Getting Your Horse Ready For Summer
For most folks, summer means beach vacations, no school, and longer days. For horse folks, it means bugs, horse shows, and longer days. Now is the time to start preparing your horse for the summer, so that everyone is comfortable and your show weekends can go smoothly!
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Here’s a list of things I like to do to get the horses ready for summer:
- The next rotation of deworming is probably due! Check with your Veterinarian for an appropriate worming schedule for your climate and area. Many Veterinarians are now suggesting targeted deworming and fecal egg counts. You can do a fecal egg count easily by using a kit to mail off.
- Clip! I don’t mean body clip, but it’s a good idea to get into the habit of clipping ears, bridle paths, legs, etc. This makes getting ready for a show easy, and if you keep your horse clipped up, the better he will tolerate the clippers. Or skip the clipping if you like.
- Now is also a great time to shorten that mane, bang that tail, and start to practice your braiding!
- Check your fly sheet and fly mask fit. I also use fly boots to reduce the amount of stomping that goes on. I have two sets, just in case of an accidental tear or when one set is in the laundry. Fly sheet fit is critical to be safe and stay protected from the bugs.
- What’s your bug control plan for the summer? Now is the time to start fighting flies and critters.
- What are you doing for sunscreen for your horse? A fly mask with nose is a good idea, so is some zinc oxide cream on his nose. The baby versions of sunscreen seem to have tons more zinc oxide and I find they last longer.
- Are you taking steps to prevent your horse from getting sun bleached? Sun bleaching can be helped with diet and some horse management ideas and even specialized shampoos.
- You may want to do a diet analysis with the help of a Veterinarian or Equine Nutritionist. Pasture conditions change, metabolic changes can flare during seasonal changes, and you want to make sure he has the proper nutrition to get you through the show season!
Fly season is upon us!
- Adjust slowly to the heat and humidity. Exercise your horse early if the day is going to be unseasonably hot and/or humid, so he can slowly acclimate to the summertime temperature extremes.
- Be wary of your arena footing. Often the warmer months are drier and your footing can become hard and possibly uneven. Here’s a quick read on arena maintenance.
- You may need to adjust your farrier schedule, as hooves sometimes grow a little faster in the summer.
What else is on your summer-ready list?
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Omega 3's plus gut health support in a delicious cold milled flax formula. It's delicious and it will turn your horse's coat into a mirror. These SilverSox are great for protecting the legs from rubs, help with scratches and mud fever, and provide some compression, too. I can't stress this enough - this magic stick has prevented so many rubs from worsening, and is great for breaking in a new pair of riding boots or shoes. The best shampoo for shine and soothing. Super aloe vera gel at a fantastic price. 
This spot-on product kills and repels ticks and helps with mosquito control.
Fair warning - this spray has an odd aroma - but it works for some types of flies!
Sweet itch is best battled by not letting those annoying midges bite your horse.
For horses with sweet itch and other insect allergies, more coverage is better.
LeMieux has more colors than the paint section of a hardware store. I promise they have one you like!
These fly masks are fantastic for protecting ears and eyes, and do great under halters and grazing muzzles to stop rubs and hairless patches.
Use code 15PROEQUINE for a sitewide discount on muzzles, halters, accessories, and slow feeders.
These are like the popular Shoo Fly leggings.
Spot removing, deodorizing, dust busting, shine adding spray. Other sizes, too! Adds shine with the most gentle formula. The best shampoo for shine and soothing. This is my favorite horse care product for shine, conditioning, detangling, and stain protection. It's fashion and function For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains. Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors. For dark bays, black points, and black horses This style of sweat scraper is gentle over your horse's bony and lumpy places. Use code LIV for savings at wahlpro.com These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray. 
The jute side buffs to add shine, the other side is fuzzy for lifting dust and applying fly sprays and grooming products. Sort of a mix between a finishing brush and a body brush. Soft for sensitive horses. Keep all of your poops in a group with this handy tote. Boost shine and create a smooth coat with this medium brush from the best of the best - HAAS. Go forth and shine! Gentle and effective detangling for your horse's mane and tail. These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.
Omega 3's plus gut health support in a delicious cold milled flax formula. It's delicious and it will turn your horse's coat into a mirror.
This book is a wonderful, step-by-step guide to helping you "clicker train" your horse with positive reinforcement. A Guide to Achieving Success with Clicker Training. A great book about horse behavior and how to successfully train your horse with kindness. Why would you do it any other way? Click your way to a better relationship with your horse.
Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors. For dark bays, black points, and black horses This waterproof tail bag is especially great for white and gray tails. Gentle and effective detangling for your horse's mane and tail. Protect your horse's tail during travel. Cover scars and enhance your horse's color with this medium brown shade.
Gentle and effective detangling for your horse's mane and tail. 
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Clean anything and store anything with this versatile hook. Easy to bring to horse shows, too! and adds a nice sheen! If you love options, this surcingle has a kabillion rings to pick from. This is the best broom for getting every last bit of shavings out of the barn aisle. Keep all of your poops in a group with this handy tote. Classy and practical stall guard, custom made for you! Let your horse have the best view with this spiffy stall guard! No escaping, please. Keep your horse dry during bad weather, this rain sheet is also great for windy days. Could you be even more organized? Likely not. This is SO SATISFYING to shrink up your seasonal horse blankets and gear. Be sure to check the size. Don't want doll house size or marshmallow man size, either. Vertical storage is the best! No more digging through trunks. Keep your horse's water and noms warm this winter. You will be amazed at what the ground will throw at ya. Plus you can keep dust and rodents out of your horse's blankets while saving space. 
Thank you!