Eight tips for Springtime

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Eight tips for Springtime

Summer’s on its way, with the promise of warm weather, longer days, bright early mornings and balmy evening rides. We can turn our horses out for longer and they can enjoy the freedom of the fields with their equine friends. Spring is also the time to address some of those important annual jobs to help keep your stable, yard and grazing in good order for the summer months.

1. Spring clean your stable

Now your horse is out for longer it’s the ideal time to give your stable a good spring clean: clear out the bedding, brush those dusty walls, dust the cobwebs in the corners and then sweep and scrub the floors with a disinfectant safe for use in stables. A pressure washer can make this job easier and much more fun!

2. Clean the yard

With the warmer weather the weeds will start to pop up. Keep on top of them by giving the yard a vigorous sweep, making sure you get the dirt, dead leaves and muck out of every nook and cranny. A clean yard will be less attractive to flies and a more comfortable environment for your horse.

3. Harrow and roll your fields

Spring is the time for pasture management. If you have your own equipment now is the time to hitch up the harrow to level poached ground and pull out dead grass, moss and weeds. It will aerate the grass and encourage it to grow. Follow with rolling to firm up the soil and help the grass to establish and spread. You may also need to have your fields fertilised and sprayed but it’s best to seek professional advice from a grassland expert first.

4. Check your horse’s grazing for toxic plants

Spring is the ideal time to check your fields for any toxic plants such as ragwort rosettes and sycamore seedlings. Visit the HorseDialog ragwort and atypical myopathy blogs to find out more: