So a few months ago, I wrote an article about the struggles of an equestrian in the winter months. This is somewhat of a continuation of that, but I am going to tell you my pros and cons of spring as told by an East Coast equestrian.

1. Shedding Season

Going to the barn in the spring, you now can show off some arms and wear some cute tops that are specifically for the barn. But when you come home, you find horse hair everywhere. In your bra, in your nose, in your hair, and other places where horse hair should not be. You constantly feel itchy and gross until you hop into the shower! But when summertime rolls around, your horse is lookin' fiiiiiiine in their summer coat!

2. Is It Too Cold For a Bath?

I ask myself this question a few times in the spring because it will be warm but is it warm enough? Working a horse in warm-ish weather with long, fluffy coats can be a huge problem. They're going to sweat but do I just hand walk them to cool off or do I hose them down? It's complicated to decide but in the end, you know your horse well enough to know. Maybe just a quick sponge down in the areas that are more sweaty than other spots.

3. The Flies Are Coming! The Flies Are Coming!

Ah, yes, the dreaded little insects that annoy every horse person that walks on this Earth. Flies are everywhere and anywhere you turn when it comes to being outside with horses. So much money is wasted on fly spray and fly masks and fly sheets and they don't seem to help at all.

4. "Do I Need a Jacket? Will a Hoodie Do the Trick?"

Dressing for the barn can be a challenge for every season. When dressing for spring, you have to factor the amount of hair you're going to get on you and if you can easily take it off with a helmet on your head. Hoodies are hard to take off when you're riding and you have a helmet on but they're also a pain in the ass when you are constantly catching horse hair on them. I personally like to wear soft shell jackets to the barn in the spring because they're easy to take off and easy to brush off.

5. The Weather is Always Changing

One day it can be breezy and sunny while another day can be cloudy with some rain. I would take any of those days over snow in a heartbeat. But when the weather changes constantly, a horse's system is getting confused. Personally, my horse gets the runs and it's a battle when keeping his butt clean (sorry for the gross visual but hey, horses can be gross no matter what they do). Another struggle is making sure that they drink enough water. Every time I go to the barn, I make sure that he has water in his field and that his buckets are clean in his stall.

6. The Days are Getting Warmer and Longer

One thing that I do LOVE is that the days are getting warmer and longer by the second. As soon as April is in full swing, you can just smell spring in the air and it's such a glorious smell. Smelling the sunshine, the warmth, the flowers, and the springtime horse smell makes me so happy. Even the horses are happy during the spring!

7. Wearing Cute Riding Outfits with Matching Saddle Pads are #MajorKey

In the spring and coming summer season, you can match your t-shirts to your saddle pads so much easier. In the winter, it becomes hard to find the perfect jacket-saddle-pad-scarf-and-any-other-thing-to-keep-you-warm combination that matches! In the warmer months, you can find cute saddle pads in bright, fun colors that makes it feel that much more like spring!

So, as you go through the spring, think of all of the flowers, sunshine, and happy ponies and their people!