What do you need to know before buying your first horse?

Hello. There is a lot to keep on top of when you own a horse. One of the most important things is knowing the common injuries and illnesses, and how to prevent and treat them. Make sure you understand colic, laminitis, mud fever and hoof abscesses, and how to dress a wound. It is also worth putting together a well-stocked stable first-aid kit.

It is a good idea to read up on what the Swedish Animal Welfare Act requires, so that you know what you should and must do.

Every horse must have a passport.

The horse must be registered with the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) at the premises where it is kept, and it is the yard owner who handles that registration.

The hooves need attention from a registered farrier roughly every 6 to 8 weeks.

There are also things like biosecurity and vaccinations, which you can read more about on Hästsverige.

For parasite control, run a faecal egg count every spring and autumn. You collect a dung sample and send it for analysis to check the worm burden, and only worm when it is actually needed, so the worms do not become resistant.

Then there is the hardest part of all, the end of a horse's life. This is where we have to take responsibility and meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act, which means not causing the horse unnecessary suffering. You can read more about this difficult step here.

Enjoy your time together with your horse, and do get in touch if you have any more questions or anything you are wondering about. 🙂