SPRING FEVER

BY TANIA MILLEN

Spring is springing, horses are shedding and it’s time to tack up and ride. Or is it? Before you mount up and hit the trails after a winter layoff, it’s worth doing some pre-ride checks. A bit of preparation can help rides go smoothly and increase your fun and safety. Of course, anything horsey costs money, so to help you budget for the riding season ahead, we have made a list of estimated costs you may encounter.

FEET TRIMMED OR SHOD ($50 − $200)

Cold weather and reduced care in winter mean horses’ feet can get chipped, thrushy, or long. But the saying ‘no foot, no horse’ is true. So before planning a ride, check your horse’s feet and call a farrier if it’s been over six weeks since they were trimmed or shod. Depending on the footing and snow cover, shoes, pads, and Borium may be needed. Boots are an option, too.

DENTAL CARE, DEWORMING, VACCINATIONS, SHEATH CLEANING ($100 − $400)

Horse’s teeth continually grow, wear and change shape. Sharp edges can create painful ulcers, interfere with the bridle and cause weight loss. So, if your horse hasn’t had a dental float within the last year, book one with your veterinarian.

Horses always have internal parasites (worms). While this is no cause for alarm, an overabundance of these pests can cause weight loss, colic, skin diseases, and other problems. It’s common for horse owners to buy a dewormer and administer it to their horse. However, indiscriminate deworming has resulted in many of these parasites becoming resistant to deworming compounds. That means the de-wormers aren’t killing the worms anymore. A more effective strategy is to collect manure samples for your veterinarian to analyze, then follow their instructions. Only 20 per cent of the horse population produces 80 per cent of the worm load, so your horse may not require these unnecessary chemicals.

Traveling, camping, and riding with other horses increase the risk of disease. So before that first trail ride, speak with your vet about vaccinations. Different diseases are prevalent in different areas of Alberta and Canada, so the potential for contracting a disease will affect vaccination decisions. Common vaccinations include tetanus, equine influenza, herpes virus (rhinopneumonitis), rabies, eastern/western encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus, Potomac horse fever and strangles.

Male horses have a pouch in their penis (urethral diverticulum) that attracts debris, resulting in a hard lump or ‘bean’ that must be removed to prevent irritation. That means if you ride a gelding or stallion, add sheath cleaning to your spring checklist. It’s often done by veterinarians when the horse is sedated for a dental float.

FITNESS AND BODY WORK ($80 − $150 PLUS RIDING TIME)

After three months of no work, horses (and humans) lose pretty much all of their fitness. A few rides here and there is akin to occasionally walking around the block. It does little for fitness. But your horse’s fitness determines how long and far they can be ridden without injury. Be honest when assessing your horse and have reasonable riding expectations for the both of you. It’s easy to injure an unfit horse or human, and recovery can be lengthy.

Correct body alignment also affects the horse’s ability to work. Although it’s not necessary, having your horse assessed by a certified body worker can identify potential physical problems before the horse shows pain. If you’re having trouble staying centred in the saddle, you might also need a re-alignment and that will help your horse, too.

TACK FIT ($150 − $350)

Just as tight shoes can cause blisters, poorly fitting tack can injure horses, causing pressure points, hair loss, and raw galls. Not only do these hurt – and are a justifiable reason for your horse to practice airs above the ground – but the subsequent damage will limit riding time until the injuries heal.

Bottom line, check that your tack fits your horse. Put the bridle on and ensure the browband, throat latch and noseband are loose. Check bit width and placement, as well as breast collar effectiveness. Check your saddle tree width, length and twist with and without the saddle pad you will use. Better yet, book an appointment with a certified saddle fitter. An hour of their time is cheaper than buying a new saddle or pad – or worse – injuring your horse.

RIDING PARTNERS (FREE!)

Some riders choose to ride alone, but many prefer sharing their rides with like-minded folk. So when you’re planning that first ride, chat with others as part of your preparation. They may also need to complete a spring checklist and ensure their horse is ready to ride.

When choosing riding partners, consider whether they have the same pace, attitude towards safety and horse welfare and are enjoyable company. Discuss where you want to go, the expected trail conditions, whether dogs will come along and the safety gear you’ll each bring. The right riding partners increase the fun factor – plus take nice photos for social media!

PREPARE TO SHARE THE TRAILS (PRICELESS)

Finally, train your horse to confidently accept the many scary objects and other trail users you may encounter. Rocks, mud, flowing water, bridges, cement barriers and a myriad of other objects can concern horses. Humans on bikes, skis, ATVs, and hiking with large backpacks or ski poles, can look like aliens. Other horses are sometimes the scariest of all.

It’s impossible to expose your horse to everything they may encounter on a trail. Instead, teach your horse how to deal confidently with stressful situations. Then, when they see something strange on the trail, they’ll know how to react safely.

Every rider is an ambassador for other horse users, so when encountering other recreational enthusiasts, stop and chat. This helps your horse realize the person isn’t an alien, helps the person learn what to do when encountering horses, builds relationships between riding and non-riding communities and helps ensure that horses continue to be permitted on trails and roads. All of which are imperative for future rides.

Planning to ride is an investment in your horse’s health and your own fun and safety while riding. When it’s all said and done, it could cost upwards of $1,000, but for many it will be much less. So is it worth it? You will find the answer on your first trail ride. AB