How to care for your horse ahead of Summer

1. Prevent laminitis and colic by gradually reintroducing your horse to summer pastures

While your horse may savour the taste of the first shoots of grass, the high sugar content may pose a serious health risk. Your horse could also graze too much, spoiling the pasture for the rest of the season.

It is best to slowly introduce the horse to the pastures. Increase grazing on grass gradually and supplement their diet with hay to support your horse’s stomach during the transition.

You may want to consider a grazing muzzle to help protect your horse from grazing too much and/or gaining too much weight. If you do choose to use a muzzle, make sure that it fits correctly and has safety breakaway tabs or ties.[1]

2. Give your horse a summer health check-up – and trust the professionals

Summer is an excellent time for a full health check. As the thick winter coat begins to fall away, check the skin for cuts, grazes, ringworm and other minor conditions or injuries. Once the weather is warm enough, give your horse a thorough wash all over.

Once or twice a year, have a veterinarian or equine dentist give your horse a full dental check-up. Remember to check that vaccinations are up to date too.[2] Considering the recent equine flu outbreak, many equestrian centres changed their vaccination requirements to state that all horses must have had a flu booster within the last 6 months. Don’t be caught out and ensure that you check that your horse’s vaccination record meets the current standards required for the venues you are planning on travelling to.

Whether or not your horse was shod over winter, have a farrier visit regularly. Shoeing a horse is always a job for a professional; doing it yourself could cause your horse serious health problems, including lameness. Try to check your horse’s feet daily and arrange for a farrier to visit every four to six weeks.[3]

Another professional to enlist in summer is a chiropractor or physiotherapist, to ensure that your horse’s body is aligned and ready for any increase in workload.[4]

3. Roll your sleeves up and start cleaning!

From your tack to your horse brushes, summer is a wonderful time to ensure that everything you will use over the warmer seasons is given a deep clean and is fit for purpose. Tack can be given a good oil, and the stitching and condition should be checked to ensure that it is safe for the season ahead. Brushes can be dunked in warm, soapy water then left to dry out completely. Summer is the perfect time to give your rugs a wash, as your horse will begin to depend on them less for daytime use. Don’t forget that a rug should still be available for colder nights if your horse is out overnight.

Trailers and troughs could also do with a deep clean and disinfected with animal friendly sanitiser. This is also a suitable time to check for hazards such as sharp edges and to take your trailer for a service.

Some final tips…

1. Before putting your horse in the pasture, check your fences and gates for holes and hazards.[5]

  2. Have fly gear in place early so that your horse is protected from pests.[6]

  3. Now is a good time to check your horse’s body condition and assess whether he needs fattening or slimming down. It’s a good idea to enlist a nutritionist to help you plan for the rest of the year.[7]

  4. Make sure any significant increase in work is undertaken gradually and build up your horse’s stamina and fitness over a period of weeks.

  5. Ensure that you, your horse, and your equipment are covered by the correct insurance policy. Horses are unpredictable by nature, so a robust equine insurance policy is an essential for any responsible horse owner.