Year-Round Horse Care Guide – Horse and Rider

Ensure both your sanity and your horse’s health by following an annual horse-maintenance schedule.

From feeding to vaccinations and everything in between, your horse’s well-being relies on your consistent care. By establishing a seasonal schedule, you can keep your horse in top shape all year round, ensuring they stay healthy and happy.

Create a Calendar

Spring:
• Administer dewormer.
• Administer initial vaccines.
• Mow pasture to prepare for summer turnout.
• Get on your preferred hay dealer’s purchase list.
• Schedule your first shoeing with your farrier (if applicable).
Summer:
• Prepare for summer travel a month before hitting the road.
• Plan turnout schedule and manage pasture.
Fall:
• Administer dewormer.
• Administer booster vaccines.
• Schedule with your farrier to have shoes pulled (if applicable).
Winter:
• Float teeth (or schedule around your event schedule).

Managing Feed

Horses thrive on routine; sticking to a consistent feeding schedule helps maintain stomach health and reduces the risk of colic or founder.

Depending on your horse and the season, be mindful of turnout duration to prevent overgrazing or overeating. In summer, with access to pasture, you can turn out all day and supplement with minimal hay or grain for seniors.

Avoid turning out immediately after a frost, as stressed grass increases sugar levels, raising the risk of founder.

Quality and affordable hay are becoming harder to find. Secure your hay source early by getting on a waitlist with a trusted supplier. This ensures first choice for hay during colder months (or year-round if pasture is unavailable).

Keep Them Protected

Vaccines: The AAEP recommends a three-way vaccine for all horses, covering EEE, WEE, tetanus, and often West Nile Virus. For traveling horses or those in shared herds, consider rhinopneumonitis and influenza vaccines. Administer initial vaccines in spring and boosters in fall.

Deworming: Deworm your horse twice a year, in spring and fall, to prevent and eliminate parasites. Rotate dewormers to prevent resistance. Even if no visible parasites are shed, maintain regular deworming.

Maintenance Routine

Feet: Keep your horse on a regular trimming schedule throughout the year. If winter shoe removal is part of your routine, plan around upcoming events for timely reshoeing.

Teeth: Maintain your horse’s dental health with regular checks and floating, especially as they age. Schedule initial teeth maintenance for young horses before training, followed by annual to bi-annual checks. Older horses may need more frequent exams due to issues like rough edges affecting eating.

[Keep Your Senior Horse Feeling Good Year-Round]

Prepare Your Precautions

Travel: Ensure proper documentation for travel, including a negative Coggins test, health certification, and brand inspection. Prepare ahead for potential inspections when crossing state lines.

Notify your vet before travel to start with a Coggins test, followed by a health certificate. Consider a brand inspection for added security, even if not mandatory. A lifetime brand inspection provides ongoing coverage for your horse.

Emergencies: Be prepared for unexpected situations with a well-maintained emergency kit at home and during travel. Regularly check supplies for expiration and restock as needed.