Caring for Horses During Winter

When you care for your horse, it is vital to make provision for the colder months. Horses must be able to tolerate the winter weather and stay as healthy as possible. For the period of the winter horses will have particular needs which you as the owner will have to take in hand. It is imperative to organize for winter in advance.

Horses are generally tolerant to cool weather. In fact, horses cope with cold weather much better than warm weather. In the face of this, there are some necessary things owners will want to do to ensure their horses remain in good health. You will want to make sure the horse doesn’t have any fleas, and has been immunized. The expenditure for doing these things will significantly pay off during the winter, 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 large amounts of food in order to sustain its weight. Your horse shouldn’t lose any weight during the colder months. Permitting your horse to put on a small amount of weight will aid them in the colder months, as the superfluous fat will act as a cushion to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. For the duration of the winter you should give your horse some extra calories.

The most effective protection for a horse during the winter is its natural winter coat. If allowed to grow, it will act as a warm blanket which will lower the heat loss that the horse experiences in frosty scenarios. Your horse’s coat is also glossy and will brush off snow and ice. If your horses are kept outside, you should ensure their coats grow enough before the temperature drops for winter.

To confirm 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. Your horse should weigh enough that you are not able to see the ribs but can feel them when touching the horse. You should also feel your horses ears. Are they cold? If this is the case, your horse is cold.

As is the case with every warm blooded animal, horses must maintain their body temperature in order to survive. It is important that they retain heat through the winter, so you should ensure they’re ready for the frost.

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