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| Gearing Up for Spring Riding with a Wellness Exam for Your Horse |
The days are getting longer, the grass is greening up, and horsey folks everywhere have spring fever! As you start getting excited about more rides and events this season, spring is the perfect time to schedule a wellness exam for your horse. This important annual checkup helps make sure your equine partner is ready to ride into the busy months ahead in peak condition.
What to Expect During the Appointment
Your veterinarian will do a thorough hands-on physical from your horse's nose to tail, while you discuss concerns, goals, and any questions. The vet will check for issues like:
- Lumps, bumps, swelling, or anything unusual
- Symmetrical hoof growth
- Bright eyes and healthy coat and skin
- Good muscling along the back and hindquarters
- Clear breathing with no coughing
They'll also take your horse's vital signs and use a stethoscope to listen closely to the heart and lungs. A quick oral exam helps spot dental problems early. Your vet can determine if your horse needs his teeth floated based on sharp points and alignment.
This relaxed visit focused fully on your horse helps strengthen the relationship between you, your mount, and your veterinarian. Building trust now makes emergency care easier later on.
Updating Vaccines
The spring checkup lets you review your horse's vaccination history and schedule annual boosters or any new immunizations he needs. Core vaccines for most horses include:
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- West Nile virus
- Influenza
- Rhinopneumonitis
- Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis
Influenza and rhinopneumonitis shots need boosters every six months. Your vet may suggest additional vaccines tailored to your horse if he:
- Travels a lot
- Attends events with other horses frequently
- Lives in an area with certain endemic diseases
Staying current on shots protects your buddy against some very serious illnesses. Discuss any questions or concerns you have about possible side effects or risks with your veterinarian.
Deworming Plan
Internal parasites start spreading again in the springtime through manure out on pastures. All horses carry some worms, but too high a load causes problems like:
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Low energy
- Colic
No "one size fits all" approach works for deworming. Your vet will check a fecal sample and advise a personalized plan based on your horse's fecal egg count. Most adult horses need deworming medication twice yearly, in early spring and late fall. However, some horses tend to carry more parasites and need more frequent treatments.
It's crucial to rotate dewormer types correctly for your horse. Improper dewormer use causes resistance in parasites over time, making that product less effective. Resistant worms are extremely difficult to control! Work closely with your veterinarian to utilize these drugs appropriately and protect their efficacy.
Hoof Care Game Plan
The spring wellness visit allows your farrier and vet the chance to confer on your horse's feet as well. Your farrier can attend the appointment to discuss factors like:
- Hoof growth rate
- Shoe type and fit
- Any lingering winter hoof issues
- Spring riding workload expectations
Book your next hoof trimming or shoeing for shortly after the exam. Addressing any problems early or adjusting the current trimming/shoeing schedule helps keep your horse sound as activities pick up. Routine wellness exams make sure your vet, farrier, and any other professionals work together towards common goals.
Nutrition Needs
Your vet will evaluate your horse's body condition and note if he is:
- Overweight
- Underweight
- Or in good shape
Spring pasture contains lots of sugar and calories. Horses at risk for laminitis need careful dry lot/paddock management and possibly a grazing muzzle. Creating an appropriate exercise program helps them too.
If your horse is underweight, review his current diet. Work with your vet to figure out if dental problems, chronic illness, or other issues caused his low weight. Develop a nourishing plan to rebuild muscle and topline before saddling up. Have your vet run bloodwork first to check for deficiencies or organ problems in some cases.
Some helpful weight-boosting supplements are:
- Alfalfa hay or pellets
- Soybean meal
- Vegetable oil
- Rice bran
- Beet pulp
Building Back Fitness
If your equine partner sat around all winter, restart riding very gradually. Slowly increase the length, speed, and difficulty of rides to avoid frustrating setbacks from soreness and injury.
To lay an excellent foundation of fitness for the months ahead, incorporate:
- Long, brisk walks
- Short periods of trotting
- Gentle inclines and hills
- Ground poles or small jumps
- Varied terrain
Lifelong Preventive Care
Consistent wellness exams fuel a mutually trusting partnership with your vet. They allow ongoing opportunities to discuss concerns, outline goals, and head off issues through prompt preventive care. Over years together, your veterinarian gains familiarity with your individual horse's quirks, strengths, and vulnerabilities.
Annual spring checkups help ensure many healthy, active seasons of riding to come for both of you! Reach out to your veterinarian today to schedule this valuable head-to-hoof assessment before your calendar fills up.