edward
02-12-2009, 09:41 PM
Dr. Patricia A. Evans
Extension Equine Spe******t
Utah State University
Logan, Utah
Managing your horse on a tight budget Part I
Introduction
Most horse owners do not own horses as a business, or with expectations of generating household income from them. Rather, owners are more intent on maximizing the amount of pleasure or involvement per dollar spent. Saving money when it comes to horse ownership is always important but even more so when the economy is down and people are struggling with everyday bills. Keeping a horse healthy is a very important part of keeping costs down. In this informational sheet horse management systems are discussed which may help owners save on expenses.
Veterinary Care
Veterinary care can be an expensive part of horse ownership but owners can help keep this cost down. Having a good working relationship with the local veterinarian so s/he understands what the owners can handle will help reduce the vet visits and aftercare. Taking an active interest, and being involved with the daily care of a horse needing wound or medical therapy can increase owners’ daily interaction with their horse and the education of horse ownership. So, even though an injured animal isn't something desired it can provide benefits to our education and interaction with our animals.
Caring for leg wounds that require wrapping can be expensive if the vet is involved on a regular basis. If vet wrap, elastikon and cotton sheeting are used and changed on a daily basis, it can be expensive. Instead the owner can save money by caring for the wound his/her self with veterinary direction and using quilts and polos which can be washed and reused instead of thrown away.
Learning to give intramuscular (IM) and intravenous (IV) shots will allow you to give vaccinations and any medications the vet may prescribe for a more serious problem. Work up a management plan with your vet that allows you to do as much as you are comfortable with and have the vet or an experienced person help you gain confidence with new aspects which help keep the costs down. If the vet normally comes to your place to work on horses, you might haul the horse to the vet saving the vet farm call charge. A farm visit may cost anywhere from $30 to $60.
Fecal Test and De-Worming
Internal parasites rob the horse of feed nutrients and are a leading cause of colic. Following a de-worming program, that consists of testing for parasites and de-worming with the appropriate amount and appropriate de-worming product, is important. Making use of fecal tests can make for a much stronger de-worming program. A fecal test indicates what parasites are present and in what numbers. This test can range in price from $11 to $15. This test can help owners make more
knowledgeable decisions about what to de-worm with or if de-worming is necessary if the parasite
load is light. Not every horse in a paddock needs to be fecal tested but a random few that live together will provide good information about the group. If a group of horses has a low parasite load, de-worming can be postponed leading to substantial savings if multiple horses are owned. Visiting with your vet about a de-worming and fecal exam schedule will help owners determine what is most appropriate for their stocking load and management style.
Most schedules include de-worming or testing every 8 -12 weeks. It is important to de-worm according to the horse’s weight, as many times one tube of de-wormer is not enough to cover the entire weight of a horse. Using a weight tape (which can be obtained at many feed stores or through a feed company) will give a more accurate indication of weight than just eye-balling and guessing. Because the tapes are not 100% accurate it is appropriate to add 200 lbs to the weight and give enough de-wormer to cover the horse’s weight plus the 200 lbs.
An important part of parasite control includes reducing the re-infestation rate. Cleaning pens or stalls daily will prevent the horse from having contact with manure, where parasite larvae live. Composting manure before spreading over fields will kill existing parasite larvae and better prepare the manure for spreading. These steps will reduce the need for chemical control while maintaining a healthy horse at a reduced cost.
Vaccinations
Just as humans need vaccinations, our dogs, cats and horses need vaccinations to remain healthy. Vaccinations are usually given on an annual basis although some are given more often. Vaccines boost the horse’s immune system and help it fight off disease. It is far less expensive to protect your horse with a vaccine rather than treat the disease or lose a horse to a disease. Discussing a vaccination schedule for individual horses or a group of horses with your vet can give you a great plan to maintain the health of your horse or herd. Giving your own vaccinations can help save money but proper storage and handling of vaccines is important otherwise they can become inactive. Always remember that vaccines are typically refrigerated and need to be handled properly and used by the expiration date or else your horse may not protected. Any new horses coming onto the property should have up-to-date vaccination information so it is less likely that any diseases will be brought onto the property. Quarantining of new horses for 30 days is always advised so that disease is not introduced to the resident horses. Owners can save money by buying the vaccine from their veterinarian or checking online for veterinary supply sites which in many cases are less expensive. Most veterinarians will meet lower prices found by owners at online sites or through catalogs.
