The biggest issue facing horses in our area…
Willful ignorance.
It's probably the number one issue among horse owners and would-be "rescues" and we'd argue it is far worse than lack of knowledge.
It's one thing for the first time owner to have a 20-something year old horse and not know they should float teeth more often and feed a senior formula feed. They can ask questions and learn from their veterinarian, their farrier, their trainer, their boarding barn, the ag extension office in their county, books, magazines, clinics, seminars...the list goes on. All the knowledge is at their fingertips to learn to care for this horse who maybe dropped a little weight at the beginning of winter.
And that's where "not knowing" can turn into "not wanting to learn." In today's world, there's really no excuse.
Equine veterinarians spend 8 years in school so they can help your horse live a long and healthy life. Programs like UT's Master Horse are accessible to anyone with a cell phone. Programs like our Horse Camp For Grown Ups clinics are available to anyone who wants to drive out to the farm. Our Facebook posts are free. thehorse.com magazine archives are online for free.
Not knowing that a nursing mare should not be skin and bones is willful ignorance. She's not skinny because she's nursing, she's skinny because you're not feeding her enough. If you don't care to ask questions or invest the money to take proper care of her, don't breed your mare in the first place.
Just because your grandfather fed his old horse bread doesn't mean it's a good option for weight gain. If you are doing it to save money, you probably can't afford your horse. Horses back then died at 18. Today they live to 38. For a reason - we understand far more about diet, deworming, and dental care.
There's no shame in asking for help or asking questions. Everyone out there who has owned horses for 40 years had a first horse. Some had trainers, some boarded with a knowledgeable person, some learned as they went -- but all had mentors along the way. They asked questions because they wanted to be better owners to their horses.
It's when questions are not asked - or help is offered and declined and the horses suffer as a result that is the problem.
