Winter weather is still plaguing much of the country, but spring is just on the horizon. Horses aren’t extremely high maintenance animals, but they do require some specific things depending on the time of year. Take a look at the following tips to learn how to best take care of your horses in the spring and prepare them for warmer weather.
As soon as the last snow melts away and the temperature keeps rising, flies will be out in full force buzzing around your animals. In order to keep flies away from your horse there are a few things you can do. For one thing, clean up piles of manure and anything else that may be damp around your farm. Flies live and breed in places like this, so it’s best to take care of them immediately. You can also set up fly traps around the stalls and check on a daily basis to see if you’ve caught any flies.
Another thing that spring brings with it is rain, which inevitably leads to mud. While mud isn’t necessarily harmful to horses, if they spend too much time covered in it they could get an infection. If you notice mud on your horse that’s been there for more than a couple of days, washing it off is recommended.
Spring is also a good time to put shoes back on your horse if you took them off for the winter. If you haven’t ridden much throughout the winter, you should keep in mind that your horse may have tender feet. Take some time to warm up and don’t ride for too long at a time when you’re just starting out.
Take advantage of these horse care tips and you can expect your horses to have a happier, more comfortable spring season.