In the News - February 2008
Now is time to get yourself and your horse ready for spring jaunts
LITTLE ROCK - The flowers may not have started budding yet, but if you
haven't started getting your mount ready for the spring, you're already late.
Steve Jones, associate professor and equine specialist for the University of
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, says if you own a horse, you should
start getting your animal ready by checking his feet.
"If he's been on vacation from horseshoes, it's time to call the farrier,"
says Jones. Trimming your horse's feet is important because in wet conditions,
the hooves can get soft and may break off.
"We need hoof care right off the bat," says Jones. "If you're thinking about
riding him soon or starting an exercise program, it's time to have him re-shod.
No foot, no horse."
An exercise plan should be next in on the agenda. A horse that has been
turned out since fall will not be as fit as he was last time he was ridden. How
long it will take him to get back in shape will depend largely on what kind of
shape he was in when cold weather hit; a horse that was physically fit before
taking a two- or three-month break can return to good form much more quickly
than one that wasn't.
"The first thing I worry about is injury," says Jones. "His tendons are not
in shape, his bones are more brittle. The unique thing about a horse is that
when you exercise him, he actually has bone remodeling. The bone softens and
then starts repairing itself for that activity level. Tendons do the same thing.
So it's important to do a long, slow exercise regimen, just getting those feet
and tendons and muscles back in shape."
About 20 minutes of exercise is ideal - five minutes of warm-up, eight to 10
minutes of slow trotting or cantering, and five minutes of cool-down.
When that phase is well underway, owners of performance horses should start
adding workouts specific to the types of competition those animals will face.
"This is true for trail-riding horses, too," says Jones. "You may have ridden
him 14 miles before but he's been on vacation and he's not up to that yet.
You're risking injury if you don't start slowly."
Next, check your tack and equipment. Make sure that nothing is dry-rotted and
that everything you'll need is present and in good shape - blankets should be
clean; bridles, saddles and other leather tack should be oiled.
It's a good idea to take stock of your horse's diet this time of year, too.
"If a horse hasn't been ridden much, probably on maintenance regimen,
remember as you start the exercise regimen to add more calories and protein,"
Jones reminds.
Internal parasites may be at held at bay by cold weather, but as soon as the
grass starts to shoot up in the spring they can return with a vengeance. It's a
good idea to consult with your veterinarian for the plan that will allow you to
stay ahead of a parasite problem on your farm.
Horses that have ended the winter on the thin side will need more calories to
compensate for the extra energy they will likely expend as the weather warms up;
on the other hand, horses that have ended the season with a little extra flesh
should be exercised more to lose weight.
By the same token, riders should take steps to improve their own physical
condition.
"Start getting yourself in shape," says Jones. "The better shape you're in,
the easier it is to get up and on and off the horse and if you're in better
physical shape you'll enjoy your riding more."
Few people are likely to enjoy riding more than Mamie Whitmore. Whitmore had
never ridden a horse until just before she bought two last year at age 59. She
rides her horses year-round, making preparations for spring a moot point. She
keeps herself in shape and she says it's the riding she does that helps her stay
physically fit.
"I've never had a weight problem in my life, but as I got older and wasn't as
active as I should have been, 35 pounds crept up on me. I've done nothing
different except riding horses and I've lost every bit of it," says Whitmore
"It's a tremendous workout. I'm at the barn at 6 o'clock every morning, scooping
and toting and pulling, and I ride three or four hours a day. I love it. There's
nothing better."
For more information about horse and livestock care, visit the extension's
Web site, www.uaex.edu, or
contact your county extension agent. The Cooperative Extension Service is part
of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
February 15, 2008
By Kimberly Dishongh
For the Cooperative Extension Service
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialists
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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