Spring Forward: Seasonal Updates & Farm Prep at Forty-Two Farm
The green is finally returning to the pastures, and while we’re all excited to trade heavy blankets for fly masks, the change of season brings a busy to-do list to keep the horses comfortable and the land healthy.
Here is everything you need to know about our transition into Spring 2026.
🛡️ Spring Health & Pest Management
With the early arrival of stinging and biting insects, we are moving quickly to get our seasonal defenses in place.
Deworming: The first deworming of the year and the seasonal fly predator program begins. We will be administering the dewormer to everyone on the farm the first week of March.
Fire Ant Treatment: We will also be treating the property for fire ants in the coming weeks to ensure pastures and common areas remain safe.
Fly Gear Migration: Now is the time to start bringing your horse's fly gear to the farm. Please ensure your horse has a fly mask, sheet and/or fly boots ready for turnout.
Fly Boots: I also highly recommend adding fly boots to your horse's wardrobe to prevent stomping and protect lower legs. Having two sets is useful in case they lose a boot in turnout and I cannot find it for a few days. Here is an option that work well:
Mesh Wrap Fly Boots on Amazon
If looking for another choice,
choose a wide leg, not fitted
ensure the velcro closures secure all the way up the boot
ensure the boot has a semi-rigid support to remain upright
Bug Spray: Please provide a labeled bottle of bug spray for your horse to be used during the season.
🧥 Blanket & Gear Management
As the weather warms, we are transitioning our blanketing protocols:
Storage: All heavyweight blankets are now going into storage.
Cleaning & Waterproofing: Now is the ideal time to send your winter blankets out for professional cleaning and waterproofing so they are ready for next season.
Gear Swap: Please ensure all fly gear makes its way out to the barn this week as we phase out the winter layers.
🌱 Pasture & Grazing Update
It is exciting to see the green finally returning! While the grass is starting to grow, we want to ensure the roots are established before we open things up.
Rotation Timeline: We expect rotation onto grass pastures to be about one month out - ideally beginning of April.
Field Restoration: We are making a focused effort to rest one specific field completely this year. It was overgrazed last year out of necessity, and giving it this full season to recover is vital for the health of our land.
🌸 Springtime Supplements & Hormonal Support
As we head into "marish" season, many of our mares are coming back into heat after a seriously weird season of winter cycles.
Hormonal Support: Now is an excellent time to consider starting your mare on a supplement for hormonal balance or general comfort if she tends to get sensitive during her cycles or scheduling a visit with out farm Osteopath, Aly.
Consultation: If you are unsure which products might be best for your horse's specific needs, please feel free to chat with me.
🚧 Farm Infrastructure & Maintenance
We are currently in the middle of several projects to improve the property after the winter wet season:
Mud Management: We are looking at some serious mud cleanup and reworking various runoff areas to optimize drainage, particularly around person paddock areas.
New Run-In Shed: Construction on the new custom run-in shed is moving along quickly - please be mindful of the footing around that area in case of random boards or materials.
Site Safety: We appreciate your patience while equipment and materials are being moved around the property - please check in if you notice anything that looks questionable.
