Spring Horse Care Essentials — Your Seasonal Checklist

Spring is one of the busiest times at any equestrian facility. Horses are shedding winter coats, pastures are waking up, and the riding season is ramping back up. A little preparation now can prevent problems later. Here's what to focus on.

Health and Veterinary

Schedule Your Spring Vet Visit

Spring is the ideal time for annual wellness exams. Your vet can assess body condition after winter, check teeth, and update vaccinations. Core vaccines recommended by the AAEP include:

Tetanus
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE)
West Nile Virus
Rabies

Depending on your region and your horse's lifestyle, your vet may also recommend risk-based vaccines like influenza, rhinopneumonitis, and strangles.

Deworming

Work with your vet to establish a deworming program based on fecal egg counts rather than a fixed rotation schedule. Targeted deworming is more effective and helps slow resistance. Spring is a good time for a baseline fecal test.

Dental Care

If your horse hasn't had a dental exam recently, spring is a great time to schedule one. Sharp points, hooks, and uneven wear can cause discomfort and affect feed efficiency — especially important as you increase workload.

Nutrition and Pasture

Transition to Pasture Gradually

The lush grass of early spring is high in sugar and fructans, which can trigger laminitis in susceptible horses. Introduce pasture time slowly:

Start with 15-30 minutes per day
Increase by 15 minutes every few days
Monitor for signs of foot soreness or heat
Consider a grazing muzzle for easy keepers

Adjust Feed Rations

As pasture becomes available, you may be able to reduce hay and grain. Monitor body condition score regularly and adjust accordingly. Horses coming out of winter may need different nutrition than horses maintaining through summer.

Facility and Equipment

Inspect Fencing

Winter weather is hard on fencing. Walk your fence lines and check for:

Loose or broken boards
Sagging wire
Rotting posts
Damaged gates and latches

Fix issues before turning horses out on fresh pasture.

Clean and Organize Tack

Give your tack room a thorough spring cleaning. Check leather for cracks and conditioning needs, inspect stitching on girths and reins, and replace any worn equipment. Clean saddle pads, blankets, and leg wraps.

Prepare for Flies

Start your fly control program early, before populations explode. Options include:

Fly predators (parasitic wasps that target fly larvae)
Fly traps and bait stations
Manure management — remove manure from stalls and paddocks regularly
Fly sheets and masks for horses

Fitness and Conditioning

Build Fitness Gradually

If your horse had reduced work over winter, bring them back slowly. A general guideline:

Weeks 1-2: Walk work only, 20-30 minutes
Weeks 3-4: Introduce trot work gradually
Weeks 5-6: Begin canter work and light schooling
Weeks 7-8: Return to normal training intensity

Watch for signs of soreness or fatigue, and adjust as needed. Older horses and those with previous injuries may need a longer ramp-up period.

Track It All in Steward Horse

Spring is a lot to manage. Use Steward Horse to track vet appointments, vaccination schedules, deworming records, and your conditioning program — all in one place. Set reminders so nothing falls through the cracks, and share the plan with your team so everyone stays informed.

Get started for free and make this your most organized spring yet.