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How Raise Horses For Profits
Horses have been kept as pets, used as a mode of transport, for cattle penning and used as a racehorse. Times have changed and horses are used in sport activities which include reining, team penning and trail riding.
Many people have resorted to track horse racing as a second career, with careful knowledge of which breed to select for racing. Some horse breeds can speed up to 55 miles per hour and they must undergo extensive training to excel in races,
Breeds
There are so many types of breed and crossbred horses. Usually, people have ventured in keeping them for their reputable qualities and their purpose they are kept for.
American Quarter Horse
Quarter horses are the most popular breed in the United States. American quarter horses are suitable for all levels of riders and owners, as they tend to be friendly with people and easy to train.- They have been used as race horses, as well as working ranch horses and family pets.
- Their built is sturdy In the modern times, the horses are known for their abilities to shine on rodeo events like reining (when a rider guides the horse through a pattern of circles, spins and other movements) and team penning (when riders herd specific cattle into a pen).
- They are also popular to help maneuver cattle and pull wagon, with their quick movements to gather strays from herds of cattle, and deftly propel the horses around barrel in barrel races.
American Quarter horse breed are ideal for
Character
American quarter horses are known for their versatility, gentle nature, beauty, agility, speed, and loyalty.
General description
The horse’s breeds are matured at: height 56 – 64 inches (142 – 162 cm) and weight 950 – 1200 pounds (408 – 544 kg) when they are matured.
Color: they come in a variety of solid colors – roan, palominos, gray, grulls, buckskin and duns.
Body type: Muscular body, deep chest, small head with wide forehead, and flat profile.
Life expectancy: 25 years
Feed
American Quarter horses require a healthy balance of minerals and vitamins supplements. They sustain in fresh grass, hay, rolled oats, and other grains such as barley and bran.
Sometimes, the horses are fed treats such as carrots and apples, but it should feed in moderation.
As a general rule, the quarters eat between 1. 5 – 2 % of their body weight each day, meaning a 998 pounds (453 kg) horse will consume between 7 – 9 kg of food daily.
Grooming
Daily grooming can help the horse to maintain a healthy coat and clear skin. A rider must brush the legs, face, girth, and saddle areas to ensure the horse is comfortable and all the oils have been evenly distributed on its body.
Groom the horse before and after riding, which helps distribute the oils and sweat on its body especially in summer.
Use a detangler to brush out the horse’s tail which will make it bushier and more adept at swatting away flies. In winter, use a waterless shampoo, conditioner and detangle the horse’s mane and tail.
The American Morgan Horse
This breed is one of the most popular breed of horse in the United States, with versatile horse riding, pulling carriages, farm labor, and cattle cutting.- The breed is an exceptionally cooperative bred with an eagerness to please its humans and it is easy to keep due to adaptable virtually to any situation and use.
- Equestrian of all levels, including children are typically able to handle a Morgan horse.
This breed was founded and bred through the Figure breed, which is a compact horse standing at 140 cm tall.
Thus stallion developed a reputation for its athleticism and pleasant disposition; hence the traits have been transferred on the American Morgan breed.Morgan breeds are known for being an all-purpose horse breed, though they learn towards the riding horse type.
The American Morgan horses are suitable as a family horse and beginning rider.
General description
Once the American Morgan breed has reached its maturity, it weighs between 900 -1000 pounds (400 – 500 kg) and its height is between 57 – 62 inches (145 – 157 cm) tall.
Distinguishing features – they are compact, muscular but refined build, expressive head, and well arched neck. Their stylish and attractive nature exudes smooth lines, small ears, expressive eyes, and a nicely crested neck. They have a life expectancy of 20 – 30 years.
Feed
As easy keepers, Morgans generally need less food than the full-size horse breed because they require a standard diet of quality grass, hay, and grains. Owners should monitor and ensure that the horses are not fed sweetened food and should not eat too much.
Diseases and treatment
Morgan breed is prone to health issues and the rare occurrences of equine conditions common which are;
a.) Cushing’s disease – which is a hormonal abnormality encountered in many breeds.
b.) Polysaccharide storage myopathy
Owners must familiarize themselves with the genetic disorders of the breed.
Grooming
Brush and comb your horses’ coat at least once or twice a week to remove dirt, debris and tangles. Give extra attention to the notably thick mane and tail to prevent mats.
Also check the horse’s hooves daily for dirt, debris, infections, and injuries.
