Spring Care Q&A with Glenn
Glenn Cullen is a Sales Advisor in our Clonmel Store & has a vast knowledge of stable management. He also regularly trains & competes in dressage competitions around the country.
Q: What do you recommend for horses moving from hay to grass?
A: I would recommend only allowing the horse a few hours a day back on grass and build up slowly. This will help their digestive system adjust to the change in diet. Please also factor in their age, type, level of work, have they laminitis etc. when increasing this duration of grazing.
Shamrock Horse Licks would help with any digestive issues that may occur during this transition.
Q: What would you recommend for coats that are shedding this time of year?
A: Plusvital Carron Oil which is great for coat and condition. Another option would be Foran's Copper Syringes if your soil is low in copper.
Those two will promote a healthy regrowth of the coat. A shedding comb is a great grooming product to remove dead hair.
Q: Should an older horse be rugged over summer or not?
A: What you could do is use a waterproof fly rug to keep insects and the rain off of their back during our Irish summer.
Q: What do you recommend for horses that don't like the noise of fly spray bottles?
A: There are a few fly-repellent gels available - these can be applied with a sponge.
Q: What would you suggest for the mane of a horse that has come away due to rugging over the winter?
A: I would use Leovet Bio-Oil. It relieves the tendency to itch which will give the mane a chance to grow back.
If you plan to use a light sheet for the summer, I would avoid using a rug with a neck cover. For example the Tempest Air Motion.
Q: What is the best way to get a horse back into training after a winter off?
A: There are so many variables to this depending on each horse and what the goal for them is. For example, from a sport horse perspective, I would advise to work long and low to encourage them to lift the back and plenty of transitions.
Lunging will help them work long and low from the ground. A lunging aid such as the one from Shires will be a big help.
