In Florida Spring Is Here, and with 90 degree temps it’s pushing Summer, but in most parts of the country, Spring is long over due, and a very welcomed sight this year.

I grew up in the northeast and my family and friends still live up there, so I know what’s going on; that’s why I live here.  Frozen buckets, frozen hoses, and frozen poop, been there, seen that, done that, got the T-shirt, wrote the book, and I am sooooooo done with it all.  It’s a different way of horse keeping in Florida, but after 40 years of frozen toes and fingers, I’ll take living in paradise.  There is nothing like going out Fox Hunting in Florida.
You go out early in the morning when the temps are at 40 degrees, and then you come home at noon and bathe your horse in 70 degree temps.  I used to wash my horses white socks and tail up north first thing in the morning to go hunting, and when they got off the trailer at the hunt their tails would be all frosty and stiff as a board, the word is frozen.

This isn’t an ad to live in Florida, although it’s a thought, but a few things to consider on Spring horse keeping, no matter where you live.

Let’s have a look.  Ahhhh the wonders of spring.  The first signs are that they start gently losing hair.  Then it comes out in clumps.  It’s in your eyes, your nose and your mouth.  But it gives you great satisfaction to shed all that hair out, and find that you still have a horse underneath.

Don’t forget that you’ve all been in hibernation for quite a few months, so start back to riding slowly, you are both going to hurt.

The rest of this is just to give you something to think about.

The economy is bad, real bad.  Gas and grocery prices are climbing steadily.  So is grain and hay.  Our horse expenses are off the wall.  So we’re all looking to cut corners as best we can, but where and how.

Many owners that I’ve spoken with are cutting back in many areas of horse care. Some are rethinking what they are feeding.  There are many wonderful products on the market today that promise all kinds of results.  supplements abound.  But does our particular horse need what we are putting in him?  We are told we need to worm them with this or that, but what does our horses environment require.  There are so many shots out there, are we overloading our horses, or are we paranoid?  Treats for our horses come in all different shapes, sizes and colors.  Really?  Do we really have to have their teeth checked and/or done?

We all want the best for our horses.  We all want to give them whatever they really need.  But let’s be realistic.  How do we use the money we’ve put aside for their needs wisely.

Let’s look at what’s needed and what isn’t?  Well there have been wonderful articles in Equus on how to evaluate your horses fat and body condition.  This is something you can easily do.  Or you can bring in a specialist.  Look no further than your vet.  He/she knows the environment your horse lives in, and knows what your horses needs are.  With just a little bit of input from you, they can determine the best products, supplements, and medications for your horse.  You know the term “overkill”  a lot of us do just that.

• Most people over feed their horses, not necessarily in the amount they are given, but protein, fat, and supplement levels.  If your horse doesn’t need it, why are you paying the extra money for that feed.
• Supplements – Have you done research?  Is your horse lacking something in his diet that may need to be supplemented?  Do you know that you can overdose a horse on vitamins?
• Shots – Find out what is needed, and how often for the area that you live and ride in.  If you are planning to haul to another state, find out what they are going to need for your destination.
• Wormer –  Very few people pay attention to what their horse really needs.  “Oh I just give them Ivermectin across the board.  It covers everything and it’s cheap.”  Did you know that worms become resistant to wormer after a time.  Different conditions require different wormers.  Rotating wormers are a good plan, but what wormer when?  Your vet will be able to tell you what you horse may need given your location and what wormer is best for each season.  You may think that your horse is fat and healthy, but I’ve seen the insides of a fat Quarter Horse who had so much scare tissue in his intestines that it caused a blockage and he had to be put down.  We don’t always know how the person before us took care of our horses needs.
• Teeth – If your horses teeth are in need of attention, he won’t be able to chew his food properly.  If he doesn’t chew well then he won’t digest well.  If he doesn’t get the nutrients from his food, your money has just passed through the horses digestive system and out the other side.
• Treats – This one is a very simple.  Yes it’s nice to give our horses those cute little horse treats.  Do you really think they notice that you paid big bucks for the snacks they get?  If you want to save a little cash, carrots or alfalfa cubes work just as well.  I was at a specialty dog shop a few weeks back, and they had these delicious looking dog cookies that were very pricey.  They appealed to me so much that I would have like to try one myself, and that’s what they bank on.  Now if you had one of those cute little dog treats or a hot dog, which do you think your dog would grab first?  Even if your horse would like an apple treat better than a carrot, you could probably save some money on treats to get him the shots he really needs to stay alive.

I say this because I know a lot of people who are not planning on giving their horses the shots they need, because they just can’t afford it.  My statement is, have you ever seen a horse die from lock-jaw?  I have.  Have you ever seen a hysterical owner crying because his horse died of Encephalomyelitis or West Nile.  I have.  Have you seen the vet bills for trying to save a horse when a simple shot could have prevented it?

Is it worth losing your horse over a simple shot?  You may have to give up a couple of cases of beer or soda, or happy meals for a while, but in the end you won’t have to worry about paying a vet bill for putting your horse down, and what to do with the body.  It’s like playing Russian roulette.

Do you feel lucky?