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How come wild horses stay fit and healthy unlike domestic horses that go to the vet quite often?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wild horses have developed adaptations for survival in their natural habitat as opposed to a domestic environment. One such adaptation is the learned behavior or pawing at the edges of ice-locked ponds to access fresh water.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoWild horses aren't truly 'fit and healthy'. Though they may look it from a distance, their coats will not be the best, their hooves are probably cracked, overgrown and 'rough' around the toe area (from lack of nutrition, the climate and obviously not being done by a farrier - in the wild, hooves are generally worn over time from the ground surface and things like rocks), the horse may have a certain disease or it will be prone to many diseases.
The domesticated horses visit the vet quite often to be vaccinated against diseases as the cost of the horse visiting the vet with the disease is a cost many people would like to avoid. Also, domesticated horses are a lot more prone to injuries and lameness as they are 'worked' - so they also visit the vet for that as well.
A wild horse will get most of it's nutrition and digestible energy from the roughage (i.e. grass) that it eats in the wild, so it will probably appear a lot more healthy and it's weight might seem a little more maintained! However domesticated horses have to be fed their roughage and usually also supplements/ concentrates/ extra feeds because of the different amounts of work we make them do so they can maintain their weight and overall health and nutrition.
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When referring to horses what does AL mean?
"Al" is Arabic for "The", and it is used often in the name of Arabian horses.[1]
How often should you clean a horses sheath?
I own horses and they get their sheaths cleaned every six months.
What is a building horses and sheep are housed in?
Horses and sheep are often kept in stables, barns, or paddocks.
What do horses need more of if they are often excesided?
food and hay/haylage =)
Are pomegranates okay for horses to eat?
pomegranates are somtimes ok, dont give them to often becasue they are too sweet for the horses stomache to handle.
How do horses survive summer?
Basically a similar way a human could. Often times domestic horses have fans in their stables. Wild horses and domestic horses need a lot of water. Sometimes owners will give their horses electrolytes to keep them hydrated. Just like humans horses are able to sweat to help maintain body temperature
Why are wild horses often smaller then domestic horses?
The same reason dogs look different than wolves. Over many, many years, we have selectively bred horses for specific purposes. Thouroughbreds were bred with long legs, bodies, and to have a huge lung capacity for racing, Quarter horses were selectively bred for quarter mile races and to work cattle, Draft horses (Shire, Belgian) were bred for pulling heavy loads (example: Budwiser horses)
How often do horses get vaccines?
Horses are usually vacinated yearly.
Which domestic animals have long life span?
I know birds often live to the age of 25 and more. Parrots are very long lived if cared for properly. Some can even out live their human owners. Horses are a fairly long lived domestic farm animal. It is not uncommon for horses to live 25+ years with a few living well past 30, and rarely 35-40 years.
Can donkeys graze with horses?
Yes, donkeys often graze with horses.
What parasites do horses often have?
ticks
How often do you have to grease your horses feet?
For a horse with sound and healthy feet it is not uncommon to oil them daily to maintain them. There are various products on the market that are used to moisturize the hooves to help prevent them from drying and splitting.
Why wood is not used as a domestic fuel?
Wood IS used as a domestic fuel. Often it is the only fuel available.
What is parturition in horses called?
In horses, parturition(the birthing process) is often called "Droping the foal."
Can you pack your horses feet with tar to prevent them from picking up rocks?
I have never heard of such a remedy. Pine tar is often used to keep a horse's hoof healthy, but to pack it with tar is something else entirely.
How do you keep a mother healthy?
exersize often and eat healthy things
When referring to horses what does AL mean?
"Al" is Arabic for "The", and it is used often in the name of Arabian horses.[1]
