11 tips for getting your horse ready for spring

by Alison | Apr 21, 2021 | Horse Management | 0 comments

Understanding how we process sensory information can significantly influence how we experience nerves, anxiety, and fear when riding our horse. We use our ‘internal representational systems’, which refer to the primary ways we perceive and internalise our experiences through our senses, to make provide information about our experiences. Our mind filters and uses this information to make meaning of our subjective experience, as a point of reference for the future.

Our internal representational systems are visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), kinesthetic (feeling), gustatory (tasting), and olfactory (smelling). The processed information from each of these senses will impact how your unconscious mind processes your world and have an impact on how you feel about yourself, your horse and riding.

Visual (Seeing)

If you tend to think in pictures, you might visualise potential problems while riding, like imagining a fall or picturing the horse becoming spooked. These vivid mental images can make you feel more anxious. To manage this, you can refocus your mind on visualising exactly what you actually want to happen, in as much detail as you can. Your mind really doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and what’s imagined, and will respond to precisely what you tell it! So using this to your advantage and use your brilliant imagination to create a visualised scenario where things happen exactly as you want them to, and where you manage any surprises with ease and confidence.

Auditory (Hearing)

If you’re sensitive to sounds, the external noise of the horse’s hooves, your horse’s breathing, or sounds from the environment will all add to how you experience riding your horse. Internal sounds, such as your self-talk are also an important factor, since we often don’t realise quite how we speak to ourselves in our mind! Listening to calming music (where it’s safe to do so, obviously!), and positively managing your self-talk before and during your ride will help boost your confidence.

Kinaesthetic (Feeling)

If you are someone who is highly attuned to your feelings and emotions, you might be acutely aware of every physical sensation in your body and how it makes you feel. You might be aware of a knot in your stomach, tightness in your throat, or a very real feeling of having your legs turn to jelly! These type of physical sensations quickly transmit an alert to your mind, triggering nerves, anxiety and even fear. Practising deep breathing or other relaxation techniques can help you manage these physical sensations and reduce your anxiety.

Gustatory (Tasting)

As riders, the sense of taste is one we don’t often think about, and it’s closely tied to memory, where certain flavours can trigger emotional responses. I know of riders who chew minty gum before they ride (never chew gum while riding, as it is a choking hazard), and that minty sensation on their tongue can anchor feelings of readiness and confidence. Being mindful of what you eat or drink before riding and choosing flavours that you find comforting or refreshing can help trigger a shift in how you feel.

Olfactory (Smelling)

Certain smells can evoke powerful emotional responses. I don’t know about you, but I love the slightly warm, sweaty smell of horses who have just worked (that sounds weird, doesn’t it?!). As a child, I dreamed of the smell horses, of leather tack, and even now the first fly spray of the summer brings a reminiscence of happy hacking days. Find those smells which make you feel good and remind you of happy times, then make use of these whenever you can.

Recognising which of these sensory inputs resonates with you most will provide you with simple tools to improve your riding confidence. By consciously adjusting how you seek out and use these sensory inputs, you can help yourself feel more in control and less anxious while riding.

Preferences

While each of us might have a preference for one or more internal representational systems, such as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic, it’s important to note that we don’t exclusively use just one; our mind gathers and uses information from all of them. Think of it like having a favourite tool in a toolbox; even though you might prefer one tool, you still use the others when the situation requires it.

For instance, even if you primarily process your experience in a primarily visual way by imagining scenarios and pictures in your mind, your mind will still also pay attention to what you hear, the physical sensations you feel, the tastes and smells that surround you. Each sense provides a different piece of the puzzle, contributing to a fuller understanding and experience of your environment.

This means when you’re riding your horse and trying to manage anxiety, even though you might focus on using your preferred sensory channel, such as visualising calm and successful rides, you’ll also benefit from tuning into the sounds that calm you, the feel of the horse beneath you, and even calming scents or flavours. Using a combination of all your senses can help create a richer, more grounded experience that can be more effective in managing your nerves.

Simple Tips

Visual

Focus on shifting your mindset by vividly imagining positive outcomes. Instead of letting your mind linger on potential challenges, picture yourself riding smoothly, handling challenges with ease, and finishing your ride successfully. This practice of visualisation can help build your confidence and reassurance.

