Spring puts equine preventive care back in focus

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Spring prep articles from The Horse are reinforcing a familiar message for equine practice teams: a healthy riding and show season starts with basics done early and done well. Across recent coverage, The Horse points pet parents back to spring wellness exams, vaccine review, dental care, parasite control based on fecal testing rather than routine rotation, gradual pasture and feed changes, hoof care, and conditioning plans before workloads increase. That advice lines up with current American Association of Equine Practitioners guidance, which says core vaccines such as Eastern/Western equine encephalomyelitis should be boosted before spring vector season, annual oral exams should be part of routine care, and parasite programs should use fecal egg count testing and avoid fixed-interval deworming. (aaep.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a seasonal reminder that spring is one of the best intervention points in the equine calendar. Practices can use it to drive preventive appointments, update risk-based vaccination plans, catch dental or lameness issues before competition ramps up, and counsel clients on pasture transition for horses at risk of laminitis or metabolic disease. The Horse’s nutrition coverage also highlights concern around spring pasture sugars and metabolic health, especially in horses with equine metabolic syndrome or prior laminitis, where gradual turnout and individualized feeding plans matter. (thehorse.com)

What to watch: Expect more spring client education around targeted deworming, metabolic-risk pasture management, and pre-season soundness screening as riding and show activity increase. (aaep.org)