Spring prep for horses is becoming a more tailored vet conversation

Spring is bringing the usual reset for horse health, and current guidance from The Horse and equine veterinary groups points to the same message: don’t treat spring turnout and show prep as routine. The seasonal checklist now centers on preventive care, including spring wellness exams, vaccination review, fecal egg count-based parasite control, dental checks, gradual return to work, and careful pasture transitions for horses at risk of metabolic disease or laminitis. The Horse’s spring and show-season coverage also emphasizes travel paperwork and biosecurity, including negative Coggins testing, certificates of veterinary inspection for interstate movement, and show-entry vaccine documentation. (thehorse.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a timely reminder that spring appointments are doing more than checking boxes. AAEP says core vaccines for horses include tetanus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus, and rabies, while risk-based vaccines should be tailored to geography, travel, and exposure. That matters as horses move back into training and competition, where disease exposure rises. At the same time, pasture access can sharply increase laminitis risk in horses with equine metabolic syndrome, making early-season bloodwork, feeding review, and turnout planning especially relevant for at-risk patients. (aaep.org)

What to watch: Expect continued emphasis on individualized spring protocols, especially around vaccine timing, FEC-based deworming, metabolic screening, and competition biosecurity as show calendars ramp up. (thehorse.com)