A horse that is kept in good shape will live longer and remain healthier well into it's senior years. A horse's mental health can be just as important as his physical health. If he's paid attention to, groomed, fussed over and knows he's appreciated he'll be eager to please in return. Bored horses can end up with stable vices like pawing, chewing, and weaving. Yelling at them and making it seem as if they are nothing but trouble is not the attitude you want to project.
Horses are sensitive to people's moods and actions.
A calm but firm manner is best when working around them. Throw in a few kind words and pats of appreciation and your horse will thank you for it by working hard and remaining honest. We need to do our part in keeping our horses healthy if we expect them to give us their best effort in whatever we ask them to do. Email your questions for Bonnie Anderson . A few will be chosen for each issue.