Ah, Spring. The wind is blowing, the horses are shedding, and every trip outside leaves one covered in dirt, hair, and hay leaves. Every horse owner can attest that spring has one major downside and that is the shedding of winter coats. This annual process can often be overlooked as an important part of equine health. Shedding and grooming promotes improved circulation in the skin, increases healthy oils in the hair, and can help you see the insect bites, bacterial growth, and external parasites long hair can cover up.
While some horse owners are content to let nature take its course, most like to help things along. The easiest way (aside from letting the horses take care of it themselves) is to curry your horse every day with a metal curry come using circular motions while brushing and going against the natural growth pattern of the hair. Currying should be followed with brushing using a soft bristle brush. To save yourself some laundry, keep a shirt out in the tack shed to wear during your grooming session. If you would like a quicker course of action, you can shave the long hair off with clippers. However, if you choose to shave your horse, you will need to be sure to pay close attention to the weather in your area and blanket your horse on cooler days and evenings. Being robbed of hair will not allow your horse to adjust at its own pace so use caution.
Another common problem in spring is overheating. Not only are most horses out of shape, they also are carrying more hair while you are doing normal summer exercises. Be sure to leg your horse up gradually and pay close attention to their temperature. Most important, be sure to give your horse an adequate cool down rather than just turning him out. If you follow these guidelines, you will and your horse will have a healthy, happy spring! For more information, check out www.rodeohaven.com.
