Horsey Care!

How often do horses/ponies need their shoes changed?

Hello! Well, a horse's hooves never stop growing which means they outgrow their shoes really quickly. They have to be visited by a farrier every 6 to 8 weeks to have their hooves trimmed and a new set of shoes put on. Not all horses wear shoes though! Only horses that are taken out on the road or have a condition that affects their hooves need to wear shoes. Thanks for your question!

Is it safe to put a horse in a field that can get very waterlogged and can also be prone to ducks in the water?

What an interesting question! Ducks and horses don’t seem to mind each other, so there would be no problem there. However, it can be very dangerous to keep a horse in a waterlogged field, as it can lead to all sorts of problems. A waterlogged field generally doesn’t have enough grass on it for a horse to eat, and can cause a condition called mud fever. This is where the skin becomes irritated and very painful. It can cause lots of problems with horses’ hooves too. I hope this answers your question! Thanks for getting in touch.

How big does a paddock have to be to contain a horse/pony?

Hello! Normally, horses and ponies need to have one acre of grazing space each. This is so they have enough grass to eat and can run around, and do all the things that horses like to do! Thanks for your question!

How do I know what ragwort looks like?

Hello there. This is a very good question. Ragwort first appears like a little green rosette with leaves that look a little bit like thistles. This is normally the best time to dig ragwort up with a specially designed ragwort fork. If it is not gotten rid of at this point, it will grow little yellow flowers. These flowers will then distribute seeds, which means that the plant is likely to grow back again. Make sure you wear gloves when you get rid of ragwort, as it is also toxic to humans as well as horses. Please look here for more information! So - basically look out for little green rosettes, which then sprout yellow flowers. Have a search on the internet and see what photos of ragwort you can find. Thank you!

Why are horses scared of umbrellas?

Hello! Well, us horses can be scared of umbrellas for lots of different reasons. Firstly, they are unnatural objects and they can look very scary if you have never seen one before. They are very big and can look a bit like they are hovering in the air - its even worse when its windy because the material looks a bit like its flapping around, and us horses generally don’t like things that flap. They can also be very bright and colourful, which can also be a bit scary!

Eventually we get used to weird objects like umbrellas, and think nothing of them, but it does take a lot of time. Its always best, if you’re around a horse you don’t know very well, not to put an umbrella up or do anything a horse might be scared of. Thanks for your question!

For how long does a Foal have to drink its mother's milk?

Hello! Thank you for your question! A foal normally stops drinking its mother’s milk when it is about 3 or 4 months old, although sometimes it can go on for longer than this. Then, the foal will be ‘weaned’ off its mummy, which is the time when a foal and mother want to be separated from each other. It’s a little bit like when you get older and you don’t want to live at home anymore. Thanks! Speak soon!

To Red, how do horses get lame?

Hi! There are lots and lots of ways that a horse can become lame. 'Lameness' is when a horse limps because one of his legs is hurting. A horse might become lame because it has sprained one of its muscles or tendons. For example, it's a very bad idea to make a horse canter on very hard ground (like a tarmac road) because its likely the horse will sprain its leg. Lameness can also be caused by infections. For example, a horse which has infection in its hoof will become lame. A horse can become lame if it has something stuck in its leg, like a thorn or a nail. These are just a few ways a horse can get lame. If your horse is lame then you should ask a vet for advice. Thank you!

My 12hh pony gets really bored in his stable. He has a salt lick and a hay net available all the time. Is there any way I can stop his boredom?

Hello! As long as your pony isn’t doing anything naughty like crib biting (which is where your pony will grab onto something with its teeth, then try to swallow air) then it sounds like he is ok. However, us horses do like to be outside galloping around and eating grass, so you could look into turning your pony out during the day and only putting him in a stable at night-time.

You can keep your pony amused by giving him a turnip to play with! Make a hole in the turnip, then thread a piece of baler-twine or rope through it, then hang it up in your pony’s stable! It will entertain him for hours! Good luck!

What is ‘strangles’?

Hello and thank you for asking such an important question! Strangles is a very infectious disease which affects us horses. Nasty germs attack the parts of our bodies that we use to breathe (like our windpipes). It is really important that our carers can spot the symptoms of ‘strangles’, and get a vet to look at us, because we can pass it on to our horsey friends really easily.

