As the days draw out and temperatures rise, life with horses feels a little bit easier than it has done for a while, don’t you find? However, as every owner knows, caring for a horse isn’t a walk in the park at any time of year. As many will agree, spring horse care presents its own set of challenges.
Perhaps you have a good doer who seems to gain kilos with every bite of spring grass? Or you’re not sure how to help your winter grazing recover? Maybe you’re even feeling overwhelmed by all the post-winter detritus and know you’re in need of an urgent tack room clearout.
Fear not, friends. As a horse owner for more than 20 years – and with numerous H&H colleagues on tap who are more experienced than I – here is everything I have learned over the years to help get your season off to an oh-so-smooth start.
Spring horse care hacks and things to do this season
1. Manage routine changes slowly
Everyone knows any changes in a horse’s routine need to be made gradually, but it’s worth considering this in context so you can actually do it effectively.
For example, is your horse moving onto a new paddock that rested all winter? If so, turn him out on it for an hour or so on day one, and work up to a full day over a week to 10 days if possible. This will be best for his gut health as it allows the bacteria to adjust to an influx of nutritious grass without too much volume right from day one.
Or, perhaps you want to switch from stabling overnight to during the day? If you can make arrangements, start bringing him in for a few hours in the afternoon and leaving him out for longer into the evening. You might want to look into boredom busters and other ways to occupy stabled horses to help him acclimate. I really like these forage blocks for my gelding, or you could take a look at stable toys like these on Amazon.
It’s the same with your horse’s workload. If you’re wondering how to form a fitness plan for your horse, it’s best to build up slowly – especially if your horse has had a period of time completely off.
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My gelding wintered well and my grass is relentless, so I’ve started weigh taping weekly.
If you’re wondering how to weigh a horse, a weigh tape isn’t the most accurate method, but it will give me an indication if his weight is trending up or down. And yes, I am hoping he slims.
One way I’m tackling his weight is with this grazing muzzle I found online. It’s not the cheapest, but I chose it because my horse is funny about things touching his nose and this muzzle isn’t as invasive as others.
He got used to it quickly, seems comfy in it and, by the look of things, finds it easy to use, so it’s a win! It was easy to fit, too, which was a bonus.
Make sure you use it with a breakaway or field-safe headcollar. This will keep your horse safe if the muzzle gets caught on anything. Some muzzle brands sell accompanying headcollars separately.
Check your horse daily for rubs or sores where the muzzle touches his face.
Do not leave a muzzle on for more than around six to eight hours at a time.
Monitor your horse’s weight to ensure the muzzle is aiding weight loss, and if it is, that the loss is not too dramatic.
Weightape readings are not accurate, but can give an indicator as to how a horse’s weight fluctuates.
(Image credit: Alamy / Susan Norwood)
3. Round up your winter gear
Doing a proper audit of everything you’ve been using will help you assess what needs cleaning, fixing or replacing. Check your clippers are clean and get them serviced now to avoid a panic in the autumn.
Gathering your gear might include a walk around the paddock for that lost overreach boot, so you could tie it in with checking your electric fencing for broken posts and other things amiss.
4. Check the status of your spring and summer kit
Do you remember what state you left your fly mask and fly rug in at the back end of last summer? Make sure they are clean and ready to go for this year.
What about your summer lotions and potions, like sun cream, fly sprays and no-rinse wash? Check what you have in stock and what’s expired, and get your order in now so you’re ahead of the game.
If you’re wondering what’s in my kit, I swear by this hoof moisturiser to stop my barefoot horse’s feet from cracking – it’s my ultimate spring horse care must-have that works amazingly all through summer too. I also have this Aniwell Filtabac cream on standby – it’s beloved by most of team H&H. You can get it on Amazon here.
5. Get your saddle checked
Horses frequently change shape in the winter due to alterations in diet and exercise level. Therefore, calling the saddler and getting your horse’s saddle fit signed off for spring is a must.
While you’re at it, review your spring horse care and routine appointments, setting reminders for booking them in. Teeth, physio, farrier, vaccinations and worm egg counts should all be on your list.
A well-fitting saddle is essential to mitigate discomfort and protect your horse’s back.
(Image credit: Steve Bardens)
6. Sort your winter field maintenance
As web editor Carol Phillips told me recently, equestrians have roughly a 10-minute window where their fields are in that happy place between a quagmire and concrete to get them harrowed and/or rolled and bare patches seeded.
Okay, this might have been tongue-in-cheek, but she has a valid point. When the ground isn’t too wet or too dry (in other words, absolutely perfect for canter work) arrange to have areas that poached over winter restored to their former glory. Now is also the perfect time to lay grass mats to help prevent the cycle from repeating itself this winter.
I don’t clear droppings over from December to February to avoid the winter poo picking struggle, so I’ll be dealing with that and tackling the weeds. Now is the best time to do this if you have a field that won’t be grazed for several months. This means any parasite burden can be most effectively reduced.
7. Clean your grooming kit
I just did this and let me tell you, it was super satisfying. My brushes and grooming box were filthy following months of mud removal, and now they’re pristine.
Some people like to run their brushes through their dishwasher. If I did this it would likely end in divorce, and I also wouldn’t want to risk ruining my brushes (which are these Haas horsehair ones) or damaging the dishwasher. Potentially, it sounds to me like a very expensive way to clean brushes.
Instead, I waited for a warm sunny day. I used warm water, horse shampoo and this plastic brush to gently scrub the bristles of each brush.
I then rinsed them and left them to dry in the sun, and scrubbed out my grooming box too. Trust me, you’ll love having everything clean and ready to go.
Do you have any spring horse care hacks to share with fellow readers? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have them published in a future issue of Horse & Hound.
A horse owner and rider with more than 20 years experience, Bethany has been writing for equestrian publications since 2017. Over the course of her career, she has reported from major British Riding Clubs and British Dressage championships, covered Badminton Horse Trials and interviewed equestrian sport’s best athletes. Her work can also be found in Country Life, The Field and Breathe magazine.
