Seasonal Horse Care Calendar for South Africa
Month-by-month guide to horse health management in SA — vaccinations, deworming, dental, and seasonal considerations.
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Managing your horse's health requires planning around South Africa's seasons, disease risks, and climate patterns. This calendar gives you a month-by-month checklist to keep your horse in peak condition year-round.
Late Summer: January – March
Priorities
- African Horse Sickness (AHS) — peak risk season. Ensure vaccinations are current and stable at night.
- Fly and midge management — repellents, fans, stable screens
- Hydration — ensure constant access to clean, fresh water. Add electrolytes for working horses.
- Heat management — ride early morning or late evening. Never work hard in the midday heat.
- Hoof care — hard ground can cause bruising; consider hoof boots for rocky terrain
Health Tasks
- ✅ Check AHS vaccination status
- ✅ Apply insect repellent daily (dawn and dusk)
- ✅ Add electrolytes to feed
- ✅ Monitor body condition (summer grass can cause weight gain and laminitis)
- ✅ Farrier visit (every 6 weeks year-round)
Autumn: April – May
Priorities
- AHS risk declining but not gone — continue night stabling until frost
- Parasite management — strategic deworming based on faecal egg counts
- Winter coat — let the coat grow naturally; reduce or stop clipping
- Grass quality declining — begin supplementing with hay
- Competition season winding down — good time for rest and rehab
Health Tasks
- ✅ Faecal egg count and deworm if needed
- ✅ Annual dental check (if not done yet)
- ✅ Assess rugging needs — order/repair winter blankets
- ✅ Start increasing roughage in the diet
- ✅ Schedule any needed veterinary work before winter
Winter: June – August
Priorities
- Feeding — increase hay by 2-3kg/day. Roughage generates internal heat.
- Blanketing — clipped horses need rugs below 10°C; unclipped hardy breeds usually cope without
- Reduced daylight — less riding time; maintain fitness with focused work
- Mud management — prolonged standing in mud causes mud fever and thrush
- AHS vaccine — schedule for August/September before the new season begins
Health Tasks
- ✅ Monitor body condition weekly — adjust feed as needed
- ✅ Provide warm water if possible (horses drink less when water is cold)
- ✅ Check blankets daily for rubbing, damage, or slipping
- ✅ Maintain hoof care — hooves soften in wet/muddy conditions
- ✅ Book AHS vaccinations for late August / early September
Spring: September – December
Priorities
- AHS vaccination — give both doses before summer (September and 3 weeks later)
- Spring grass — rich new growth causes laminitis risk, especially in ponies and easy keepers
- Fly season starting — restock repellents and fly masks
- Competition season begins — fitness work, lesson schedules, entry deadlines
- Clipping — if competing, clip the winter coat as weather warms
Health Tasks
- ✅ AHS vaccination (both doses)
- ✅ Annual blood tests (check liver/kidney function, mineral status)
- ✅ Faecal egg count and strategic deworming
- ✅ Teeth check (if last done > 12 months ago)
- ✅ Update insurance and registration
- ✅ Fitness assessment — gradual return to work after winter
Annual Checklist Summary
Task — Frequency — When
AHS vaccination — Annually — Aug–Sep
Other vaccinations (tetanus, flu) — Annually — Any time
Dental check — Annually (6-monthly for young/old) — Autumn ideal
Faecal egg count — 2–4x per year — Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec
Deworming — Based on FEC results — As needed
Farrier — Every 5–8 weeks — Year-round
Body condition score — Monthly — Year-round
Blood work — Annually — Spring
Stick to this calendar and your horse will thank you with years of healthy, sound partnership.
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