HEALTHY Spring

Plan your horse’s spring checkup with these tips from an equine vet.

- ELIZABETH MOYER

Budding leaves, blooming flowers and green grass all say that spring is on the way, but one of the first sure signs at any horse farm is the vet truck pulling up to the barn. Spring is an ideal time to schedule your horse's annual vet checkup to make sure he's in tip-top shape for the busy riding season ahead. This includes vaccinations and deworming, plus preventive care to keep your horse healthy all year long.

Rae Birr, DVM, an equine veterinarian based in Michigan, is passionate about helping her clients take the best possible care of their horses, and she particularly enjoys teaching Pony Club members about horse management and care.

"Many of us come out of cold temperatures into spring," she says. "The internal parasites wake up inside our horses in the spring too, and it's a prime time to reduce the parasite load for our horses and pastures.

Spring is a perfect time to have a health check-up with your veterinarian to evaluate how your horse came through the winter.

"Additionally, many of our vaccines protect against diseases carried by mosquitoes, so vaccinating just before mosquito season gives the horses the best protection," Dr. Birr continues. "In areas where the temperatures don't get cold enough to interrupt parasite and insect life cycles, your veterinarian can help you choose the best time for a yearly checkup."

BEST SHOTS

It's important to keep your horse up to date on his shots so that he's protected against diseases.

Talk to your vet about which vaccinations your horse needs, and the best vaccination plan for him. Your vet will know which diseases are common in your area, the best time to vaccinate, and other factors that could put your horse at risk of getting sick.