The Most Common Signs A Horse Has Been Abused
Not every horse racing trainer is able to get their horses from a stud farm, as those animals tend to be far too expensive for most people to afford. There are others that instead rescue horses that they then bring back to health, train, and then sell for a healthy profit. It’s a viable opportunity to start a small business for anyone that wants to look after horses and train them. The animals might not go on to win any major tournaments, especially If they are a bit older, but there are many smaller racing events that take place, such as at casinos, that involve horses that have been rescued.
Rescues come from a range of sources, but this can often mean that they didn’t come from a loving home, and it’s not uncommon to find a horse that has suffered abuse in the past. In order to successfully befriend and train an abused horse, it’s important to know what the tell-tale signs of abuse are.
Constantly Nervous
A horse that has suffered physical abuse in the past at the hands of a person will always be afraid when they meet new people. This is a behaviour that’s extremely difficult to unlearn, and requires constant patience and care. Horses that are incredibly quick to frighten and actively attempt to run away when a person nears them indicates that they have been hurt before and don’t trust anyone that gets too close. Horses like these can often be quite dangerous, as they may perceive their new carer as a threat, and attempt to harm them. It might take months before the horse is ready to start trusting, along with plenty of extra patience.
Skin Conditions
In the wild, horses would run through rivers, stream, and rain constantly, which would wash them off and keep them clean. Horses on the farm, however, need to be washed by their owners at least once a week to keep off any dirt, grime, and insects that might try and make the horses fur and skin their home. Horses need to be kept clean as possible, and it can take a number of hours to properly wash and clean a horse. Any horse that has serious skin infections, lots of ticks, and doesn’t have a shiny coat was not looked after previously. At this stage, the horse should be taken to a vet for a check-up, and then washed thoroughly with warm soap and water.
Overgrown Hooves
A horse’s hooves grow all their lives, and anyone that’s looking after the horse needs to regularly grind them down to keep them from getting too long. A horse that doesn’t have its hooves maintained regularly will have them grow long and make it difficult for the horse to walk properly. This can lead to more serious problems if left long enough, and it’s a matter that should be attended to as quickly as possible to stop the horse suffering any injuries.