Though New Year’s celebrations are behind us, it is not too late to make resolutions that can benefit your horse. Make one or all of these resolutions today to catch up on important tasks that can fall to the wayside throughout the year, especially when daily care keeps you busy.
Clean and Condition Your Tack More Often
Both synthetic and real leather tack will wear out more quickly if it is not cared for properly. Dirty and sweaty tack can also cause skin irritation when your horse wears it repeatedly between cleanings.
To help you remember to clean your tack more often, set up a schedule that is easy for you to manage. For example, you might:
- Wipe down tack after each ride
- Wash tthe ack every Sunday
- Do a more thorough conditioning and cleaning on the first Sunday of each month.
Regular grooming and tack maintenance can help prevent rubbing and skin irritation. If your horse develops irritated skin, explore equine skin care products available at 1800PetMeds.
Update Your Deworming Schedule
Each horse in your stable should have an individualized deworming schedule. Some horses need to be dewormed more frequently than others.
Unnecessary deworming contributes to parasite resistance, which can make it harder to eliminate parasites when they become a problem. Regular fecal tests can help determine when, and if, your horse needs to be dewormed.
Using targeted parasite control methods and appropriate equine dewormers can help keep your horse healthy while slowing the development of resistance.
Check In on YourHorse’se Weight
Whether you feel your horse is in good shape or think they could improve, January is a good time to evaluate and record their body condition.
Using the Henneke Horse Body Condition Scoring System, give your horse an honest score. You can also take photos regularly to compare how your horse’s weight changes over time.
Most horses fluctuate through the seasons, but any unexplained gain or loss should be discussed with your veterinarian. In some cases, nutritional adjustments or horse supplements such as those found in the equine supplements category may help support overall health and condition.
