Turning your horse out in Spring
As a horse owner Spring can bring many different considerations when ‘turning-out,’ exercising and general day to day care, we have written this blog post to help
Protecting yourself and your horse against the elements
Although the weather does generally improve in Spring, there are still some cold and wet days to get through that can be tricky not only for your horse but also for you too. A well-designed turnout rug such as the Gallop Equestrian Trojan Lite-Weight Turnout Rug is the perfect solution when it comes to protecting your horse from the elements but also ensuring they aren’t overheating and feeling uncomfortable. A rug like this also offers sufficient protection from rain which is an added bonus, ensuring your horse’s coat won’t get too wet and take longer to dry out or care for at the end of your rides. The moderate temperatures and conditions in Spring can make it difficult to decide what to wear when riding, so we would recommend the perfect “in between” addition to your horse riding wardrobe, the Coldstream Kimmerton Gilet. This superb gilet is not only sleek and stylish, but also protects you effectively from adverse weather conditions thanks to it’s faux duck feather down filling. In addition to these benefits, the Coldstream Kimmerton Gilet is also water repellent and boasts a high storm breaker neck with a detachable faux fur neck trim included for an added level of comfort and security. Comfortable jodhpurs are also an essential for Spring riding to ensure you are comfortable no matter the conditions, which is why we are currently running a special 10% off sale on our range of Gallop Equestrian Jodhpurs and Breeches.
Moving your horse when turning out
If your horse requires transporting to a paddock or different location when being turned out, it can be a stressful time for them especially if they are fretful or nervous in general. Calming supplements such as ConfidenceEQ Gel can be extremely helpful in these situations thanks to its fast acting and moderately lasting calming effects. ConfidenceEQ Gel does not have to be specifically used for travelling and is known to be just as effective for horses that have had a sudden change in environment, so if your horse has not been turned out much or at all over the winter period this gel could be a good way to help them relax and adapt to their new surroundings until they become more comfortable with them.
Pasture management for Spring turnout
Due to the sudden change in conditions in Spring with increased sun alongside the rain, grass tends to grow a lot quicker and with that accelerated growth comes an abundance of “Fructans”, which are broken down in your horses hindgut into sugars and starch. If your horse has not been turned out during the winter it is likely they have primarily been eating hay, so the sudden surge in fructan levels in their feed when they are turned out and grazing on Spring grass could cause problems, primarily gut functionality and digestive issues. In some instances it has also been known to lead to laminitis and obesity. There are a few possible solutions to these issues, the main one being limiting your horses grass intake for the first few days or weeks of being turned out. We recommend turning your horse out to a dry plot with no grass if possible to begin with, feeding only hay with a balancer such as Spillers Daily Balancer to provide your horse with all the key forage based nutrients and minerals they need that would be lacking from hay. If this is not possible, you should think about only turning them out for an hour or so for the first few days of Spring turn out to allow them to get used to the high fructan and sugar levels of forage again. It may also be prudent to further aid your horse with effective supplements such as Global Herbs LamiPro Powder, which helps soothe and shield horses when they are grazing on lush Spring grass, and can be used for short or long term effects depending on your horses age and general condition.
If you need any further advice or support when it comes to Spring turnout for your horse, you can contact our team on 01423 332134, or email us at info@wormers-direct.co.uk and we will be happy to help.