This Spring is a particularly tricky one for horse owners. Hands up if you're struggling to keep your horse's weight down this Spring? The drought, followed by good rains means our paddocks are full of incredibly sugary grass and WEEDS! Which in turn, means our horses are full of sugar and possibly toxins - leading to lots of potential health problems. Here are some ways you can help your horses stay healthy this Spring.
You may have notices your horse has puffy eyes (oedema)and clear weeping (epiphora) lately. This is often caused by flies, puts horses at a higher risk of conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.
It's time to get your fly mask on. And make sure they fit well - a poorly fitting fly mask can cause more problems than it solves.
Check under your fly masks daily for any eye irritations or rub marks.
Put a fly repellant on any parts of the body that aren't covered by a mask or rug. But don't put fly repellent on any sensitive areas like inside eyes, inside nose or genitals.
One of the main things that keeps your horse warm in winter is eating HAY. Digesting and fermenting hay in the hind gut produces warmth. Grain is not a substitute for hay and won’t produce the same amounts of warmth. If your horse doesn’t have access to good fibre in winter they’ll eat other sources like bedding, wooden fences or trees.
