When it starts getting cold outside a horse’s body starts to make changes to adapt with the temperature. Probably the most noticeable change from our eyes is their hair coat. If a horse’s coat is allowed to grow, it can give them just as much protection from the cold as a blanket. Unless you are showing regularly through the winter months you should never clip any part of your horse during this time. When a horse feels colder weather coming on its hair reacts and tends to stand up to retain heat. If you are showing during the winter and your horse is body clipped a blanket may be necessary. Be sure that your horse is dry before you put a blanket on. Trapping moisture under a blanket for an extended period of time may cause skin problems on a horse. Use good common sense when blanketing. If it’s cold and snowy and windy, put a blanket on. If it’s cold but sunny take the blanket off.
One thing you can do during the winter to keep your horse a little warmer is give it a little extra hay. On those bitter cold nights a little extra hay can go a long way. During digestion a horse’s body produces heat. Digesting hay produces a lot more heat than digesting grain. This is why you should never give your horse extra grain during the winter to try to keep it warm. This increase consumption of hay you would think would make your horse want to drink more. However, in the winter months a horse actually decreases water consumption. This makes it especially important that you make sure it always has access to clean, fresh water. Frozen water buckets are not pleasant to anyone but there are a couple things you could do to make it easier. Rubber buckets are a blessing in the winter since you can hit them a little harder to break the ice versus plastic buckets. If your barn is wired for electric good enough, heated water buckets are also available. These can also be dangerous if the manufacturer’s instructions are not followed. It’s also a great idea to put heat tape around exposed hydrants in your barn. They can prevent water pipes from freezing and keep your plumbing bills down!
If your horse is outside during the winter and in the snow you will want to make sure ice is not being packed and making it hard for them to walk. Horses can slip much easier if ice is packed in their hooves. Be sure to keep up on getting your horses hooves trimmed during the winter. If hooves are not maintained during the winter you risk problems in the spring and it may prolong the time you wait until you can ride again.
Every horse owner knows that horse care during the winter is a lot more difficult than in the summer months. Frozen water, frigid temperatures, high winds and snow can make it miserable but your horse’s health will be better if it has the proper care and your wallet will be bigger not paying those expensive vet bills if something bad would happen.
