4 key steps to prepare your horses for winter
You can feel it in the air and see it in the changing colours of the leaves: winter is coming. While your horses may grow a thick coat and have enough body fat to face the cold, winter remains the most challenging season for them. Here are some critical steps to help your herd stay warm and healthy before the temperatures drop.
Stock up on hay
As the cold halts grass growth (or turns the blades into frozen greensicles), your horses will transition from pasture to hay. Be sure to stock enough: horses typically eat 2% of their body weight daily to maintain their body heat. Horses with a low Body Condition Score (BCS) will even require additional calories.
In addition to the quantity of hay, it’s wise to add 25% more as a safety buffer, ensuring you don’t run short during the colder months. However, dry hay lacks the essential vitamins and minerals found in fresh grass. Consider supplementing their diet with a vitamin mix, mineral-enriched salt blocks, and digestive aids to support their overall health through the winter months.
Inspect barns and shelters
Even horses that roam outdoors in winter need respite from biting winds, freezing rain, and snowstorms. A three-sided run-in shelter may be sufficient, but harsher climates might require insulated stables.
Additionally, in larger herds, there’s often an established hierarchy. Consider building multiple shelters so even the lower-ranking horses have a place to go, ensuring everyone has access to warmth and protection.
Once the shelters are in place, it’s crucial to check their structural integrity. Look for loose boards, exposed nails, or any other hazards that could cause injury. Ensure the roof is sturdy, leak-free, and capable of withstanding heavy snow or ice buildup.
Provide dental care
Healthy teeth and gums are essential for your horses to chew hay comfortably and digest it more efficiently. Pain-free eating helps maintain a healthy weight, which is crucial for conserving enough energy to stay warm throughout the winter.
To prevent any wintertime complications, schedule dental exams with your veterinarian twice a year, with one appointment ideally before winter sets in.
During the cold months, keep a close eye on your horses’ eating habits. Changes such as slow chewing, difficulty eating, or weight loss could signal dental issues that need immediate attention.
Give your horses warm water
There’s a fine line between refreshing and brain-freeze-inducing water. To encourage sufficient water intake during the winter, make sure your horses always have access to warm water (around 4°C or 39°F). Long-term dehydration can lead to a loss of appetite and colic, which is abdominal pain caused by a lack of moisture in the gut.
To prevent this, check water systems daily to ensure they don’t freeze, and monitor your horses’ intake closely. Horses typically drink 5 to 10 gallons (19 to 38 liters) of water per day, so maintaining access to fresh, unfrozen water is key to their health and well-being.
By giving your horses plenty of hay, warm water, sturdy shelter, and proper dental care, you’ll ensure their well-being until spring arrives. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any health concerns about your horses.