Auditory

Integrate calming sounds into your daily routine to help soothe your nerves. This could be as simple as listening to the radio while you tack up, or repeating positive affirmations to yourself such as “I am calm and in control” or “I trust my abilities and my horse.” These auditory cues can help create a mental environment of calmness and positivity.

Kinesthetic

Use physical relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety and physical tension. Before riding, try doing some gentle stretches, deep breathing exercises, or progressive muscle relaxation—where you tense and then relax different muscle groups. This not only relaxes your body but also prepares your mind for a more comfortable and focused ride.

Gustatory

Choose flavours that evoke a sense of calm and enjoyment for you. This might mean having a peppermint or a piece of dark chocolate before you ride or sipping herbal tea like chamomile which is known for its soothing properties. These tastes can trigger positive sensory memories and help calm your nerves.

Olfactory

Introduce a comforting and familiar scent into your riding environment. This could be applying a dab of lavender oil on your wrist or adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your riding gear. The smell of chamomile can also be soothing. These scents can significantly enhance your emotional state by triggering positive associations and reducing stress, creating a more relaxing atmosphere for both you and your horse.

By actively engaging these sensory strategies, you can better manage your emotions and enhance your overall riding experience. Each tip is designed to help you focus, relax, and enjoy your time with your horse, making your rides more pleasant and successful.

In conclusion, understanding how your internal representational systems influence your emotions can help you manage your nerves and anxieyt around riding. By recognising your preferred internal representational systems, you can use different strategies to feel calmer and more in control, so you can become a more confident rider.

The first signs of spring approaching is a joy for any horse owner. The lighter nights and warmer weather certainly make owning horses a whole lot easier. However, with that being said after a long, harsh winter and a complete change in season looming there are many things as responsible horse owners that we need to prepare for.

Do you have a plan in place? Do you know what needs to be done to get your horse ready for spring?

There are many things to consider when preparing your horse for the warmer months and here are my top 11 tips to help you along the way.

Start as you mean to go on

Get the season off to a good start! Put a plan in place of how you will prepare your horse for the spring and summer and stick to it. This will make life so much easier for you when you have a set of guidelines to follow. Horses that get a good start to the season will also be much more prepared for what will be asked of them. Getting your horse into tip-top condition as early as possible is a great idea if you are planning on doing lots of showing and competing in the spring/summer months. Plan early and give yourself and your horse plenty of time to transition.

Vaccinations and worming

One of the very first things you should consider is the health of your horse. Spring is the ideal time to check that your horse’s vaccinations are all up to date. If they are not then you will need to call out your vet to administer your horse with a booster. It is important you keep track of when your horse’s shots are due especially if you plan on competing. Most competitions will not allow you to enter if your horse’s vaccinations are not up to date.

This is also a great time to worm your horse to avoid any sorts of intestinal infections which could lead to other types of health issues such as colic. Getting a worm count done will let you know if your horse needs a worming medication. If you are unsure, always speak to your vet who will be happy to help.

Dentist

Since this is a time you will likely want to bring your horse back into work it is always a wise idea to get your horse’s teeth checked by a qualified equine dentist. If there are any dental problems and you try to put a bit into your horse’s mouth they will most likely be in pain. They may even be unrideable which can put you in danger.

It is always advisable to get your horse’s teeth checked twice yearly to make sure there aren’t any teeth issues. Many owners choose to have their horse’s teeth checked around the beginning of spring when their horse is coming back into work and then again around autumn time.

You may find that everything is fine and your horse’s teeth are healthy, but it is always much better to be safe than sorry.

Hooves

It is very important that before bringing your horse back into work you have their feet checked. It is likely your horse has been turned out over the winter months and maybe not ridden. All that time in the field can take its toll on your horse’s feet and you will find they are probably not in very good condition.

You may also have chosen to take their shoes off whilst turned out for the winter and therefore need them to have shoes put back on. Calling out your farrier at the start of spring is always a wise choice. They will be able to let you know the condition your horse’s feet are in and rectify any issues that are present.

In the UK around early springtime, the ground is renowned for still being quite soggy and wet and you will need your horse’s hooves to be in good condition before riding them over such surfaces. After a significant time in the field, the likes of thrush and abscesses are also prevalent which is why having your horse’s feet checked out by your farrier is a must.

Stabling

During the winter months, it may be the case that your horse spent much more time in the field since they were ridden less. As spring approaches you are likely to want to bring them back into regular work to prepare for the competition season. This usually means they will spend more time stabled. It is important you are aware that this is likely to impact your horse’s behaviour and can cause vices such as weaving and crib-biting to name a few. Horse’s can get bored easily with when standing around in their stable for long periods of time.