Some of the symptoms of strangles are: a really snotty nose (yuk), not wanting to eat, and a high temperature. If a horse has had ‘strangles’ for a long time and no one has spotted it, then the horse will have raised lumps underneath its jaw. Horses can die from strangles, but it is quite rare as long as the symptoms of strangles are spotted early.

Have a look at our welfare pages here for more information! Thank you!

Hi Red, please could you tell me what 'locking stifles' means?

Hi! Thank you for your question. As you may know, my good friend Dylan the adoption pony suffered from locking stifles when he first arrived at Redwings. The stifle is the joint at the top of a horse’s back leg. So, ‘locking stifles’ is where the joints in the back legs do not move properly. It can be quite painful, and a horse with locking stifles will find it really difficult to move around. Hope this helps!

How do horses get colic?

Colic is the horsey version of a tummy ache and can be caused by many different things. For example, it can be caused by a sudden change in the diet or sometimes if a horse has eaten something it shouldn't. Remember, you should always call the vet if you think your horse has colic straight away. Sometimes a horse will get over colic in a couple of hours, but in other cases a horse will sometimes need to have surgery. The most important thing to remember is it call the vet if your horse is showing symptoms of colic.

The symptoms of colic are:

• Sweating and kicking the belly
• Fast breathing and a raised temperature
• Laying down and looking at their belly
• Not eating food
• Not passing droppings
  
  Have a look here to download advice on feeding your horse! Thank you for your question!

Hey Red. I was just wondering...There is a horse that is just up the road just left in a field and I feel really sorry for it. Is it bad to leave a horse out just like that or is it normal? Please help me! I feel sorry for it!

Hello! This is a very interesting question. It is quite likely that this horse is absolutely fine. As long as it has fresh water in its field every day, the field looks safe and that his/her owner comes to visit every day, then everything is probably okay. Although most horses like some companionship or like to live in a herd environment, some horses like to live on their own as they may not get on well with other horses. As long as the horse’s feet are not vastly overgrown, and the horse does not look underweight (or really overweight) then it should be okay. If you would like any more advice then please click here. Thank you for your question!

Do Shetlands need to be looked after everyday?

Hello there, thank you for your question. This is a very good question as lots of people think that as Shetlands are so tiny they require less care than other ponies. In fact these tiny ponies require the same level of care and responsibility as any other. Their paddocks need to be cleaned out daily and they have to be fed and have fresh water provided daily too. They also need grooming and vet care such as worming and vaccinations. They can be prone to Laminitis and may need their grazing restricted. Shetlands are wonderful ponies but they do need daily care and a lot of time. Hope this helps. Have Fun!

How old does a pony have to be to have shoes on?

Hi there, thank you for your question. Once a young horse begins work, usually at about four years old, it will need to be shod. Usually at first only a pair of front shoes are fitted. Horses which work regularly on the roads without shoes would wear their hooves away quickly and their feet would become sore. A shoe protects the hoof from wearing away. However if a horse or pony has good feet and keeps off the roads for most of the time it may not need to be shod. But a pony under the age of four should not be having shoes on. It is always best to discuss this with your farrier who will have all the best advice. I hope this answers your question. Have fun!

I know that ragwort is a very dangerous plant for you horses to eat as it damages your liver. At my riding stables, the field is covered in ragwort but the horses don't seem to eat it much. I told my riding teacher but she said there is too much of it to get rid of and it would cost too much. I don't want the horses to get ill and I don't know what to do. What do you think Red?

Hello, thank you for your question. As you correctly said Ragwort is a very dangerous plant and it can be extremely harmful to us horses. Therefore it is very important for all ragwort to be removed safely from a horses paddock, it is certainly not safe for anyone to assume that a horse is not eating it as they can develop a taste for it. If there is a lot of ragwort the easiest way of tackling it is to spray the paddocks with a product, which kills the plant. However it is vital that the paddock remains empty before and after this until all traces have been removed. If you would like more information on this please visit our welfare pages or please feel free to contact us on 01508 481008. I suggest you talk to an adult to assist you in talking to the manager of the stables if you are finding it difficult. I hope this helps.

I have a 16.hh standardbred trotter and he is a pain as whenever I go to the field he's waiting at the gate for me and when I go to check on him or groom him he runs off! Why does he do this? Also if I'm leading him he normally walks a bit then drags me and then canters off. I can't get a training headcollar for him as I have not got enough money, please help!

