9 Things To Get Ready Before Autumn/Winter

- Clippers

Get them clippers out and check over them, you probably haven't used them for a good 11-7 months. Check your blades, are they sharp enough? Do they need to be sent away before you start using them come September? Do you need to buy more oil in preparation? Little bits like this are always good to check over before you need them.

- Winter Field Fencing
Haven't used your winter field since April/May? Have a trip to the field and check it over. Check that all the fencing is secure and the harsh dry summer we've had hasn't loosened your poles in the ground. I've found that a few around my field have become a bit lose due to the hardened ground. If you have electric fencing around your field are all accessories secure? Do you need to buy any replacements before the colder weather starts? If using electric fencing I always like to have a spare set of battery's around on the yard just so I have some ready to pop in when needed. 

- Mud Fever 

I'm quite lucky with this one as I don't struggle with this but I do know that with autumn/winter comes plenty of rain and with rain comes mud. If your horse suffers from mud fever, have you got everything you need to approach it? Are you stocked up on your favourite cream or powder? Are their boots still in good condition, do they need a good clean before this time? Or are you looking at buying some new ones? Don't wait until you need them, get them ready! 

- Laminitis 

If you have a pony or horse that struggles or is prone to laminitis you're probably well aware that there's still one last push of the grass to grow and they're just as vulnerable to get it then as they are in spring. Keep an eye on them, make sure they are still on the feed that helps them through the time the best, reduce their grass intake and get them on the hay or a hay replacer. You don't always need to bring them in all the time. You can make them a small paddock with electric fencing or put them in a sand paddock. You can use the track system while on little grass to keep them. Moving. 

- Winter Feed

If you're one of the lucky ones and haven't had to feed your horse throughout the summer, have your feed bins had a good clear out. Have you disposed of all of last year's feed bags? Try to remember you can also recycle your feed bags and any supplement containers and do your bit for the environment. You can either make a mixed bag of bags and containers and separate them at home or have a plastic bag for plastics and then paper bag for your paper bags. Always handy if there's a few of you on the yard and you do a paper and plastic bag, can make it easier for everybody to recycle then. 

If you have any feed from last year left in the bins, empty them out and give them a good clean before you start adding in fresh from this year. 

- Stable Deep Clean

If you haven't already, it might be time to give your stable a good deep clean out. If you have rubber matting, pull all of it up and out. If available give them and the stable a good power wash clean or otherwise just a hose and some hard work with a brush will do the same job. Adding disinfectant like Jeyes fluid can help really get it clean and away with any smell that might be strong. 
Alternatively if you're not wanting to do a deep clean every year you can keep it clean throughout the time using it by adding disinfectant crystals to your bedding.  

- Warmer Rugs

Dig them to out check them over, any repairs need doing before they will be needed? The temperatures can drop out of no where so it's great to be prepared. 

After sorting through your rugs will you find you need some new rugs? Get them in the current sales before the prices hike up. You don't always need the latest seasons rugs, the horses don't know that they are the newest on the block and won't care if they are a destroyer. 

Find you have got too much rugs? I've always said too many rugs is not enough but you always have to be realistic, if you're horse isn't wearing them all do they really need 3 spare rugs of each weight and in std and combo? Have a clear out by selling them online, people will start looking to buy rugs.

- Start Buying Bedding/Hay
Start buying bales of hay/haylage and bedding every so often now, this way it won't be such a hard hit when you have to buy loads when the horses come in. My horses are kept out until the first week of November Typically, I've already started buying now and I'll have a good stock up for when they come in.

Some stockists will do some deals on buying multiple bales of bedding, if you know somewhere doing this take advantage, as Tesco say every little helps!

With the dry summer we've had I know there have been many of people who have been buying their summer/winter hay supply since the first cut. This may leave us with a little less supply towards the end of the year. I'm really hoping not and hoping people don't get greedy with the prices knowing it will be sought after. 

Even ourselfs are thinking about stocking up and buying a pallet of two of haylage for the stable nets throughout the time in. We are struggling to find a supplier of the big round bales this year though. 

How are you finding the hay supply this year where you are?