#horse #horsesa #horsecare Clare Showground, Nov 2017 for Horse SA http://www.horsesa.asn.au Supported through the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board. http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/northernandyorke/home Hosted by Horse SA https//www.horsesa.asn.au a non-profit organisation working with and for horse owners on common topics. Why not join, sponsor or donate today https://www.horsesa.asn.au/join-sponsor-or-donate or visit our website for more events, webinars or download free resources. Note: Horse SA has hosted this presentation only. It is up to individuals to seek their own advice. It is also the responsibility of individuals to familiarise themselves with laws relating to the provision of animal services which may fall under Acts or Regulations associated with veterinary services, animal welfare and related areas, which vary between Australian states, and in jurisdictions within different countries.

1. 360 deg. look at keeping horses
www.horsesa.asn.au
An invitation for busy
people with horses kept
on small properties

2. The busy horse owner
Feed
Clean
(Ride)
Work
Feed
Clean
(Ride)
$Cost of keeping
Shopping onlineGet advice
+/‐ agistment
Fast food/
food miles
iStock

3. 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

4. ‐ 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?

5. ‘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 ground
Patterns of grazing
Use of water points
Uses (or not) of infrastructure
Do we ‘get used to’ paddock behaviours or
can we work to new expectations?
iStock
iStock iStock

6. Observing horses:
Health related behaviours e.g. toxic poisoning
Behaviours possibly influenced by property design
and/or social grouping and/or routine choices
e.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 sucking
aggressive pre‐feeding behaviours
playing 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.
iStock

7. 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

8. Many horse owners are aware of the
benefit that trees & shrubs can provide
e.g.
Shelter belts
Biosecurity barriers
Reduce wind erosion
Stabilize soil
Shade & shelter
Promote 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
iStock

9. 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

10. Providing Tree Benefits
Biosecurity 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
iStock

11. Providing Tree Benefits
Shade & Shelter
Drawing: http://www.equiculture.com.au (Jane Myers).
Photos: Bathurst Equine Agistment https://www facebook com/bathurstequineagistment

12. 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

13. More things for busy horse owners
Individualised de‐worming programs + manure management
(reducing chemical use + avoid nutrient run‐off into watercourses)
Photo: J Raphael

15. More things for busy horse owners to think about
Emergency preparedness + Property Identification Codes (PIC) + Horse ID
Photo: CFS Communication & Engagement Unit

16. Photo: Anthea Starr
Check out the events page and register
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organisations
Horse SA
http://www.horsesa.asn.au