Equine Resources
Our website provides valuable resources to support your equine journey. From expert advice on horse care and training to directories of local veterinarians, farriers, and riding facilities, you'll find everything you need to keep your horse happy and healthy. Explore articles, tutorials, product recommendations, event listings, and more—all designed to help you connect with the equine community and enhance your passion for horses.
Maine State law requires the following standards for the Housing and Care of Horses
Housing
A. A constructed shelter, with a minimum of three sides and a waterproof roof, shall be provided at all times to protect equines from sun, rain, wind and other inclement weather.
B. The roof shall be waterproof.
C. The shelter shall be of sufficient height and size so that the animals may stand upright in their normal position, with safe head clearances, and accommodate all animals comfortably at all times.
D. The floor shall be dry and suitable for the animals to lie down.
E. Any animal shall be provided with extra protection by improved housing facilities, blankets, or other methods if the health of the animal is compromised in any way.
F. Where indoor shelter is provided, that shelter shall be adequately ventilated to prevent excessive dust or excessive moisture that may be detrimental to the equine’s health.
Food
A. Equines shall have unlimited access to clean water to maintain normal hydration.
B. Each equine shall have sufficient hay, grain, or other feed to maintain its normal body weight. Additional feed shall be fed to underweight animals to achieve normal weight.
C. The feeding arrangements shall be such that each animal gets its own proper share of food
D. All owners/keepers of equine shall have on hand at all times enough hay and grain to maintain all equine in a healthy condition.
Statewide Equine Resources
MSSPA Feed & Care Bank
The MSSPA offers their Feed & Care Bank to provide temporary, emergency assistance to Maine horses in need. Funds may be used towards hay, feed, farrier or dental services, routine vaccinations, and veterinary care. Equine specific. For more information, click the link below.
https://www.msspa.org/hay/
Maine Horse Matchmaker
Maine Horse Matchmaker is a free rehoming service that was created by the MSSPA to help Maine horses find new homes. Matchmaker is intended to be used for no-fee rehoming, not for sales. If you find a new owner for your horse through Matchmaker, the MSSPA requires that you do not ask for a sale price.
https://www.msspa.org/maine-horse-matchmaker/
Northest Equine Sanctuary
Northeast Equine Sanctuary (NES) is one of four state-licensed animal shelters that is operated by GFAS-accredited Peace Ridge Sanctuary (PRS). In 2020, PRS was presented with the opportunity to build on their already successful equine rescue program, which has been run alongside their farmed animal and companion animal rescue programs for more than twenty years.
https://peaceridgesanctuary.org/northeastequine/
Hay Directory
Directory of people and farms who sell hay in Maine.
https://extension.umaine.edu/livestock/hay/
How to Body Condition Score a Horse
The best way to learn to body condition score your horse is to get hands on with your horse. Follow the steps below and refer to the chart above to help identify your horse's body score.
- Stand to the side of the horse, about halfway between the head and tail.
- Look at the horse's overall body shape, including the neck, shoulders, ribs, hips, and base of the tail. Note any areas where you can see or feel fat or muscle.
- Use your hands to feel the horse's ribcage. You should be able to feel the ribs but not easily see them. If the ribs are prominent, the horse is likely underweight. If you can't easily feel the ribs, the horse is likely to be be overweight.
- Use your hands to feel the horse's neck and shoulders. A horse with a healthy body condition will have a neck which blends smoothly into the body. A crest will be seen, but fat should be deposited fairly evenly from the poll to the withers. The crest should be easily cupped in one hand, and be flexible to move from side to side.
- Move your hands back to the horse's ribcage and feel the area behind the ribs. This area should have a slight concave shape, not be flat or bulging.
- Move to the horse's hindquarters and feel the muscles over the croup. They should be well-defined but not overly prominent.
- Finally, look at the horse's tailhead. A horse with a healthy body condition will have a slight covering of fat over the tailhead and should not be overly prominent. The hip bones should not be prominently visible or protruding.
Once you have completed these steps, you can assign a score to the horse on the 1 to 9 scale based on their overall body fat and muscle condition, as shown in the chart above. It's important to body condition score horses regularly to monitor changes and adjust their nutrition and exercise as needed to maintain a healthy weight.
Additional Resources
Equine Disaster Preparedness
Horses require extra consideration in disaster planning. See what our friends at HSUS have to say about it!
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/equine-disaster-preparedness