Seasonal Tips for Horse owners
Autumn is a season of transition for both horses and their owners. By focusing on coat care, managing muddy conditions, and making smart nutritional adjustments, you’ll set your horse up for a smooth and healthy shift into winter.
It’s also important to set yourself up as a rider. If you are hacking, always make sure that you are visible. Always wear Hi-Vis Gear: With shorter days and lower light, use reflective clothing for both you and your horse. Bridle bands, leg wraps, and rider vests make you far more visible.
Remember cooler air means longer warm-up and cool-down times. Let your horse walk before and after faster work to prevent stiffness. If your horse sweats under its thicker autumn coat, consider a cooler rug afterward to help wick away moisture.
With autumn rains come the challenge of muddy paddocks and wet fields. Mud can lead to hoof and skin issues if not managed properly:
Hoof Care: Schedule regular farrier visits to maintain balance and prevent issues like thrush, which thrives in damp conditions. Pick out hooves daily to remove mud and debris. Constant moisture weakens the hoof wall and sole, making them softer and more prone to chipping or bruising. Mud + moisture = bacteria’s best friend, so the key in autumn is daily hoof checks, regular farrier visits, and providing dry footing where possible. Hoof First unique formula contains high strength Biotin with all the essential vitamins and minerals to produce a healthy hoof. It is well known that Biotin will grow horn but at HORSE FIRST we want to give you more, a strong, healthy hoof with continuous growth. Hoof First grows hooves which are better for your farrier to work with, and fights problems such as thin soles, cracked, chipped or weak hooves, contributing to lost shoes which are costly.
Field Management: Rotate pastures where possible to reduce erosion and allow ground recovery. Use gravel, mats, or designated sacrifice areas to minimise mud around gates and water troughs.
Leg and Skin Protection: Wash and dry legs thoroughly if your horse has been standing in mud. Apply protective creams to help shield skin from persistent dampness. The dreaded mud fever season is upon us. Mud fever often starts around the pasterns and heels after prolonged exposure to mud. Damp Autumn weather can contribute to conditions like rain rot or fungal infections.
Regular grooming and checking under dense coats will help you spot and treat problems early. If you think your animal has a dull coat, try Horse Frist Cuppra, it is the ultimate copper top-up with a multitude of health benefits. It has a high copper availability for coat and conditioning. Give a course of Cuppra if you notice your horse is lacking stamina or if its coat is not looking as healthy as it should.
As the grass quality diminishes in autumn, it’s important to adjust feeding routines to maintain optimal health and weight. Its this time of year that horse owners look to include supplements to complement their animal’s diet. Horse First Garlic & More is nature's goodness packed into one special supplement. It is a complete, powerful unique blend of garlic, seaweed, herbs, oil, salt and vitamins that benefits all horses and ponies. This blend smells as good as it tastes and delivers all of the age-old benefits of natural ingredients. It provides your horse with a range of herbs and vitamins to help utilise nutrition, aid digestion and boost the immune system in one tasty 25g serving.
Forage First: Introduce hay early to supplement declining pasture. Aim to provide at least 1.5–2% of your horse’s body weight in forage daily.
Monitor Body Condition: Use a body condition scoring system to track changes. Horses may naturally gain or lose weight in response to seasonal shifts.
Adjust Energy Sources: Hard-working horses may require additional concentrates or high-fibre feeds as energy needs increase in cooler weather.