Now that winter is here, many of you are probably living in states with colder climates. These upcoming months may bring some harsh conditions your way, but don’t fret! Horses are perfectly capable of living outdoors during the winter months, but there are steps you can take to keep them healthy and comfortable during this time. Here are tips to care for your horse in the winter!
1. Check Water Daily
There are a number of reasons why you should be checking your horse’s water often, and there are even more in the winter. If you don’t have a safe tank or bucket heater, their water is much more likely to freeze. Check for and remove ice in water to prevent injuring and/or obstructing your horse form getting water. Horses prefer to drink slightly warm water in the colder months because it keeps them warm. A bucket heater would definitely be a great investment for ensuring warm water while also preventing it from freezing.
It’s also your responsibility to make sure your horse is drinking a fair amount of water during the winter. A lack of water could cause a number of health issues that you don’t want to see. Provide a salt block or add salt to your horse’s feed to increase their water consumption and keep them healthy all season long.
2. Adjust Feed
Horses keep their bodies warm by eating more fiber in the winter. The digestion of fiber produces heat, which is why it’s so important to make sure your horse is eating enough forage during this time. Since plants and grass often become dormant during the colder months, you’ll have to step in to provide your horse with additional hay and grass. If the temperature drops, that may be your cue to feed your horse additional hay meals to keep him warm.
The average horse should consume about 2% of his body weight to maintain his condition. This number can vary depending on the body type, exercise routine, and current physical state. It’s best to consult with your veterinarian if you’re unsure how much you should be feeding your horse in the winter.
3. Keep Off The Ice
This season tends to bring icy areas too. When horses gather too much ice on their hooves, they risk damaging their tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Quickly remove any ice chunks from your horse’s body to avoid causing any serious damage. You can sprinkle sand on any areas that are prone to developing slick grounds. More importantly, fence off any wet areas to keep your horse out of harm’s way. The last thing you want to see is a horse falling through ice!
4. Provide Shelter
Harsh winds can make the winter unbearable for a horse outside with nowhere else to go. Though trees act as a natural barrier, they can only cover a horse so much. There are plenty of different types of shelters you can look into for your horse, depending on your facility and financial standing. A shelter constructed of three sides is perhaps one of the best styles you can provide for pastured horses. In larger herds, more than one shelter might be necessary. Shelters should always provide enough space for the animals inside to live naturally, and with respect to their hierarchy.
5. Avoid Mud
A build-up of mud around feeders, water, and gates is pretty common during the winter. Providing plenty of space will often allow horses to avoid the other muddy areas for most of the day. A great way to avoid mud near these common areas is by adding more rocks to allow for drainage and prevent erosion. If you find your horse’s legs covered in mud, remove it immediately to avoid fungal and bacterial infections.
6. Blanket Your Horse
If your horse doesn’t grow a thick coat for the winter, it could definitely benefit from a blanket! Horses who do not have access to shelter should also be blanketed. Be sure to only apply a blanket to a clean and dry horse, and make sure it fits properly. Blankets are very weather-dependent, so check on your horse twice a day to make sure he’s comfortable as the weather changes. Groom your horse often and fluff up its hair before laying the blanket down to ensure proper insulation.
We hope these tips give you a peace of mind as you move into the colder months with your horse. Just remember to always check in on your horse and see if there’s anything you can do to make him more comfortable during this time. Keeping your horse safe is the key to having a very happy winter!