If you love your horse, take care of him!

How to Care for a Horse in a Stable

1. Find a stall of adequate size. A 12-by-12 stall is sufficient for most horses. Larger horses will need more space.

2. Consider a stall with an adjacent paddock, so the horse can walk freely between inside and out.

3. Make sure the horse has plenty of fresh water. There are automatic waterers that keep water in a bowl at a certain level. You can also keep water in a large container (a 20-gallon bucket works well).

4. Feed from a manger to keep food off the floor. A horse eating off a sandy floor can ingest sand, which can cause colic.

5. Understand that stalls made of wood are the most horse-friendly. Stalls made of cement block or concrete walls can damage a horse’s foot or leg if kicked.

6. Make sure the barn has adequate ventilation. Bacteria breeds in stale areas. Open doors to allow sufficient air circulation.

7. Horses produce up to 40 pounds of manure and urine a day. Keep stall clean and make sure liquids can drain adequately from the stall.

8. Choose bedding that is comfortable for the horse. Shavings on top of dirt and sand make an ideal bedding.

9. Allow at least 20 minutes per day of turn-out time. Horses should have a large, open area to run and play in.

10. Turning two horses out at the same time can increase the amount of exercise both horses get, but chose turn-out mates carefully. Horses can be aggressive toward one another.