Tree BenefitsShade & Shelter
Drawing: http://www.equiculture.com.au (Jane Myers). Photos: Bathurst Equine Agistment https://www facebook com/bathurstequineagistment
We have seen how important trees are for horses.
Manage native trees in paddocks on small properties to avoid soil compaction (from hooves), high nutrient loading (from manure) and promote natural regeneration.
Manage trees
Photo: Robyn Warren
Photo: J Raphael
Photo: J Raphael
More things for busy horse ownersIndividualised de‐worming programs + manure management(reducing chemical use + avoid nutrient run‐off into watercourses)
Photo: J Raphael
More things for busy horse owners to think aboutEmergency preparedness + Property Identification Codes (PIC) + Horse ID
Photo: CFS Communication & Engagement Unit