Spring is pretty much here and before you know it: show season. In light of all the training and preparing you’ll be doing, here are a few tips on caring for your horse that should keep him or her in top shape.

Maintaining Manes: during the summer show season it gets hot. This might cause your horse’s mane to become dry and start to frizz. In addition to regular shampooing and conditioning, apply olive oil to keep it soft and shining.

Pink Noses: also in summer heat, pink and sensitive noses might burn. Dab some water resistant sunscreen on your horse’s nose before turnout or riding. The spray variety might work best for quick application as your horse may be unwilling to have questionably smelling stuff rubbed into his or her nose.

Mental Health: just like you, a horse’s mental health needs to be care for as well. Trail ride as often as you can as it gives your horse a break from all their hard work and offers a change of scenery in a relaxed environment. Horses appreciate it a lot more then you’d think. It’s also a great way for you to put yourself at ease.

Post-Workout: following an extensive workout, run cold water over your horse’s legs. It soothes and keeps down inflammation. Your horse will also appreciate the cool bath on a hot day.

Dirty Grays: with spring mud in abundance right now, your horses will roll. If you own a white/gray horse or have a horse with some white marks on them, you’ll want to keep them clean. If they have a dirt stain on their coat, give them a bath and apply some lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide on the affected area. Then send them out into the sunshine. The stains should lighten and clear.