Hello, thank you for your question. It sounds like it could be a number of problems upsetting your horse. There is always a reason for any horse to be naughty or to cause a problem. It may be he is in some sort of discomfort if he dislikes being riden or groomed. When you are leading him and he drags you, he may just be excitable going out, it might be he needs to be ridden and have some work. Horses are very clever and they do need a regular routine. Either way it does sound like you need assistance from a specailist in nautural horsemanship. If you were to contact our welfare department we could put you in contact with someone who could assist you and they could offer you more detailed help. I hope this helps.

My pony had laminitis last month. Since then she has been on box rest and restricted grazing. Now she’s better, should I ride her again? Or will it make her lame again?

Hello! Thanks for your question. As long as your vet says that your pony is all better then it is fine to start riding again! Ponies are more likely to suffer with laminitis than horses, so make sure that you keep an eye on your pony and if she shows any signs of laminitis then you should stop riding. Riding your pony is good in helping to prevent laminitis as it will help to keep her weight at the right level. If you’re ever in doubt then you should talk to your vet for advice. Also, you can click here to read an online leaflet about laminitis! Thank you!

How much does it cost to keep a horse per month on average?

This is a good question. Us horses cost a lot of money to be cared for. It is not possible to say exactly how much it costs as every horse is different. However I have listed a couple of things that cost money:

Farriers: If your horse has shoes on this can cost up to £60 per set and this is necessary every 4-6 weeks. If your horse doesn't have shoes on it will still need trimming again every 4-6 weeks.

Worming: All horses must be wormed on a regular basis, every 8 - 10 weeks and prices can vary from wormer to wormer between £5-£30.

Those are just a couple of the costs, some others are things like feed, stabling, grazing, veterinary bills, insurance, tack and rugs. So us horses are not cheap to look after but if looked after right we can be very rewarding and great fun. I hope that helps!

What would happen if a horse or pony ate ragwort?

That is a good question. Ragwort is a very poisonous plant to us horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. It may look a harmless plant but it actually damages our liver if we eat it. There is a poison in the ragwort that causes damage and this builds up over time and cannot be repaired. It can be just as serious to eat small amounts over a long period of time as it would eating a large amount in one go. It is very important for all ragwort to be removed from our fields and disposed of correctly and carefully. If you are concerend that a horse has eaten ragwort then a vet should be called as soon as poosible. This is a very good question and if you would like any further information on it please visit our website www.redwings.co.uk and have a look in our welfare section. I hope this helps!

I own two horses 19hh and a 18.3hh and I have trouble hacking out the 18.3hh one because he doesn't want to be on his own and he is also very cheeky and naughty. I don't know what to do becouse I have to have someone else with me when I want to go and ride him! What can I do? Help please!!!!

There may be many reasons why your horse is unhappy hacking out on his own - us horses are naturally herd animals and some of us find it very hard to leave our friends - he is clearly a bit of a worrier and likes the security of having another horse around when you hack out. It would be best for you to ring our Welfare helpline on 01508 481008 so you can talk your situation through with them - I'm sure they will be able to help. Good luck!

When I was riding at my riding school, someone watching put an umbrella up and the riding instructor asked him to put it down. Why?

I'll let you in on a little secret - us horses hate umbrellas! Well most of us do, anyway. They frighten us because they are so bright and colourful and so your riding instructor probably asked the person to put the umbrella down so the horses weren't frightened. Otherwise your lesson might have gone horribly wrong with everyone galloping all over the place!

My pony had been beaten in the past and because of an incident with a bike she is now very scared. I go out riding with my dad on his bike and me on Misty but do you have any other ways of regaining her trust with bikes?

Poor Misty, that's very sad. There are things you can do but regaining her trust will take time and you need to be aware that she may never fully accept bikes. You need to start by building her confidence in her field first, as this is a place that is familiar and somewhere she feels safe. The best approach would be to slowly build up to working on her accepting the bike (while it is laying down or not moving first), by placing some other strange objects in her field first. This will help to start building a bond and gain her trust. The objects need to be easy ones to start with that you know she will be good with, then once she is happy, move on to something a bit scarier. Every time she is good give her lots of praise and reward for every time she is settled and well behaved. It is important that she is given lots of time and things do not end up in a battle, as you will always lose.

