Getting Organized

Getting organized for spring and summer is not always an easy job, but someone has to do it.  Here are a few simple things you can do to get you started on a road to success.

Clean Up:

Wash all your brushes and grooming tools and clean up any tack or equipment stored in the tack rooms, trailers as soon as you can. Soak grooming items in a good hot tub of suds with a ¼ cup of bleach. This will disinfect anything that has been stored in there over the winter.

Restock:

Restock any supplies that is running low or that you have run out of over the winter. Medicated shampoos, detangler, fly spray, fungus spray and any other items you need to improve the coat and skin of your horse.

Horse Care:

Give your horse a good brushing daily to help him shed his winter coat. Using a shedding blade seems to help. If your horse has any bacteria infections such as scratches and rain rot do not share grooming tools between horses.   As soon as the weather permits give your horse a good bath and a week later repeat it again.  A little trick that I have used over the years to bring back the brightness of a dull coat is to use a couple of capfuls of olive oil in a bucket of plain warm water. After you have bathed your horse for the second time and brushed him daily for a week, rinse him over with the warm water solution. Tie him in the hot sun so he doesn’t roll. Instantly you will see the shine return to his coat and his skin will absorb the oil for a summer shine.

Worm your horse coming out of winter and give him his shots early in the season to prevent any air born viruses.  Also call the farrier and trim the hooves or put shoes back on your horse before you begin a riding routine again.

Good luck and remember to stay organized for good healthy horses.