The days are getting longer and warmer. The birds are singing. The grass is beginning to grow. Finally, spring has sprung.

You are not the only one itching to enjoy the change of seasons. Horses do too.

What is a fresh horse?

If you have been around horses long enough, you know that even the calmest horse gets “fresh” in the spring. All of their senses are magnified and anything that is different elicits an over-the-top reaction.

The change in personality can be due to their diet. In the Spring, horses eat more than they do in the summer. Spring grass is full of sugars, which in turn gives horses more energy. That energy is released by horses bucking, galloping, and overall being on edge.

How to deal with a fresh horse

There are some things that you can do to help your horse get through spring fever:

• Limit the amount of access to spring grass
• Work with your horse on the ground prior to riding to get some of the energy out
• Provide a large area for them to stretch their legs

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