Continued in Part II in the next thread
Extension Equine Spe******t
Utah State University
Logan, Utah
Managing your horse on a tight budget Part I
Introduction
Most horse owners do not own horses as a business, or with expectations of generating household income from them. Rather, owners are more intent on maximizing the amount of pleasure or involvement per dollar spent. Saving money when it comes to horse ownership is always important but even more so when the economy is down and people are struggling with everyday bills. Keeping a horse healthy is a very important part of keeping costs down. In this informational sheet horse management systems are discussed which may help owners save on expenses.
Veterinary Care
Veterinary care can be an expensive part of horse ownership but owners can help keep this cost down. Having a good working relationship with the local veterinarian so s/he understands what the owners can handle will help reduce the vet visits and aftercare. Taking an active interest, and being involved with the daily care of a horse needing wound or medical therapy can increase owners’ daily interaction with their horse and the education of horse ownership. So, even though an injured animal isn't something desired it can provide benefits to our education and interaction with our animals.
Caring for leg wounds that require wrapping can be expensive if the vet is involved on a regular basis. If vet wrap, elastikon and cotton sheeting are used and changed on a daily basis, it can be expensive. Instead the owner can save money by caring for the wound his/her self with veterinary direction and using quilts and polos which can be washed and reused instead of thrown away.
Learning to give intramuscular (IM) and intravenous (IV) shots will allow you to give vaccinations and any medications the vet may prescribe for a more serious problem. Work up a management plan with your vet that allows you to do as much as you are comfortable with and have the vet or an experienced person help you gain confidence with new aspects which help keep the costs down. If the vet normally comes to your place to work on horses, you might haul the horse to the vet saving the vet farm call charge. A farm visit may cost anywhere from $30 to $60.
Fecal Test and De-Worming
Internal parasites rob the horse of feed nutrients and are a leading cause of colic. Following a de-worming program, that consists of testing for parasites and de-worming with the appropriate amount and appropriate de-worming product, is important. Making use of fecal tests can make for a much stronger de-worming program. A fecal test indicates what parasites are present and in what numbers. This test can range in price from $11 to $15. This test can help owners make more
knowledgeable decisions about what to de-worm with or if de-worming is necessary if the parasite
load is light. Not every horse in a paddock needs to be fecal tested but a random few that live together will provide good information about the group. If a group of horses has a low parasite load, de-worming can be postponed leading to substantial savings if multiple horses are owned. Visiting with your vet about a de-worming and fecal exam schedule will help owners determine what is most appropriate for their stocking load and management style.
Most schedules include de-worming or testing every 8 -12 weeks. It is important to de-worm according to the horse’s weight, as many times one tube of de-wormer is not enough to cover the entire weight of a horse. Using a weight tape (which can be obtained at many feed stores or through a feed company) will give a more accurate indication of weight than just eye-balling and guessing. Because the tapes are not 100% accurate it is appropriate to add 200 lbs to the weight and give enough de-wormer to cover the horse’s weight plus the 200 lbs.
An important part of parasite control includes reducing the re-infestation rate. Cleaning pens or stalls daily will prevent the horse from having contact with manure, where parasite larvae live. Composting manure before spreading over fields will kill existing parasite larvae and better prepare the manure for spreading. These steps will reduce the need for chemical control while maintaining a healthy horse at a reduced cost.
Vaccinations
Just as humans need vaccinations, our dogs, cats and horses need vaccinations to remain healthy. Vaccinations are usually given on an annual basis although some are given more often. Vaccines boost the horse’s immune system and help it fight off disease. It is far less expensive to protect your horse with a vaccine rather than treat the disease or lose a horse to a disease. Discussing a vaccination schedule for individual horses or a group of horses with your vet can give you a great plan to maintain the health of your horse or herd. Giving your own vaccinations can help save money but proper storage and handling of vaccines is important otherwise they can become inactive. Always remember that vaccines are typically refrigerated and need to be handled properly and used by the expiration date or else your horse may not protected. Any new horses coming onto the property should have up-to-date vaccination information so it is less likely that any diseases will be brought onto the property. Quarantining of new horses for 30 days is always advised so that disease is not introduced to the resident horses. Owners can save money by buying the vaccine from their veterinarian or checking online for veterinary supply sites which in many cases are less expensive. Most veterinarians will meet lower prices found by owners at online sites or through catalogs.
Continued in Part II in the next thread