Whilst we all welcome the warmer, sunnier days of spring and summer it can be a challenge for some horses and ponies. For us owners, watching the daily Pollen Forecast becomes a must! So what can we do to help our horses and ponies breeze through this pollen season.
Lice infestations in horses can be a persistent and troubling issue for equine owners, particularly as the warm summer months approach. Understanding how lice multiply, and the measures that can be taken to manage and prevent these infestations is crucial for maintaining your horse's health and comfort.
As riders, we ask horses to do a job that involves coordinated movement of the musculoskeletal system and therefore a degree of fitness. Of course, different disciplines will involve different degrees of exercise intensity. However, whenever we ask a horse to carry us it is important to consider how best to train, maintain fitness and reduce unwanted injury or soreness.
During the winter months, hooves can suffer from the muddy and persistently wet conditions. Although hoof growth tends to slow down during the winter months, the hooves of unshod horses do not tend to break down as well as they do in the dry conditions.
Your horse’s skin is part of their ‘Integumentary system’, which is the largest organ in the body and often faces some of the biggest challenges especially during the winter months. The skin has a protective role for the rest of the body and particularly provides the first line of defence against any potential attack – so it’s imperative that it remains strong and healthy at all times. Not just the coat but also the mane tail and hooves are all part of this complex system and supporting both internally and externally will be the key to success.
During the winter months, horses spend more time stabled, eating preserved forage and bedded on a variety of natural materials. All that means one thing – an increase in respiratory challenges. We’re all familiar with horses having the odd cough, or a little discharge from the nostrils, but do we really need to be too concerned, or is that just normal for winter?
As hind-gut fermenters, the digestive system of the horse is large, complex and absolutely vital to their health and wellbeing. The gut is important for so much more than simply digesting their food – though doing that well is pretty important!
Summer is here, and with that the longer days, better weather and more opportunities to ride. But it’s not all good news for some of our equines. Just as we may be prone to summer associated health issues, such as hayfever, so some horses and ponies are susceptible to allergies and intolerances through the nicer weather, with one of the most common being Sweet Itch.
As grass growth reaches it’s spring peak, owners of good do-ers know the struggle of maintaining that healthy weight.
It’s been a long, cold winter, and – more than ever – we’re looking forward to getting out and about with our horses this spring and summer. Whether your aim is to return to competition, get back to that favourite fun ride, or simply enjoy hacking with friends again, our horses and ponies may find it a bigger step up than usual.