After 3 or 4 good sessions with her and you are happy that she is better at accepting the bike being in her field, then you can build up to someone walking with the bike. At first this needs to be some distance from her and gradually reduce the distance - again make sure you give her lots of praise for good behaviour. If at any point she is not happy, you will need to go back a step until she is settled then continue. If things are taken at her pace with no pressure, she will learn that it is a nice experience and nothing to worry about. In time you will be able to have someone cycling out with you on your rides, but you will always have to keep a safe distance and remember her previous fears.

Hope that helps but if you want further advice, try Kelly Marks' website www.kellymarks.co.uk as they are specialists in humane horse handling and she has a very good book out on horse behaviour. Otherwise, please try our welfare helpline on 01508 481008. Good luck with Misty!

My Mum and I share a beautiful gelding, who we have only had for a month. But already he refuses to walk into the barn to get to his stable. We've tried food, but it doesn't work. Can you help us?!

It is not easy to tell you exactly what's wrong without meeting him, but it sounds like your horse has either had a fright on the way into the barn or something in there is scaring him. Firstly I would check his route and try and see it from his point of view - look out for flapping plastic bags or big scary shadows as that may be what is causing him to worry. Try putting a trail of straw or shavings on the floor leading up to his stable as it may also be the floor that he is not keen on and the bedding will give him a substance he recognises.

Horses love a leader so try walking in with him on a leadrope but slightly behind your shoulder so you are leading the way - he will feel a lot less scared. Also, and most importantly, be patient. If you try to rush him he is likely to panic. Instead, use the fact that us horses are naturally curious, give him a loose headcollar and allow him to sniff his way into the barn. Make sure his haynet or feed is in the stable first and give him time to find it. Hope that helps but if you are still having trouble, call our Horse Care Advice line on 01508 481008. Good luck!

My mum and I share a 17.3hh thoroughbred type who is very cheeky. He is a bit headshy but we still managed to catch and ride him. Recently we haven't been able to catch him. We've tried everything we can think of including using treats but it won't work. HELP US!!!!!!!!!!

With us horses there is always a reason why we don't want to do things. Your horse may have had a fright the last time he came out of his field or he may be learning that getting caught automatically means doing work! Be patient with him and just try to catch him to spend some time with him or give him a feed or nice groom, not just when you want him to do something for you.

Horses are very curious types so use that to your advantage. Don't approach him directly but instead enter his field slowly and quietly, don't look him straight in the eye and just sit or stand in the middle of the field, maybe fiddling with a rope or muck picking and ignore him for a while. He'll soon wonder what you're doing and come over. If that doesn't work, make his field smaller with electric tape so it's easier to catch him, then try approaching him from the side. Every time you move towards him and he doesn't move away, reward him by stepping away again. Do this a few times until you are close and you can stroke his neck. Take your time, keep talking to him and don't grab at him or he will probably decide he'd rather be somewhere else!

Hope that helps but if you are still having problems, trying phoning the Redwings Welfare helpline on 01508 481008 and they will do the best they can to reunite you with your lovely horse!

Hey Red! I was wondering if you do Natural Horsemanship at Redwings?

Here at Redwings we have a Rehabilitationteam, trained by one of the country's top equine behaviour therapists Kelly Marks who is a specialist in humane horse handling (Intelligent Horsemanship). Our fantastic team are dedicated to working with rescued equines with psychological problems. These problems may arise from ill treatment, pain or from lack of contact with humans. If you would like to find out more about Intelligent Horsemanship you can visit Kelly Marks' website www.kellymarks.co.uk . Hope that answers your question!

Hi Red, we have two ponies aged two and three, they are very naughty and cheeky and when out walking them they start to go up on the their back legs. They try to run away when we just want to walk with them. It is like they are telling us off and we are the ones that are meant to be in control. Any reason why they are like this?

Thank you for your question. It does sound like your ponies are being very cheeky indeed. Often ponies around this age are very playful and they need lots of consistent handling. I am sure they are not telling you off but it does sound like they are trying to boss you around. This can be very frightening and upsetting when your ponies are misbehaving. Please follow this link and read our information on horses behaving badly http://www.redwings.org.uk/welfare-lfts.htm.

In order to get your ponies' confidence you must be fair, clear and confident yourself. Hope that helps but if you want further advice, try Kelly Marks' website www.kellymarks.co.uk as they are specialists in humane horse handling and she has a very good book out on horse behaviour. Good Luck!

