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Spring brings with it a feeling of renewed energy and excitement. The cold days of winter are losing their grip
and we are thrilled to be back in the barn for extended periods of time. While the thought of the thaw is great, the
thought of the mud it brings isn’t as exhilarating. Mud combined with horses
can be especially messy and dangerous. Gate areas can become tricky to
navigate, rings can be slippery, just getting to and from the car, house or
barn can be a challenge. Deep mud can bow tendons, aggravate arthritis and even
pull shoes from horses’ feet. Mud mixed with horse manure contains bacteria
which can lead to issues like thrush and rain rot.
There are a few things you can do to make the mud season a little
easier on yourself.
Just as there is proper footwear
for riding, there is proper footwear for mucking and mud. The right footwear
will keep you clean, warm and comfortable; the easy slip off design is
especially helpful when you are covered in mud! Now you can leave all the mess outside the
door. Additionally, mud boots are easy
to clean; just hose and go.
Spring brings rain and rain
brings mud. Cooler temperatures combined with rain can chill a horse in their
paddock or out to pasture. A turnout
sheet is a great solution for keeping them dry and comfortable. Most turnout sheets are made with a strong
denier fabric that resists tearing and is breathable, which helps maintain the horse’s body temperature. These
sheets are designed to be worn when temperatures outside are between 40 to 70
degrees. Do you want to know another
great benefit a turnout sheet? When your horse rolls in the mud, there is less of
it on him or her!
Mud season presents many grooming
challenges and it can take some serious elbow grease to keep your horse clean. Shedding and layers of mud keep you busy and
your horse itchy. Simple grooming tools, such as curry combs and stiff brushes,
not only help to release mud and hair, but they also provide a relaxing and
enjoyable experience for most horses. A
dandy brush, following a good deep curry, helps remove dirt, dander, and loose
hair. Brushes with quality bristles are valuable tools in horsekeeping. The bristles should be clean and intact,
straight and stiff. At the end of a good
grooming session, use a topical sprays/coat conditioner to help keep the horse
clean and easier to groom throughout the mud season.
As you are grooming, take some
time to check out your horse’s feet. Mud
can suck off shoes, dry the hoof, and create a perfect environment for thrush
to grow. Thrush is a smelly bacterial
infection of the hooves. It occurs when hooves come into prolonged contact with
waste-laden mud. Keep your horse’s feet clean by brushing off the outside of
the hoof with a stiff brush (being careful around the sensitive coronary band)
and pick out their feet, being sure to get out everything around the frog. Be
mindful of any strong foul odors as that might indicate infection.
The season can be a bit
bothersome and put some grit in your teeth. It may seem like mud is everywhere
at this time of year but don’t get overwhelmed; it can be made more comfortable
with the right equipment.