MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
When you buy a horse, it is important to know how it has been reared, because mistakes during rearing are difficult or even impossible to repair. We are very concerned about giving our horses the best possible start. These are our management routines:
Pasturing:
Our horses are turned out every day. During the winter they are
out from early morning until 5-6 pm and are fed hay and straw in
the paddock. Summertime they are pastured.
Stable climate:
Wintertime the air is cold but clean in our stable. The horses
are kept in large box stalls with plenty of straw.
Feeding:
All horses have free access to water and salt blocks in their
stalls.Summertime the diet comprises grass on pasture. Hay and
straw make up the bulk of the winter diet, supplemented with
small amounts of concentrate. Salt and minerals are always
supplemented. Pregnant mares are given selenium once a week.
Hoof care:
A trained farrier visit the stable with two months interval to
look after the hooves of the horses. Horses working a lot or
being prepared for shows are shoed.
Vaccinations:
All horses receive a basic vaccination against tetanus and
A2-virus at the age of 6 months, followed by subsequent
vaccination with 6-8 months intervals. Since 2001 we also use
vaccine against botulism.
Worming:
All horses are usually treated with antihelmintics before start
of pasturing in the spring if necessary (feces tests are sent in). The foals always get antihelmintics at two and four months og age.
Pasture rotation is also an important part of parasite
control.
Registration:
All our horses have complete pedigrees and are registered at SFF.
They are also individually marked with microchips.
Handling and training:
We take care that our horses establish trustful
relations to humans as soon as possible. Foals are getting used
to wear a halter and to lead, at hand and at ther mothers side,
to lift their feet and to be groomed. Occasionally they may
accompany their mother while driving and they are also trained to
stay behind in the stable while the mare is being trained.
Young horses are handled and trained throughout adolescence. Besides the socializing during the daily care, we also actively train our young horses. Periods of driving and riding are interspersed with periods of rest, allowing horses to mature mentally and physically.
The young horse is accustomed to be led alone and in the company of other horses and is also used to cars. With time, the halter is replaced by a bridle and at the age of 11/2 years, we start to train the young horse with harness and long reins. Driving starts at the age of 2-3 years. At this point we like to bring the horses to a driving course so that they get the opportunity to train in an unfamiliar environment with horses they do not know. Most of our young horses are also shown at least once.Saddle training starts at the age of 3, first only on trails but later also in a paddock.