Waterfall Creek > Horse Retirement > Horse Management

Horse Management

Guest Horse Management and Living Arrangements.

Guest horses live in a herd environment, rotated regularly through a variety of paddocks.

Feeding is ad-lib pasture and hay, supplemented with minerals and herbs on a regular basis.

Guest horses have regular access to dams for swimming and play.  They take to the water all year round!  This photo was taken on a crisp August day.

Herds are managed and organised to accommodate feed requirements of individual horses as well as the social structures that the horses form themselves.

Guest horses are not normally rugged as experience has shown that the horses have no need for them.  Rugs may be used if they are required for specific horse health reasons.  Guest horses that arrive during the colder months may be rugged until they acclimatise. Any rugging arrangements will be discussed on an individual basis.

Guest Horses are visited regularly so that they continue to receive human contact and interaction.

We use the services of a qualified horse dentist who visits the herd twice a year.  In addition to teeth, hooves are maintained in what is known as the 'barehoof' model, based on wild horse hooves and physiolically correct trimming.  Hoof care is carried out at four to six week intervals, depending on hoof growth and wear.  Glenn is a qualified and practicing barehoof trimmer.

Each spring when the horses shed their winter coats, we assist with regular brushing and combing sessions.  The horses always enjoy the extra attention, and help to reach those 'itchy' spots caused by coat shedding.

Each year we use ParaSite Diagnostic Services http://www.parasite.com.au/ in Benalla to test a representitive sample of the horses for worm count.  This guides us in the application of drenches and wormers.  We have found that with paddock rotation and light grazing, worm counts are generally low.  However horses are usually drenced twice a year.