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Friday, September 27, 2019
Autumn has been here for a few days now, signaling the end of the fine weather. This change of season means it's time to forget the sunshine, the long evenings grazing your horse in the warmth and sunshine, and hello to blankets, sweaters and muddy paddocks.
The horse is a seasonal animal, particularly sensitive to seasonal changes and modifications to its environment. It is therefore important to accompany them as best as possible in this seasonal transition and to ensure their well-being. Autumn remains a pleasant season for horses. The mosquitoes leave and the grass can turn green again with the arrival of the rains. This will keep the horses in good condition for the winter.
Seaver gives you its tips and tricks to get through the autumn season and into the winter with peace of mind.
It is important to worming your horse It is important to choose the right molecule for your horse (according to its age, weight, condition and environment) when autumn arrives. Parasites are not the same all year round. Humidity and temperature range The ideal conditions for this period are for the proliferation of larvae and worms. Ask your vet for advice on the choice of the right molecule and whether or not deworming is necessary. according to your horseYou can also ask your veterinarian for advice on whether or not it is worth worming your pet.
From spring to autumn, ticks are found perched on tall grass, brush or leaves on the lookout for our horses. The bites are not serious in themselves. However, they can transmit a number of diseases such as piroplasmosis or Lyme disease. If your horse shows the following signs: anaemia, fatigue, fever, dark urine, joint pain (swelling of the joints), oedema of the limbs, lethargy, then you should consult your veterinarian who will perform a blood test and a diagnosis.
Autumn is also acorn season. acorns fall from the oak trees. If you find any in the paddocks/meadows, try to change change the horses' pasture or or fence around the oak trees.. This will prevent the horses from reaching them.
The acorns are toxic due to the tannins they contain. Some horses may be more sensitive than others and green acorns are said to be more toxic than more mature acorns.
We should not think about how we cover horses based on our body feelings. Indeed, the mornings are cooler in late September. Most of us put on jumpers and jackets but the horse does not dissipate heat as quickly as a human because of its size. So, for the same body temperature, a horse will feel warmer than we do.
It is important to take into account that horses can handle cold much better than heat. His winter coat allows him tocope with low temperatures. For working horses, shearing is necessary because excessive sweating Following a session, there is a risk that the horse's drying time will increase, which will result in a a chill. A horse that is too hot and sweats profusely, risks becoming dehydrated.
There are several types of shearing. The choice of shearing will depend on the activity of your horse, but also on its environment:
In autumn, with the arrival of the rainsIn the autumn, horses' feet tend to get damaged and much wetter, so it is necessary to check them. keep a close eye on. Check and grease feet regularly with a black ointment and check the condition of the fittings if the horse is shod. If the ground is very wet and does not dry, you can apply Norway tar on the sole. This treats rotten forks, dries out the hooves and protects against moisture.
Common pathologies: crevices and mud scabies
A crack is irritation of the pastern associated with hair loss which can lead to sores. It often occurs between autumn and winter and is most common in horses that frequent sandy and/or wet floors. The treatment is simple, a shower to disinfect the area and any sores, drying with a clean towel or hair dryer. Then the application ofa layer of petroleum jelly or mytosil.
The dermatophilosis or more commonly known as " mud scabies"is a common pathology at the arrival of rainy days. Located mainly on the limbs, it is manifested essentially by crusts that clump the hair. They are oozing and painful. Subsequently, the horse's skin thickens and cracks, eventually resulting in small, hairless areas, ulcerated and painful. As soon as the first symptoms appear, it is advisable, if possible, to put the horse in a safe place.
Mud scabies treatment:
Adapt the diet depending on the quality of the pasture, the activity of the horse and its body condition. It should be noted that the grass is less rich The grass is very thin at this time of year, which can affect your horse's condition. You can however supplement your horse with by increasing the amount of hay to compensate for this loss until the end of the winter. You can also supplement your horse with products such asa mineral supplement and vitamins and/or linseed oil which will provide essential fatty acids.
The outdoor season is coming to an end, but many showgrounds are now offering indoor competitions. indoor competitions. It's the perfect opportunity for you to keep going to shows despite the gloomy weather. However, switching from an outdoor to an indoor competition can sometimes be tricky. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, we've put together a few tips to help you all winter long.
To begin with, you need to practice jumping around a bit in the carousel. To do this, you will have to adapt distances and therefore the shorten to fit the configuration of the riding arena.
You can also train at skip lines of three to seven stridesThis is most often the contractual distance for indoors competitions, although outdoors competitions tend to have longer distances.
Also practice jumping obstacles with two or three strides on the exit of a turn. This is a difficulty that is not usually found in arena competitions.
You will also have to to work on the control of the horses, the approach, the layout... because in a riding school, the obstacles arrive much more quickly, it is therefore necessary to be ready and anticipate.
If your horse is worried, you can start with a first preparation competition. Most competitions offer preparatory tests or warm-up at the beginning of the competition.
When travelling, remember to take a drying blanket and a blanket adapted to the outside temperature for your horse. However, be careful to do not over-cover your horse in transport, as the temperature tends to rise quickly in a van or truck. Also take a good coat, a pair of warm gloves, a hat/headband, a good pair of socks (or even several) so that you don't get stiff when you get on your horse.
Autumn is also the homework season (find our exercises on the application), but you can also take advantage of it to participate in courses. Today, many riders and stables offer advanced training courses during the whole winter period before the return of the outdoor competition season.
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See you soon for a new article,
The Seaver team 🙂
