Husbandry
Track feed, hay, supplements, allergies, turnout companions, and stall habits for each horse.
The husbandry section of a horse's profile covers their daily care needs — what they eat, what to watch out for, and how they behave in the barn and pasture. This information is especially valuable for barn managers, farm sitters, and anyone who helps with daily chores.
Feed
Track what each horse eats and how much.
Feed Items
Add individual feed items to a horse's profile, each with:
- Feed name — the product or grain type (e.g., "SafeChoice Senior", "Oats")
- Amount — how much per feeding
- Frequency — how often (e.g., twice daily, once daily)
- Notes — special instructions (e.g., "soak for 10 minutes", "mix with water")
You can add multiple feed items per horse. They appear in order on the horse's profile.
Hay
Record hay type and quantity:
- Hay type — Timothy, Alfalfa, Bermuda, Orchard, Mixed, etc.
- Amount — how many flakes or pounds per feeding
- Frequency — feeding schedule
- Notes — any special instructions
Supplements
Track supplements separately from regular feed:
- Supplement name — the product (e.g., "SmartPak Joint", "Biotin")
- Dosage — amount per serving
- Frequency — how often given
- Reason — why the horse is on this supplement (e.g., "joint support", "hoof growth")
Allergies and Alerts
Record known allergies and behavioral alerts that anyone caring for the horse should know about.
Allergies
- Allergen — what the horse is allergic to (e.g., "alfalfa", "fly spray brand X", "penicillin")
- Reaction — what happens (e.g., "hives", "respiratory distress", "colic")
- Severity — Mild, Moderate, or Severe
Warning
Drug allergies are especially important to document. Make sure your vet and barn manager know about any medication sensitivities. Allergy alerts appear prominently on the horse's profile.
Behavioral Alerts
Flags for behaviors that affect handling or care:
- Aggressive at feeding time
- Kicks in cross-ties
- Difficult to catch in pasture
- Cribber or weaver
- Requires sedation for farrier or dental
These alerts display at the top of the horse's husbandry section so they're hard to miss.
Turnout Companions
Record which horses get along in the pasture:
- Compatible companions — horses that can be turned out together
- Incompatible horses — horses that should be kept separate
- Notes — context about the relationships (e.g., "bonds with Dusty, aggressive toward geldings")
This is especially useful on farms with multiple pastures and rotating turnout schedules.
Stall Habits
Document stall behavior patterns:
- Stall vices — cribbing, weaving, pawing, stall walking
- Bedding preference — shavings, straw, pellets
- Water habits — plays in water buckets, tips buckets, prefers heated water
- Other notes — any stall-specific care instructions
Tip
The husbandry section works like a care sheet for each horse. Fill it in once and anyone helping on the farm can look up exactly what a horse needs without asking.