Winter is here, there isn’t any denying it! Because of so many more challenges presenting themselves during the cold months we do need to continue to work harder and smarter to keep our horses healthy when the temperatures drop. Here are some tips to keeping your horse fit and healthy during the cold winter months.
1. The very fact of the matter is we do not ride just as much throughout the winter months which could dramatically affect the amount of calories a horse needs to consume. With your horse waiting for the paddock or barn he is burning less calories, but then again, your horse will need to use-up more calories to create body heat and maintain its normal core temperature. Helping your horse maintain his body’s temperature is important. You can accomplish this by substituting two pounds of hay for each reduced pound of grain fed daily. Back in the day, horse owners would corn feed throughout the winter. They felt it might help generate heat and lower the amount of stress on the horse in cold temperature. What we now know is; a horse that’s eating hay has the capacity to generate more heat within the hindgut from the fermentation of grass and hay thus assisting to maintain its body’s temperature. In all but the most extreme weather, a horse’s caloric needs generally rise only ten to twenty percent.
2. Supplement your horse’s diet having a specialty feed and/or supplements to ensure that your horse receives the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals. Salt blocks and mineral licks should be made available to them as well.
3. Water is an essential nutrient for your horse. During the cold months horses tend to be more susceptible to impaction colic. This is when the intestine becomes blocked with a firm mass of food. Impactions most often exist in the large intestine at among the flexures and can be the result of a reduction in water consumption. Water is important for a horse to keep a proper digestive system. Ensuring your horse has good access to tepid to warm water will assist you to prevent impaction colic. Whenever a horse drinks cold water, they must use extra energy to exchange heat lost towards the chilling water, therefore, drinking less. Using a tank heater will encourage your horse to drink many as an added bonus, you won’t have to split up a layer of ice each morning!
4. Maintaining hoof health though the winter is essential as mud and manure pack the hooves and provide a perfect environment for thrush to develop. Pick your horse’s feet often and when per week apply an anti thrush product like a preventive measure. You may make your own anti-thrush solution by mixing one part bleach to 2 parts water. Whether you utilize your personal solution or a thrush product such as Kopertox, be sure to avoid the skin as well as your horse’s skin as it will burn. Horse’s hooves still grow during the winter which means you do need to have them trimmed on a regular basis. There are many products available on the market for example Life Data Farrier’s Formula or Shoer’s Friend (to name a few) that promotes healthy hooves. Keeping your horse’s feet in good condition, free of breaks and cracks will eliminate hoof problems and also have your horse sound and ready for shoes early in the year.
5. Blanket your horse in two opposites or if you’ve got a show horse with abnormally short winter hair. Be proactive and ensure the blanket still fits your horse and it is in good shape.
6. Maintaining good skin care can also be important to your horse’s health. Bacteria and fungi migh result out of your horse having a dirty hair-coat. Keep your horse’s skin healthy by currying his body often. It will not only lift dirt to the surface, it will allow you to feel any hidden bumps or sores that may indicate a wound or skin ailment.
7. Should you ride your horse during the cold months? You Betcha! There are plenty of nice winter days. Slide some toe warmers inside your boots, add gloves, good winter riding wear and get out and ride. If you do not normally wear chaps/chinks in the summer add these phones your winter wear. They’re excellent for keeping you warm. Not just is riding through the winter good for your horse’s mental health, it will do wonders for you too.
8. If you are using a tail-bag on your horse, you should change the bag every Fourteen days. Rinse, condition, and dry the tail before rebagging. This will help to keep the hair from breaking at the top of the tail.
9. Having a senior horse presents its own group of winter challenges. Talk to your veterinarian about arthritis and joint compounds, in addition to, supplements to help them with the cold months. Your senior horse ought to be monitored often to make sure they maintain their weight and health.
10. If you turn your horses to pasture during the cold months, it is a good idea to have a place where they can get out of the sun and rain. A run-in shed is a good solution whenever you do not have a barn. The main thing is to not turn your horses out and end up forgetting about them. Monitor their own health, have a visual inspection every single day at feeding and give them some extra TLC.
