Getting Ready for Spring

Spring Care for Your Horse

Every year when we see the first signs of spring, we get excited with the prospect of long leisure trail rides. Now is the time to start cleaning your tack, organizing the barn, and getting you and your horse ready for the upcoming riding season.

Spring To-Do List for your Horse

Order horse and trail riding supplies. Order your fly mask, sprays and supplements early spring before supplies run out.

Check your horse's tack. Check your saddle to make sure it fits properly. Oil your saddle and bridles before starting your rides. Order tack that needs to be replaced ie., saddle pad and girth, wraps and training items and the items needed for your trail rides. Check your halter and lead rope for replacement.

Shed the winter coat. Take some time to shed your horse’s winter coat. Use a curry and a shed blade to do the bulk of the shedding in one visit, then continue to maintain on each visit thereafter. This will slowly decrease sweating during rides.

Spring clean the stall. Strip it down, wash the walls and mats, clean and disinfect buckets and lay down a clean layer of bedding.

Clean your brushes and hoof picks. Time to purge the excess hair, soak the brushes in warm sudsy water and dry thoroughly.

Make your vet appointment for spring shots. Be sure to schedule ahead of time for your busy schedule. Write down any questions you have regarding your horse prior to the appointment.

Start your working regimen. Start your horse out with stretching exercises and slow short lunging exercises along with short trail rides at a walk enjoying the spring weather. Introduce a slow trot the second week. Work your way up each week to longer rides. Also, start a work out program for yourself to take off those extra winter pounds.

Spending this extra time in the beginning of the peak riding season frees you up to have more time to ride those great trails and enjoy your horse and the final weeks of spring. Summer is right around the corner. Yeah!