Taking Spring in your stride! Sping horsecare tips

Spring is an exciting time for horses and their owners. Most equestrian sports begin to come to life again, the evenings are getting longer and you can finally get out more to enjoy riding your horse. We are always glad to see the back of winter and we here at HorsePlay want you to make the most out of this rejuvenating season, so we have pulled together some of our top horse care tips for the spring season.

Fittening your horse

When planning spring riding and competitions, you should consider the amount of work your horse has had over the winter. Unfortunately many of us were unable to do much with our horses with the prolonged snow and ice. If you and your horse fit into this category, it is important to begin your schooling schedule conscientiously and increase your horse's workload steadily, while keeping it varied. Don't forget to think about your own fitness level as well as that of your horse and remember, quality not quantity is what matters!

Be firm with worms

A stringent worming routine is vital for your horse's health, as a heavy worm burden will affect both their performance and their overall well-being. As the temperature slowly begins to rise, parasites that had been kept under wraps during the colder winter months now begin to come to life again and as the worms move from the manure to the grass, your horse may then unfortunately ingest them when grazing in the paddock. Careful worming can help to keep this problem at bay but it is only part of the solution- regular poo picking will help to dramatically reduce the worm burden on your horse's pasture. If you are unsure about which wormer to give your horse, you should seek advice from your vet or a licensed advisor.

Field matters

Winter can wreak havoc on our fields, so make sure you undertake a thorough inspection of your pasture and its fencing before turning your horse out for longer periods of time.

Check your fencing for any loose nails or anything that may snag and hurt your horse if he chooses to use it as a scratching post. Ensure that your electric fencing is in working order and tighten any wire that may now be slack. You should walk around the field too, looking for loose debris that should be picked up, holes or patches that might now be susceptible to flooding since the heavy winter. It is important to address these as soon as possible.

Testing your soil is also a good idea to measure the mineral content of your soil which is essential for good grass growth and soil-testing kits are available to buy in many garden centres. If you are using a fertiliser, ensure that it is specific for equine grazing so that you do not harm your horse.

Food issues

Coming into spring, it is be a good idea to assess your horse's weight in order to see if his condition needs to be increased or reduced. Most of us like to see our horses spend more time at grass coming into the warmer months, as being outdoors is the best place for them, so it is important to keep this in mind when deciding on the level of feed that you are giving your horse. Remember that your horse will graze more at dawn and at dusk so this can help you to control their intake. Laminitis and Colic are both renowned for being seen more in spring due to the improving quality of the grass so it is essential to monitor this, particularly if you have a horse that is prone to laminitis.

Spring rugging

Letting your horses skin breath is one of the benefits of the warmer seasons, but exposing your horse in all of his natural glory too quickly can have its problems too. One of the drawbacks of spring is that you can be lulled into a false sense of security and forget that cold weather and heavy rain is still very likely- this can cause winter related problems such as mud fever or rain scald to flare back up again.

Try to air your winter rugs on a sunny day and brush off any dried on mud and excess hair. If you have decided that you are going to get your rugs washed, there are plenty of specialised laundry services available. They will also be able to repair anything that needs to be fixed and re-proof your rug so that it stays water resistant.

Spring clean your horse

Help your horse to shed the winter woolies with some vigorous grooming. With the endless amount of brushes and curry combs on the market you will be able to find the perfect combination of tools to help you to get rid of scurf and dried in mud!

Saddlery and stable spring clean

Give your tack some special attention after the winter as wet and cold weather may have had an effect on the leather. Cracked leather or worn stitching may need repairing or you may find that some of the straps have stretched. Remember that your horse's shape can change with each season so it is important to check that your tack still fits correctly. If you are unsure about this, ask a saddler to do this for you.

On a bright and breezy day, give you stables some TLC, clean them from top to bottom and let them air out. Remove any old bedding and rubber matting where possible and hose everything down before leaving it to dry. Sweep away any cobwebs that may have trapped bugs or extra dust and fix any fittings that have gone on the long finger since the winter and don't forget that sunlight can be a great disinfectant so let in as much as possible.

Once you have taken care of all of the important things, remember to smile and enjoy yourself, that's what spring, sunshine and horses are about after all!

Taking Spring in your stride! Sping horsecare tips

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