Tackle that springtime to-do list

Don’t put it off – it’s time to do all those jobs that will get you ready for the season ahead

At last, the longer evenings have arrived, giving us more freedom after work to spend time at the yard. Although this is great news, you’ll now realise everything you’ve been putting off because it was ‘winter’ is now waiting to be tackled. Don’t worry – you don’t need to do it all at once, though! Adding one job to your to-do list every evening or even once a week will have you ticking off the chores in no time! We’ve come up with a list to help you get started.

• lorry/trailer checking – perhaps your lorry’s been lying dormant over the winter and now spring/summer has arrived, you want to get back to competing. But have you had your lorry/trailer checked over? If it’s recently had an MOT, you can carry out these checks yourself, such as checking the flooring – but if it’s been a while since its last MOT, it’s best to have it checked by a professional.
• stud holes – event season is here – hurray! Have you asked your farrier to add stud holes to your horse’s shoes ready for your first comp?
• disinfect stables – if you turn your horse out for summer, now is the best time to give his stable a good clean out. Get rid of all bedding (top tip to avoid wasting bedding is to let it run down throughout the week, so you don’t throw out new bedding). Remove rubber mats for disinfection and give the walls a scrub, too. Afterwards, you’ll be ready for when autumn/winter rolls around again.
• paddock checking – spring might be springing some unwanted guests in your horse’s field, so it’s well worth checking to see if any area needs fencing off or if you need to pull up any poisonous plants that might be sprouting.
• field maintenance – have a chat with your yard manager to see if they have any plans for harrowing or fertilising the pasture to help you plan for times when your horse can or can’t go in his field.
• de-weeding the yard – if you have your own yard, then you’ll know most tasks fall to you, with one of them being weeding. Getting rid of the weeds will have your yard looking spick and span in no time, with compliments flooding in on how neat it all looks.
• saddle check – horses change shape through the winter by losing condition and muscle. Then, when spring arrives, they start to gain weight and tone up once their workload has increased. Because of this, it’s a good idea to check your saddle is fitted correctly.
• vaccinations – make sure your vaccinations are up to date before heading out to a competition. Different venues have different guidelines, so check what they require before you travel.
• washing arena boards/jumps – now is a good time to get arena boards and showjumps looking brand spanking new again. Give them a scrub so they’re ready to dazzle in the summer sun.
• wash the lorry/trailer – you may be good at cleaning the inside of the lorry/trailer, but do you give any TLC to the outside? If not, pick a sunny day, put on some tunes and get scrubbing – using a broom can help you reach the really tough spots.