Appaloosa Horse
Appaloosa horse is known for four identifiable characteristics; coat pattern (the leopard print which is a group of genetically related patterns), mottled skin, white sclera, and striped hooves. This breed is a light and sturdy conformation which fits into the stock type, sport horse, and also considered a color breed. How To Raise Horse Their mane and tail are notably short to prevent the tail from getting snagged in the bush.
The Appaloosa breed was bred for hunting and defense, but in modern times, it is primarily used for pleasure riding, rodeo, and working cattle. Although they can be used as sport horses for racing and jumping, and trail riding. They are known for their calm and pleasant disposition, which makes them early trainable.
General description
The Appaloosa horse has a coat pattern which comes in a variety; leopard, snowflake, blanket, marbleized, and frost color. They weigh 1000 – 1100 pounds (450 – 500 kg) and have a height of 57 – 64 inches (144 – 163 cm).
Feeding
This breed requires a moderate amount of feed as they are known to be a very sound breed and have few lameness problems. Appaloosa is a fairly low maintenance breed that does fine in most settings, they will do equally well in pasture or in a barn or box stall.
Grooming
Groom at least once or twice a week to remove dirt, debris and tangle. Use shampoo regularly, makes hoof inspection and cleaning daily activity to look for injuries and prevent infections. Frequent brushing the coat to maintain its shine and remove tangles.
ThoRough BReed Horse
People are familiar with this breed due to horse racing, they are multi-purpose horses and many former racehorses find second careers as riding or driving horses. They are classified as ‘hot-blooded’ horses, bold, intelligent and athletic. Their demeanor is not every equestrian can handle, but it does make a magnificent horse.
General description
Feed
They eat typically equine diet of quality grass, hay, grains, some fruits and vegetables. Vitamins and supplements are necessary and important in their diet because they tend to have a fast metabolism than other horses, so it requires more food to maintain a healthy weight.
Common health and behavior problems
Thoroughbreds are prone to several health problems, many of which are due to being bred for racing. They are often pushed to physical extremes on the race track, and tend to escalate the rate of health complications and accidents such as life-ending fractures which is high.
The breed is susceptible to exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding in the lungs), also considering the fact that they have a small heart can contribute to circulatory issues.
The hooves being small for their body size causes soreness and lameness.
Grooming
Brush them at least a couple of times per week, inspect and clean their hooves daily to look for injuries and prevent infections.
Be extra vigilant when grooming a Thoroughbred because they have a thinner skin than many horse breed, so they might be a bit more sensitive and get annoyed at grooming especially if you hit the sore spots. Use a natural bristle brush not nylon brush and reward them for their good behavior with treats.
Percheron Horse General description
The Percheron horses weigh between 1800 – 2600 pounds (816 – 1,179 kg) and their height is between 60 – 76 inches (152 -193 cm) tall depending on the bloodline, with a life expectancy of 25 -30 years.
Their colors can be black, gray, chestnut, bay, roan, or sorrel, though the French-bred Percherons are born black nut turn gray when they mature.
Feed
Percherons typically eat more than an average horse. It can easily go through 30 pounds (13.6 kg) of quality hay and 5 pounds (2.25 kg) of grain per day. Vitamins and minerals supplements might be necessary especially if the horse can’t forage in pasture.
Common health and behavior problems
They are generally sound horses with minimal behavior issues, though prone to health problems.
They may develop equine polysaccharide storage myopathy, and young Percherons may develop osteochondritis dissecans (a painful joint condition in which cracks from in the cartilage and bone due to rapid growth and activity).
Grooming
Create a grooming routine especially in winter because their coat tend to become very heavy and dense. Regular grooming is encouraged to remove dirt, debris, tangles, and loose fur.
Fur around the legs is known to attract bacteria, which can cause skin inflammation and bacteria, so it essential to keep that area clean, dry and well-groomed.
Is Horse Breeding For You
It may seem that any horse is easy to tame yet there may be a challenge that comes with owning a horse.
People are advised to first learn about horses, the type of breed that may interest them, their health problems and many more. However, we encourage people to first visit organizations that keep horses and get to know at least one horse.
As you embark on this journey, be sure to make proper inquiries if you want to own a horse because some breeds are not ideal for pet keeping.
Look out for sweet, tolerant, and easy going horse, Target the easy keeping breed as a beginner because this type of breed is able to adapt to many different climates and conditions like the Percheron.