Spring puts equine preventive care plans back in focus

Spring is a practical reset point for equine preventive care, conditioning, and nutrition, according to recent guidance and educational coverage from The Horse. The publication’s spring checklist urges pet parents and care teams to revisit vaccinations, deworming plans, diet, hoof and dental care, and barn hygiene before riding and competition demands ramp up. Related reporting from The Horse also emphasizes proactive show-season planning, including regular veterinary evaluations, realistic competition schedules, and conditioning strategies designed to catch problems before they become performance-limiting injuries. (thehorse.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the seasonal message aligns with current AAEP guidance in two important ways. First, spring is the window to review vaccine protocols before vector season, with core immunizations such as EEE/WEE and other risk-based choices tailored to geography, travel, and exposure. Second, parasite control has moved further away from fixed-interval rotational deworming and toward fecal egg count-based programs, with the AAEP’s revised May 31, 2024, guidelines recommending annual fecal egg count reduction testing, once- or twice-yearly baseline deworming, and targeted treatment of high shedders. Nutrition is another pressure point: spring pasture changes can raise concern for horses with metabolic risk or a history of laminitis, making gradual feed transitions and individualized pasture management especially relevant. (aaep.org)

What to watch: Expect more spring client education to center on individualized wellness plans, especially around vaccines, fecal testing, pasture access, and pre-season lameness screening. (thehorse.com)