Horse Care in the Colder Months

When you care for your horse, it is crucial to make preparations for the winter months. Horses need to be able to tolerate the winter climate and remain as healthy as possible. In the winter horses will have special needs which you as the owner will have to tackle. It is vital to organize for winter in advance.

Horses naturally lend themselves to cool weather. In fact, horses cope with icy weather much better than hot weather. Despite this, there are some essential things horse owners will want to do to ensure their horses remain in good health. Be sure the horse doesn’t have any parasites, and has been immunized. The expenses for doing these things will significantly pay off during the winter months, as the expenses of feeding the horse will be less.

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 decrease the need to eat larger amounts of feed in order to maintain its weight. Your horse shouldn’t lose any weight during the colder months. Allowing your horse to gain a small amount of weight will aid them in the colder months, as the superfluous fat will work as a cushion to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. In the winter you will want to give your horse some additional calories.

The best protection for a horse during the winter is its actual winter coat. If allowed to grow, it will act as a warm blanket which will lessen the heat loss that the horse experiences in winter scenarios. The coat is also smooth and will brush off the frost and ice. If you keep your horses outside, you will want to ensure their coats grow enough prior to winter commencing.

To monitor the condition of your horse, you will need to feel its ribs. Having a longer than usual coat may hide a slight loss in 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 so, this is a sign that the horse is cold.

Like all animals which are warm-blooded, horses have to regulate their body temperatures in order to remain healthy. It is crucial that they preserve heat throughout the winter, so you should make sure they’re equipped for the frost.

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