Avoiding the Winter Woes
Tips On Keeping Your Horse Healthy During the Cold
The snow, the ice, the freezing rain, the cold – there is a lot to worry about during inclement
weather when you own a horse. Thankfully, a mature, healthy horse will generally do very well
in such weather as long as they are provided with shelter, free access to water, and enough
calories to keep their bodies warm during the winter.
Shelter
Horses tend to do very well despite the cold, as long as they have a shelter where they can escape
the wind and/or any precipitation. When examining the shelter, the back of the shelter should be
facing any oncoming wind. Make sure the roof is strong enough to withstand any snowfall, and
promptly clean off any snow buildup after a storm. Fix any leaks that might allow for
precipitation to come into the shelter. Add extra bedding to add comfort and warmth - this is
particularly important for older horses that may have more trouble getting up in the cold, and as a
result have an increased risk for getting cast in a stall.
Blanketing
As long as your horse is in good body condition, not immune-compromised or suffering from
any disorders or disease, he/she should be able to do well in the winter without the need for a
blanket in temperatures down to 18*F (without wind chill). If adequate shelter is available, a
horse can be comfortable down to -40*F! However, very young horses and very old horses have
trouble thermoregulating, so blanketing may be advised in the very old or the very young.
Certainly if you clip your horse in the winter, blankets are required to keep them comfortable in
the cold. If your horse is very thin (body condition 3 or less out of 9 on the Henneke scale), or if
your horse tends to stand out in the cold rain, a minimum of a rain jacket is advised.
Hydration
Having access to water is one of the most important parts of keeping your horse healthy. A
1,000 pound horse requires around 5-10 gallons of water a day when not in work, horses that are
in work require more (even up to 30 gallons in some cases). Studies have shown that horses
seem to prefer water kept between 45-65*F, and that many horses are turned off from drinking if
the water is too cold. Many water heaters are available that keep the water from freezing, but
require access to electricity. If you do use a hot water heater, do not rely on it – check the water
sources twice daily to make sure that the heaters are still working.
If a water heater is not an option, encourage drinking by offering a bucket of warm water at least
once daily. Some horses will be encouraged to drink if electrolytes, Gatorade, apple juice, or
other flavor is added to a bucket of water. If you do add flavor to a bucket, make sure to have a
second bucket that does not have anything added as well, so that the horse always has the option
to have fresh, clean water. Also make sure to clean your buckets regularly since many of these
additives will cause a bacterial or fungal build-up if not cleaned properly. Apple juice and
sugary additives are contra-indicated in horses with metabolic conditions such as Cushing’s
Syndrome or Metabolic Syndrome, so be sure to check with your veterinarian about what would
be appropriate to use for your horse. Loose salt can be added to the diet – about a tablespoon
twice daily – to encourage drinking as well.
Offering a “soup/tea” (a handful of the horses’ regular grain in a large amount of very warm
water) will often encourage a good amount of drinking. Soups/teas made with the horse’s
regular grain can be made with every meal. For horses that are on a forage-only diet, these teas
can be made with just a few hay cubes soaked in a very large amount of very warm water. Wet
bran mashes are a popular and effective method of getting fluid into a horse, but should only be
used occasionally as using these mashes too frequently can cause intestinal upset. Bran mash is
notorious for being high in phosphorous and should not be used as a regular source of nutrients.
Feeding bran mashes once to twice weekly is acceptable.
While it is true that horses can lick the snow for some hydration, this form of hydration is not
readily accessible. It takes many pounds of clean snow to supplement the horse’s needs without
additional water available. In addition, the body uses precious calories to warm the snow to
make water, and this makes thermoregulation even more difficult in the winter. Studies
performed in horses in Alaska showed that while these horses could survive on snow alone, they
often went through a transitional dehydration period before they were able to adapt to the snow
consumption. If your horse becomes dehydrated, there is a large risk for impaction colic, and so
is one of many reasons dehydration should be avoided.
Food
Energy requirements increase in the winter, particularly when temperatures drop below 18*F.
Expect to feed 2.5lbs up to 18 lbs in some cases more in forage than in the summer months. It is
recommended to increase forage amounts as opposed to grain amounts. The best situation is to
increase your horse’s body condition slightly in the Fall so that they are prepared for when the
cold weather comes.
Health
The best care for a horse’s wellbeing is preventative care. Make sure to keep up with your
horse’s routine veterinarian’s examinations. Dental health is particularly important, especially in
the winter when your horse’s caloric requirements are increased. A horse may decrease his/her
intake of both water and food if their mouth is painful. It is also important to discuss possible
effects of the cold on horses that suffer from arthritis. Certain medications may be available to
alleviate discomfort that can be given orally. This is particularly important in the older horse, as
in many cases older horses will have more trouble rising in the cold due to arthritic pain. Make
sure to bed stalls and shelters deeply for comfort and warmth. Making sure to evaluate your
horse’s bloodwork as needed will also alert you and your veterinarian to underlying conditions
and diseases that should be addressed and require special care. In some cases medication can
help control signs and keep your horse healthy through the cold winter. Make sure to schedule
your veterinarian visit for the Spring to re-evaluate any toll that Winter has taken, and to keep on
top of any conditions that may have arisen in the harsher weather.
In conclusion, healthy horses will do very well in the Winter with a little extra TLC, and being
aware and proactive of any health concerns will help keep your horse safe during this difficult
season. We’ll see you in the Spring!