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Winter and Cold Weather Care of Horses
Winter and Cold Weather Care of Horses
Introduction
Fall is certainly one of the most best times of the year for the horse rider. The breath taking fall foliage color, you and the horse under your saddle "peppy" with the cool invigorating air, all make this the time of year you really love being being a horseback rider. Fall is also the harbinger of cold weather ahead and with the coming cold weather many regular chores become Herculean tasks. And along with these thoughts of the chores many horse owners worry about their horses adapting to the cold weather ahead. This article discusses preparations that will help you and your horse get through the winter with minimal hassle. Some of the issues discussed are: how horses adapt to the cold, feeding to stay warm, watering, traversing ice safely, blankets and blanketing, and barn management in the cold.
Horses and Cold Weather
Horse owners are often unduly concerned with the effects of cold on horses. Horses are well built for cold weather and adapt better to the cold that they do hot humid weather. A healthy horse that has been allowed to adapt to the cold over the fall, with an unclipped coat, a shelter from the wind and rain, adequate food and water, will have no problem with even the most severe winters. Horses in such conditions are reported to do well down to well below minus 20 degrees fahrenheit (-20F).
Horses most often get chilled from a combination of temperatures just above freezing, combined with rain and wind. This will set even hardy horses to shivering. Therefore some of the worst days are not the coldest because once it becomes so cold that it snows horses will stay fairly dry. A good run in shed can protect a cold adapted horse from the worst sort of weather. There really is only one dependable indicator that a horse is not adapting to the colder conditions and that is shivering. A little light shivering is OK and normal but persistent or severe shivering is an indication that the horse needs more protection from the environment, for more see below.
Blanketing
There are always discussions about blanketing, whether or not it is indicated, what type blankets should be used..etc. Some point out that blankets compress the hair and so the horse may become more susceptible to the cold. The argument goes therefore if you are going to blanket you must blanket heavily. This is not always true often a light water and wind proof blanket will keep some horses comfortable that are shivering other wise. Too heavy a blanketing will cause sweating beneath certainly not a good situation for keep warm. As a result I think layering is helpful. If you keep a light water proof blanket, a light wind resistant blanket, and a heavy insulated blanket you will be prepared for all situations. If you are going to depend heavily on blanketing you may want to keep two sets so that one can be drying while the other is worn. Whatever you do be sure to monitor the horse for the two extremes: sweating and shivering and make your adjustments accordingly.
Blanketing should be avoided when ever possible. Horses are often comfortable without blankets to below freezing when they are dry or able to seek out shelter. Early blanketing may keep a good coat from developing. There are situations where if horses are not blanketed they will shiver persistently, a sure sign a good blanket is needed. Some of those conditions are:
- Lack of a good shelter while out in adverse weather.
- Illness may make a horse more susceptible to the cold.
- Neonates born in the winter.
- Horses that show and work during the winter so are clipped.
- Horses not well adapted to the cold that grow a very light coat. Thoroughbreds recently moved to the North seem prone to this.
Blankets and Static Shocks
Putting on and taking off blankets when the air is dry and get exciting with both the horse and the caretaker getting a stiff shock from static electricity. Several suggestions have been made to help. You may get by with applying it to the blanket but in really bad situations you may have to apply it to the horse and your hands:
- Rubbing lightly with a fabric softener sheet.
- Apply anti-static spray for clothing like Static Guard.
- Lastly you may have to treat the horses by lightly rubbing in with baby oil or hand cream.
Feeding for Comfort in the Cold
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