How to Spring Clean Your Horse – a Checklist

 

Think of this as spring cleaning for your horse buddy. It’s definitely a lot more fun than spring cleaning the barn or house. I really have no idea where the term spring cleaning comes from, but as it relates to horses, spring is a great time to get a few things done for the comfort and health of your horse.

 

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Here’s a handy checklist of spring cleaning items:

 

  • Spring vaccinations. Nothing says “I love you” more than vaccinations against fatal diseases. And also non-fatal (but still horrible) diseases. Learn more about EEE, WEE, and WNV here, although there are others to vaccinate for as well.

 

horse getting a vaccine

 

 

  • Fecal egg count. This gives a snapshot of some of your horse’s parasite load. It’s convenient to do at the time of vaccinations because the Vet is standing right there. Too snarky? And it’s also likely that there’s horse manure in the vicinity. More on fecal egg counts here.

 

  • Your Veterinarian can also do a quick check of your horse’s teeth during the vaccination visit. Lots of info on your horse’s chompers can be found here.

 

hands on grooming glove with gray hair shedding

 

 

  • Have a grazing muzzle handy. Maybe you need to buy one or switch styles, but once that spring grass comes in, the risk of laminitis can go up for some horses. Muzzles are also great for the easy keeper who gets heavier just thinking about food. More on muzzles here.

 

 

greenguard grazing muzzle and black halter

So delicious. This is the Greenguard Grazing muzzle and it’s awesome.

 

 

 

  • Make sure your horse’s diet is appropriate. Perhaps he had extra everything in the winter to stay warm. Or perhaps he’s an easy keeper and he gained weight in the winter anyway. Dietary adjustments should always be done over weeks, and with the help of slow feeders if you can make that happen.

 

  • Speaking of diet – check pastures for dandelions and buttercups. These flowers are generally ignored by horses, but they can cause problems for some horses.

 

 

buttercups are toxic and bad tasting to horses

Pretty, and also pretty bad for horses.

 

  • Make adjustments to the exercise routine. Ramp up his work slowly if he had the winter off.

 

  • Is it time for new fly gear? Fly boots, masks, and sheets are great for battling the bugs. And it’s time to stock up on fly sprays.

 

 

small tick on a horse's leg hair

Gross, Gross, Gross, Gross, Gross….

 

 

  • What about tick prevention? I started using a spray on tick killer from my Vet (Frontline) that I apply about every three weeks. I found lots of dead ticks on my horse last year before they had a chance to feed. Your climate and tendency for ticks will dictate when it’s time to get going on tick control. More on ticks here.

 

 

 

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Stock up here for your horse supplies! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, but it’s ZERO extra cents to you.  You can also visit my Amazon storefront here:  PEG storefront.

Shapley's Easy-Out No Rinse Shampoo 32 fl.oz
$17.91

Spot removing, deodorizing, dust busting, shine adding spray.

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Shapley's Hi Shine Shampoo, 1-Gallon
$35.89

Other sizes, too! Adds shine with the most gentle formula.

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SHAPLEY'S Medi-Care Med Shampoo W/Tea Tree & Lemon Grass, 32 oz
$22.99

The best shampoo for shine and soothing.

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Shapley's No.1 Light Oil
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This is my favorite horse care product for shine, conditioning, detangling, and stain protection.

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Shapley s 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo - Whitening Formula
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For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains.

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Shapley's Equitone 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, GOLD
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Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors.

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SHAPLEY'S 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, RED
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For chestnuts and some bays

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Shapley's 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, BLACK
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For dark bays, black points, and black horses

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Weaver Leather Deluxe Sweat Scraper
$6.03

This style of sweat scraper is gentle over your horse's bony and lumpy places.

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HANDSON Pet Grooming Gloves - Grooming, Bathing, Shedding
$16.99

These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.

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Big Hoss - Outlaw Nutrition

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.

WAHL Professional Animal Bravura Lithium Ion Clipper - Corded/Cordless Clipper Kit, Purple
$210.99

These lightweight trimmers are powerful and easy to hold.

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WAHL Professional Animal Bravura - Corded/Cordless Clipper Kit
$210.99

These powerful trimmers have a 90 minute run time, and you can use them as you charge if needed!

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Wahl Professional Animal KMC+ 2-Speed Cordless Clipper Kit
$312.99

This is my favorite clipper - It's great for body clipping, trace clipping, and trimming. Cordless for the win!

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Lister Eclipse Cordless Clipper
$499.99

These wildly powerful shears are great for thick coats, and when I say thick, I mean it.

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Wahl KM Supera Clipper with #10 Wide Blade

This new KM cordless clipper has constant power, no matter the haircoat, and rechargeable batteries that last 3 hours. It's quiet, and the wide blade makes clipping faster.

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