Out Around the Barn

Caring for your horse is the same as caring for yourself or any other animal.  They need a substantial amount of TLC and good nutrition, such as supplements and vitamins.  You feed yourself everyday, so shouldn’t you do the same for your horse?  The nutrition a horse needs will help them grow and mature into a fine animal.  They should have plenty of fiber, from grass, in the summer and plenty from hay in the winter.  It keeps their digestive system working correctly.  Along with the fiber, they need some grain in their diet to give them the nutrients their bodies need for healthy hooves and teeth.  A healthy coat keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

I give my horse supplements everyday.  He injured his leg a few months ago and has had a long recovery.  The supplements and vitamins that I have provided for him has helped him heal well and we will soon be able to take him out for a ride.  He has been in a stall for the past eight months with an outside pen to exercise in.  He is very anxious to be out in the pasture with the others.  I will begin to work more with him now that his leg has healed so he can eventually have more freedom.

 I recently learned that if you put a blanket on your horse in the winter for warmth, you’ll need to continue that throughout the season because, their bodies will adjust to the blanket and depend on it for warmth and their coats will not grow as thick to protect them from the elements.  Just a tip I thought I would pass on.

Keeping a pet rabbit can be quite enjoyable, but just like any animal, rabbits require attentive care.  Rabbits, like other pets, need adequate nutrition to stay healthy, thus it’s important to feed them a mixture of rabbit pellets, alfalfa supplements, and vegetables.  Rabbit pellets are purchasable from most stores that sell rabbit and pet food, while alfalfa hay is available in bails or smaller quantities from farm suppliers.  Rabbits will eat a number of different fruits and vegetables; some favorites often include carrots (of course) bananas, apples, and celery. 

Rabbits also need regular exercise; they should be let out of their cage or pen often and be allowed to hop about.  If you are indoors, keep an eye on them, because rabbits love to chew and dig at the floor.  Outdoors, just make sure your rabbit is in an enclosed area; they’re curious creatures by nature and love to roam.