Horse Care Through the Seasons

broken boards and farm equipment left in the pasture last fall.
Water troughs should be thoroughly checked for leaks and general condition and their maintenance should include cleaning repair and replacement of valves floats and screens as needed. 
Natural sources such as streams or ponds should be fenced off to prevent horses from falling through thin spring ice and to protect riparian areas. If used as water sources in warmer weather they may still be frozen over so be sure to continue with your backup water source.
This is a good time to replace the salt block. Adult horses should consume at least one to two ounces of salt daily. If your horse does not use a salt block their daily maintenance amount should be added to their feed. The more the horse sweats the more salt he should consume.
Heavy rain and spring snow melt can cause muddy conditions in pastures and paddocks creating slippery conditions and predisposing your horse to pastern dermatitis mud fever. To prevent pastern dermatitis provide horses with access to a dry sheltered turnout area free from manure and mud where bacteria and fungi thrive.