RACHEL SOWINSKI
Pop quiz: Can you name all of the core equine vaccines? Hint: there are five of them. To see if you got it right, turn to page 40. Or you can cheat and look at “Can’t Miss Shots” to the right. These vaccines are considered essential for every horse, every spring, and they’re the cornerstone of equine wellness. If you haven’t booked your horse’s spring shots and vet visit, put it on the top of your to-do list.
Spring is just around the corner, but as eager as we all are to get back in the saddle after a long winter, first things first. If your horse has had an extended vacation, plan on legging him up gradually. Even if the weather isn’t cooperating quite yet, we turned to equine fitness expert Jec Ballou for some advice to keep things moving—injury-free. If you have just 25 minutes to ride, you can accomplish a lot with her three simple routines.