Caring for the Working Horse

by Nicole Lanphear

Athletes know their bodies require more care and attention during their peak season. The same goes for your working horse. No more lazy days now that the sunshine is out. It's time for you to remember your horse has special dietary and physical needs to stay in top condition.

Nutrition
Access to a lush green pasture is desirable for balanced nutrition, but not always available. As a substitute for grazing, working horses need energy, protein and minerals they don’t get from standing inside a stall.

Missy Wryn, owner of "W"Holistic Natural Horsemanship, has worked with horses for 20 years and recommends all working horses either have access to pasture or be fed four times per day. Because horses are engineered to graze, they can develop ulcers or colic without constant eating. Feeding small amounts over time reduces the amount of stress on the horse and provides the proper nutrition to feed muscles. Remember to change feeding schedules gradually, preferably over a period of 10-14 days.

Light working horses require less protein and energy than heavy working horses, but it is still an important part of the daily diet. To maintain proper weight and health, a horse must have certain levels of nutrients, proteins and energy. Two to three hours a day of riding increases the horse’s needs by 30 percent; four to five hours of riding increases those needs by 70 percent.*

Look at your feed in amounts of the essentials rather than “a flake here” or “a flake there.” Hay has 50 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN), while grain has 75 percent. Alfalfa clovers have 15 percent protein, while grasses have 8 percent.

Wryn discourages sweet feeds and processed feeds. Vitamin supplements are ideal, as are flax seeds, which help with digestion and improve skin condition. Also, as your horse sweats more, it needs more salt intake. Provide a salt lick and ensure your horse is drinking enough water.

Exercise
Wryn encourages a proper warm-up with longeing and cinching the horse two or three different times to make sure he is comfortable. It isn’t fair to ask your horse to work while he is in pain.

Take note of your horse’s pulse as you work and cool him down to give you an idea of how much he is exerting. There are many websites that offer a step-by-step guide to stretches that can help loosen muscles and help relax your working horse before and after a workout. Just type "horse stretches" into your favorite search engine and plenty of useful links should turn up. You might also find books on horse stretches in your local bookstore or library.

Wryn suggests using a carrot to stretch out after a workout. Hold onto the horse's tail and hold the carrot so he bends his neck all the way back to the carrot. Repeat the stretch on both sides. This can allow the horse to chiropractically correct himself. Another beneficial stretch is to hold the carrot at the horse’s chest, encouraging him to arch his neck and bring his nose almost to his chest.

Know your horse and know his limits. If he can’t reach the carrot, don’t force him to hurt himself. At first he may be a little stiff, but after consistent working and stretching he will be more flexible. Massages and chiropractic work can help prevent problems and keep your horse in top shape for work or competition.

When it comes to the overall health of your working horse, think holistically to prevent a possible roadblock to the long summer ahead. From warming up to proper nutrition, your working horse deserves your return on the devotion he gives to you.