Your vet will likely supervise foot care, dental care, routine vaccinations, parasite control, and general first aid. Though foot maintenance is essentially a farrier s job, a horse s feet are most delicate. No foot, no horse rings ever so true, and it follows that at the first sign of lameness call your veterinarian, not your farrier. Allow him or her to determine if the problem is indeed one for the other guy. It is always best to catch and act on a problem soon, since waiting may result in making matters much worse.
Horses also require their teeth to be floated, once or twice a year.
Floating, or evening out, takes away the high points on the teeth making chewing easier. If chewing is efficient, the first stage in overall good digestion is then completed. A horse who fights the bit or throws her head while being ridden may not be on her worst behavior, but instead she might be telling you that her teeth hurt. Remember that it is always best to have a horse checked when she is acting out of character, since a behavioral problem is frequently the harbinger of a physical ailment. A veterinarian, never a friend or a friend of a friend who happens to be a nurse, should give routine vaccinations because errors and mistakes can happen, and these can cause permanent damage.