What I Learned this Winter

Wintertime is almost over... I hope! As my first winter as a horse owner outside of my native state of Florida, I had to adapt to a new and colder environment. Here is what I learned!

Dress for the Weather

Dressing for the weather applies to both you and your horse. Barn chores are not much fun if you are shivering, and you feel like your fingers and toes are turning into icicles. Some clothes I found to be very helpful were my merino wool undershirt, layering, and some good pairs of socks and gloves. I found clothes with natural fibers, such as wool, to keep me warmer better than those made from synthetic fibers.

My horse had several different winter weather options. A fleece helps to wick away moisture and can be helpful if your horse is sweaty after exercising. (A good curry and application of some Coat Defense also helps in this scenario.) A waterproof sheet helps on rainy days. A couple of blankets with different fill weights are also beneficial to provide options for freezing and less freezing days.

It is important to consider how well your horse adapts to the cold. My mare has a thick winter coat and has developed a wintertime hay belly to help keep her warm. Very rarely did she need her blanket with fill. If your horse is used to a warmer climate, the drastic change in temperature that occurs during a cold front may be cause to blanket, or to opt for a heaver blanker than usual. Make sure to keep an eye on your horse when blanketed. Check to ensure that your horse is not sweating underneath the blanket. A sweaty horse with a blanket is hot in the daytime but freezes at night!

Rosie and her pasture mate staying warm in their blankets.

Water

Water is crucial for your horse's health and for helping to prevent colic. Water is necessary to help the food bolus move through the horse's digestive tract. Wintertime may make access to water more of a challenge. To make sure my horse had access to water during freezing temperatures, I used a battery powered water aerator which kept the water moving in one part of the water trough and prevented that section from freezing over. For those who have access to electricity, a caged water heater could also be used, however, it is necessary to make sure the water heater is properly installed so there is no electrical current running through the water.

The old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink", rings true during the winter season. Some horses may be averse to drinking colder water. To encourage your horse to drink, you may consider adding salt and/or an electrolyte to your horse's feed.

The water aerator I use to provide access to fresh water.

Forage

Hay is necessary for two main reasons. Firstly, grass dies off in the winter in colder climates, but the horse still needs access to forage. A forage-based diet promotes foregut and hindgut health and is a key part of a horse's healthy diet. Hay will also help to keep your horse warm in the colder weather. Horses digest hay (and forage in general) at a slower rate which helps to generate metabolic heat. To supplement the reduced availability of fresh forage, I like to add in an herbal supplement to add in nutrients that the horse may be missing due to the lack of fresh grass in its diet.

Exercise

With the colder weather, you may find that you have less of a desire to exercise your horse on freezing blustery days. If your horse is turned out in a pasture all or most of the time, some time off may be okay, but if your horse is frequently stalled, you should incorporate exercise into your winter routine. On days that you decide to ride, always make sure that your horse's sweat is dried before turning them out. There are, however, other options besides riding. My mare and I enjoy hand walking around the ranch or doing some groundwork exercises. Keep in mind, when going back into regular work, make sure to slowly condition your horse back into its normal workload.

I hope these wintertime tips are helpful for the remainder of this winter and for the winters yet to come!