Well, not much to write about for the fall.  Just a few reminders…maybe even a checklist to make sure you have everything in order going into winter ‘09-’10.

The spring and fall are the worst times of year for sick horses.  Weather changes, nutritional changes, and quite often activity level changes can all contribute.

Keeping your horses immunity up with a vitamin B supplement is never a bad idea.  Especially since they will likely be spending a lot more time in the barn in closer quarters with the rest of the horses making it easier for sickness to spread.  Vitamin B supplements are typically expensive, and since you aren’t feeding much, last a fairly long time.

Make sure your horse has a nice cover on it…and by cover I mean a bit of a fat layer.  We don’t typically recommend horses be overweight, but a little extra fat will help provide them with a little extra layer to keep them warm, and provide them with extra calories for maintenance needed when it gets cold out.

Exercise Exercise Exercise.  If your horse is used to being ridden 4 times a week or is typically out on pasture all day and is now cooped up in the barn, standing in a stall for 20 hours a day isn’t much fun.  Try to incorporate as much exercise into their schedule as possible…whether it’s lounging in the arena, going for a trail ride on the sunny days, or just letting them out for an extra long romp in the field.

Nutritionally, it’s always a good idea to get your hay tested to ensure it’s nutritional quality, and allowing youself to balance for and deficiencies. 

Keeping your horse in top health not only decreases vet bills, but gives you a good jump start to your training or show season in the spring.  Just a few easy steps can make all the difference.

Wishing you and yours a happy healthy fall!

Tags: Fall Horse Health