Is it safe to give ponies mints?

An excellent question! Us ponies do love the taste of mints and the occasional treat can be very nice for your pony but mints are basically just sugar so it's like giving us sweets. Too many can be very bad for us and make us very ill...not good news - a nice juicy carrot or apple would be a bit more nutritious and just as yummy!

However, please remember it can be very dangerous to feed any pony that you don't know. That pony may be on a special diet where it can't have too much sugar so you could be making it ill by feeding it. When people come to visit us we ask our visitors not to feed us as lots of us have been poorly and treats could make us ill. Instead, they leave them with our carers who dish them out later on, that's always a good moment!

What food do you like to eat?

What a good question to ask, I love eating yummy food. My favourite thing to eat is lovely grass, it is even better when I am out in my field with my friends munching into the luscious grass. I also love to munch on some nice hay and I also enjoy getting a treat like an apple or carrot. I am so lucky!

My 14.1hh 12 year old New Forest x TB is lame and we cannot find anything on his X-rays. He was on bute for a while and seemed to get better so we took him off it but he still trots up badly and is quite pottery on his legs, he is usually very fit. His mum had hereditary ligament problems, could that be the cause?

Without meeting your horse it's very difficult for me to say but it does sound like he is very uncomfortable on those legs of his. It is hard to say whether it's a hereditary condition or not without complicated genetic tests but if he is trotting up badly he shouldn't be ridden until he has been seen by your vet - I'm afraid a qualified vet is the only person who can diagnose what the problem is and treat it correctly. You may be lucky though, it may simply be a spell of lameness and he may just need a bit more of a rest before he is able to be worked again.

See what your vet has to say and if you would like any further advice try ringing our Welfare helpline on 01508 481008 or emailing welfare@redwings.co.uk. Good luck!

My pony is prone to laminitis. How can I help prevent it?

The best way to protect your pony from laminitis is to make sure you don't let him or her become overweight. That doesn't mean starvation or anything but being overweight is very likely to make your pony come down with it. Speak to your vet about how to help your pony maintain a healthy weight, feed little and often rather than large quantities all at once and be especially careful in the Spring as that is when the grass is rich in the sugars that can bring on laminitis. For more information, you can download a leaflet from the Redwings' main website all about it, just follow this link >>>>>>>>. I hope that helps, good luck!

What would happen if you rode a pony when it had laminitis? Whenever the pony I ride has laminitis, my neighbour says I can't ride him.

Your neighbour is right. When us ponies get laminitis, it's really really important that you don't ride us. Laminitis is a very painful condition of the feet and if you rode your pony while he had it you would be causing him even more pain, which I am sure you don't want to do. Please wait for your vet to say that he is all better before you start riding again, and don't forget to give him lots of cuddles while he is poorly! There are ways you can prevent and manage a pony that is prone to getting laminitis. In all cases a vet should be called to investigate and give you advice. For more information, you can download a leaflet from the Redwings' main website all about it, just follow this link >>>>. I hope that helps, good luck!

What is Colic?

Thank you for your question. The term 'colic' means 'pain in the tummy'. There are many types of colic, ranging from mild to very serious even life threatening. The most common signs of colic are, lying down more than usual, getting up and lying down repeatedtly, standing stretched out, turning their head towards their belly, pawing at the ground and kicking their belly. If anyone is ever concerned that a horse might be colicing they should always call their vet for advice straight away. If you would like to read more about colic you can follow this link and read our information on food for thought http://www.redwings.org.uk/welfare-lfts.htm. I hope that answers your question. Take care!

I have a very old pony called Folly and she is not very good at walking but if we walk her slowly she does walk to her paddock. She also itches all the time, what is the best thing I can do for her?

Thank you for your question. Let's address one thing at a time, you say your pony is not very good at walking. It may be your pony is just very old and we all tend to slow down when we get a bit old. But it could be your pony needs to see a vet as it might be suffering from stiffness or another veterinary problem. It would be a good idea to contact your local vet and ask for some advice. As for your pony itching all the time, this is another thing your vet can help you with. It could be suffering from a condition called sweet itch which is basicaly your horse having an allergic reaction to an insect bite. There are many ways you can prevent and treat this. However it is best to get a vet to see your pony to determine exactly what the problem is. Your pony will be so grateful to you helping him. I hope this helps!