Owning a horse can bring a lot of enjoyment but it is also a big responsibility and requires a commitment in terms of time and finances.  A horse will require daily care all year round and under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 anyone owning or caring for a horse has a responsibility to ensure they have at least a basic understanding of its welfare needs and to ensure these needs are met.  These needs include ensuring the horse is kept in a suitable environment, has an adequate diet, is allowed to behave normally, has appropriate company and is protected from injury, disease, pain and suffering.  Therefore it includes the provision of veterinary treatment if the horse becomes ill or injured and this can be costly.  However, there are a variety of insurance companies that offer insurance cover for horses to cover veterinary fees in the case of accident or illness.

This section covers various topics relating to horse care.