Time for your health check!
The heat of summer brings with it longer daylight hours and more opportunity to be in the saddle or stable, but before you hop on and ride off into the sunset make sure to give your horse a fresh warrant of fitness!
Excess sunlight and limited rainfall at this time of year can have an effect on many factors influencing your horse’s wellbeing. The start of the New Year is a great opportunity to take a step back and give your horse an overall health check. As well as daily maintenance such as the upkeep of your horse’s feet and diet, you might want to add these tips to your check list.
- Teeth
- Bloods
- Worming
- Saddle fitting
Teeth.During summer the heat and limited rainfall tends to make vegetation rougher and more course than at other times of the year which can ware on your horse’s teeth. Summer is a good time to have your horses teeth checked by a professional to ensure that no sharp edges or dental issues occur which can affect the horses diet and wellbeing, as well as its performance. For a dental check-up you can contact your local veterinary clinic or dedicated veterinary dentists. For adult horses it is recommended that your horse’s teeth be check at least once per year.For younger or aged horses your dentist may recommend twice yearly checkups.
Bloods. With the nutrient levels in the ground changing during the warmer months it may be necessary to run a blood test to check the level of essential minerals in your horse’s bloodstream. Insufficient or excessive mineral concentrations such as selenium in the bloodstream may affect your horse’s behaviour and wellbeing. With accurate detection this can be remedied fairly quickly and inexpensively with your local veterinary clinic and may be as simple as adding a supplement to your horses diet.
Worming. Heat and humidity provide the perfect breeding conditions for many parasites. Ensuring your horse has an effective worming schedule could improve the horse’s wellbeing and behaviour, and reduce the risk of colic. Many veterinary clinics offer a worming programme which includes testing your horse’s faecal sample for parasites and prescribing the most effective worming paste or drench. This can be done fairly quickly and inexpensively at most veterinary clinics and does not require a vet call-out.
Saddle Fitting. The fresh green grass of spring and those extra hours spent in the saddle in summer can mean that your horses body shape and muscle structure have changed significantly over the spring/summer months. The start of the year is a good time to call out your local qualified saddle-fitter to ensure that your saddle is still sitting correctly on the horses back and not encouraging muscle wastage or incorrect form. An ill-fitting saddle can make a huge difference to your horse’s performance and willingness to work, as well as cause lasting spine and muscle damage.
