Horse Owners Money Saving Tips - Horse's Health

Here are five top money saving tips for horse owners to help you keep your horse healthy.

1) Horse rubbing its tail?

Try applying a spot of regular flavour Listerine where the horse is rubbing its tail, this should help stop the irritation.

2) Have some Vaseline handy..

• For ticks & lice – apply Vaseline to the areas of the horses skin that are affected by the ticks or lice. Apply liberally and the Vaseline will smoother those pesky parasites!
• For bald patches - Rub Vaseline into your horse’s bald patches (from wounds / rubbing) to encourage hair growth.

3) Treating cracked heels

Make your own low cost ointment to treat cracked heels:
Ingredients
1 standard jar of Vaseline
6 drops of Tea Tree Oil
6 Drops of Lavender Oil
3 tablespoons Olive Oil

Method
Mix the ingredients over a medium heat and then allow to cool. Place the ointment into a plastic tub / container then place in the fridge to set.

Application:
Apply the ointment to the horse’s heels every 2 – 3 days until the cracked heels have fully healed.

4) Treating Hoof Thrush

A simple and low cost method of combating hoof thrush:

Ingredients
Granulated Sugar
Betadine (Available from chemists)

Equipment
Sterile cotton wool
Large roll of Gaffa tape

Method:
Mix one part granulated sugar with two parts Betadine.

Application:

• Thoroughly clean and dry the affected hoof.
• Pull off a piece of the cotton wool that will fit nicely over the horse's foot.
• Dip the cotton wool into the mixture, allowing any excess liquid to drip off the cotton wool. Place the cotton wool onto the underside of the hoof, ensuring the frog and foot area is adequately covered.
• Wrap lots of gaffa tape around the hoof to keep it in place.
• Keep your horse stabled on a dry bed if possible to help the healing process and keep the poultice in place.
• Inspect and change the poultice daily until the thrush has cleared.

5) Cheap wound dressings..

Instead of buying veterinary wound dressings use disposable nappies to dress the wound. Nappies are ideal for covering large wounds and are a good shape for covering awkward areas such as the hocks.

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Notes:
Tips provided by Equine Compare are gained from forum members and past experience with horses. These tips are not intended to replace veterinary advice / treatment, please always consult your vet if your horse shows signs of ill health or injury.
Images:
Hoof Thrush image: 'The Horse Health Bible', Colin Vogel, 2002