By Alaina Oleson, manager of Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club’s Equestrian Center

Horses in Florida are a blessing and also a curse. The year-round tropical temperatures are very inviting, but they do not come without a downside.

During the summer months when the ground is constantly being saturated with rain it is very hard to preserve a horse’s hair and feet. Because of the hot humid temperatures it is very difficult to keep skin irritation and skin fungus under control. Without proper management and care this can become a real problem.

Tend to the Horse’s Legs

It is very important to always rinse and dry at least the horse’s legs after a long day of grazing in the pasture. The sweat and dirt that builds up in the coat needs to be rinsed away daily otherwise it is a sure bet for skin fungus. It is also very important to give the horses a bath about once per week with an anti bacterial/anti fungal shampoo. This helps to clear away anything that might be festering within the hair coat.

Cleaning Horses’ Hooves is Important

Another important thing to remember is the horse’s hooves. It is said that a horse with bad feet is a horse without a future. With the moist ground it is very important that the horses come into a dry stall and have their hooves picked daily. Leaving wet debris in the foot can cause a bacterial infection called thrush. It most commonly occurs in the part of the horse’s hoof called the frog. The frog is located on the underside of the foot and is triangular in shape and extends mid way from the heels towards the toe. Leaving thrush unattended can cause a number of problems including lameness. Not a very nice thought for horse owners!

Proper horse care requires long tedious hours and much supervision of each and every animal.

Call 650-773-1812 for more information about the Equestrian Center and the services the facility provides. Keep up with all of the latest news from Golden Ocala by following us on Facebook and Twitter.