Make sure you prepare your horse’s stable in advance and make it as inviting as possible. Clean stables out twice daily. Make sure your horse has plenty of hay to keep them occupied. There are also some great boredom busters that can be a great addition to your horse’s stable either homemade or bought items.

The best solution overall is to try and provide your horse with as much turnout as possible when you are not exercising them. Let your horse be a horse!

Nutrition

After months in the field and the prospect of coming back into work, your horse’s nutritional needs will likely change somewhat. Spending days in the field does not require a significant amount of energy however when bringing your horse back into work they will require that extra energy to be apple to fulfil what you are asking of them.

Changes to feed will vary greatly from horse to horse. The condition they are in when they return from the field can be a good indicator. Some horses may need a concentrate feed to provide them with enough energy to carry out the work required of them. You will need to monitor your horse closely to see how they perform against the feed you are providing them with. A qualified equine nutritionist can often be helpful.

It’s always best not to rush things or make any rash changes to feed. The most important aspect is providing a good quality feed type that will get your horse back into shape both physically and mentally.

Winter Storage

As the winter ends and spring approaches we find the needs of our horses change. Gone are the big heavy turn out rugs that are needed to provide warmth and protection on a wet and blustery day. It is likely you will not be needing these for quite some time and therefore need to put a plan into place in regards to how you will be storing these.

Turn out rugs will likely be very muddy and dirty and therefore will need cleaning, either at home or by a professional rug cleaner. Over time turn out rugs lose their waterproofing abilities and therefore it a good idea to get these re-proofed at the start of spring so they can be stored away safely until needed again. Any rips, tears, stitching falling apart or broken straps will also need to be fixed before storing.

It is very important that you have the correct type of storage available for your winter rugs. They should be kept in a dry, mould free environment. Trunks and large closed containers are ideal.

Stock up

Now is definitely the time to stock up on all your favourite horsey products. This is especially true if you are looking to compete or show during the spring or summer months. It’s always best to have a good stock of all the products you need even for those last-minute emergencies.

Stockpiling all those show essentials will make getting ready for an outing much smoother and stress-free. From your horse’s favourite shampoo, fly spray and hoof dressings to that fancy new show numnah you have been waiting to purchase, now is the time to prepare and stock up.

Having all these things ready and to hand when you need them will be a welcome relief and one less thing to worry about come showtime.

Fields and Fencing

After a rough, cold winter it is inevitable that your fields and fencing will have likely taken a battering. The start of spring is a very good time to make sure your fields and fencing are in order and rectify any issues before the start of next winter.

Check that all your fencing is in good repair and fix any broken or damaged fence posts. If you use electric fencing, check that your battery is still working, it may need to be replaced.

You may be lucky to be in a yard where your fields are taken care of as part of your livery costs however if this is not the case now is a great time to look at the quality of the field itself and to do some maintenance.

Harrowing your field can help to remove dead vegetation and grass which will be helpful to allow new and thriving grasses to grow. It can also be helpful in levelling out uneven ground before rolling. Cross grazing at this point is something else you may want to consider if you have the means to do so.

Bringing back into work

Bringing your horse back into work can take time and patience. You don’t want to rush this process and ideally baby steps are recommended. Planning ahead with the above tips will greatly help with this process. Don’t rush your horse back into heavy work before they are ready. It will take time before they are back to the level of fitness you had them at the previous summer.

Start off little and often. It may take up to 6 weeks of walk work both on the flat and up hills before you can even think about starting trot work. Keep sessions short, but productive to begin with and increase the length and intensity of exercise as your horse becomes fitter. Trot work will usually begin after about 6 weeks however this will vary from horse to horse and the condition they are in.

Check out my previous blog with all the information on how to bring your horse back into work:

https://www.theeverydayequestrian.co.uk/bringing-a-horse-back-into-work-after-time-off/

Other Tasks

My top tips above include all the necessary requirements for transitioning your horse from winter to spring however you may want to consider some additional tasks to carry out over this period:

Spring cleaning of the stable yard (tidying, cleaning and reorganising)
Stable spring clean (Removing cobwebs, dust, dirt and insects)
Clean and condition tack (saddles and bridles)
Cleaning travelling equipment
Tack room spring clean
Mending or replacing yard equipment

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