Winter Horsekeeping Tips
Middle Tennessee ice and mud, 55 degree days that give way to 20 degree nights. There’s no where else in the country quite like it.
So if you’re new to the area, or new to having horses in the area, what are some ways to keep your horse safe and comfortable in the extreme weather changes we’re seeing more and more often in our winters?
Provide extra / free choice hay if you do not already. A horse's body is a "natural furnace" and digestion keeps them warm. Don't change the type of hay you normally provide (assuming it is clean horse-quality hay) - just feed more of it.
Provide shelter out of the wind. Depending on the horse, this can be a thick stand of trees, a run-in shelter, or a stall. The first extreme temperature change is not the time to stall a horse that’s not used to being in, or turn out a horse that’s used to having a stall! The colic risk is already high enough without adding stress to the mix. (More on that in a moment…)
Consider blanketing, especially the very young, seniors, and underweight horses who will have trouble maintaining their body temperature. **We are not starting a blanketing war. Plenty of horses live in northern climates without blankets and choose to stand out in the snow rather than come in their shelter; by the same token, some drop weight as soon as the temperature falls below 40. Know your horse and act accordingly.
Fresh water is essential for health and preventing colic. You can offer room temperature water in buckets to horses living outdoors, you can add warm water to their regular feed rations, and be sure to keep any un-heated troughs sufficiently open for drinking. Plan ahead and fill those troughs before we drop below freezing, just in case your lines freeze during the cold snap. If your horse does not seem to be drinking at all, you can add a couple tablespoons of plain white table salt (or electrolyte of your choice) to his regular feed ration.
This is not the time to drastically alter your feeding routines. Adding warm water to feed you are already providing is much better than providing bran mashes (which are not nutritionally beneficial). Do not radically increase the amount of feed/grain just because it's cold out. Doing so can also cause colic.
If your horse lives primarily outdoors, monitor their hooves for ice balls packing in the sole. Well-maintained barefoot horses are much less likely to have these issues, but keep an eye on them just the same.
Finally, don't forget about your own barn-wear. Thermal underwear, a pair of good gloves, and your favorite coveralls will be your best friends!
*This is not to be considered veterinary advice. If you have any questions about your horse’s individually specific needs, please contact your equine veterinarian.
