Winter Horse Care

When you care for your horse, it is crucial to make arrangements for the winter months. Horses should be able to tolerate the cold weather and remain as healthy as possible. In the winter horses will have particular needs which you as the owner will have to tackle. It is important to organize for winter ahead of schedule.

Horses are naturally tolerant to cool conditions. In fact, horses handle cold weather conditions a lot better than hot weather. Regardless of this, there are some rudimentary things owners will need to do to make sure their horses stay in good health. You will want to make sure the horse doesn’t have any lice, and has been fully vaccinated. The costs for doing these things will greatly pay off in the winter months, as the outlay of feeding your horse will be reduced.

You may also consider consulting your vet in setting up a health plan for your horse. Helping your horse prepare for winter will help it reduce the requirement to eat greater amounts of food in order to sustain its weight. Your horse should never lose weight during the winter. Permitting your horse to gain a small amount of weight will help them through the colder months, as the superfluous fat will operate as a guard to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. In the winter you will want to give your horse some additional calories.

Probably the most effective protection for a horse during the winter is its natural winter coat. If allowed to grow, it will act as a natural heat blanket which will lessen the loss of heat that the horse experiences in cold environments. A horse’s coat is also slick and will brush off snow and ice. If you keep your horses outside, you should ensure their coats grow long before the cold weather starts.

To monitor the state of your horse, you will want to feel its ribs. A large winter coat can easily hide the fact the horse may be losing weight. You should be able to feel your horses ribs, but not be able to see them. Feel your horses ears. Do they feel cold? If this is the case, your horse is cold.

As is the case with every warm blooded animal, horses have to regulate their body temperatures in order to remain healthy. It is vital that they conserve heat during the winter, so you must ensure they’re prepared for the cold.

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