It is getting chilly, and unfortunately winter is coming. Here is some information on how to make sure your horses are prepared for winter and how to best manage them.
Nutrition is always important, especially in cold weather. Your horse will need more calories to help regulate his/her body temperature properly. Good quality roughage is key as the bacterial fermentation of fiber in roughage in the horse’s large intestine is what results in the majority of heat produced during digestion. Horses unable to consume enough hay to maintain body condition should be supplemented with grains and oils. Many horses do very well on a diet of 100% hay (provided a mineral supplement is added) and should always have at least 50% of the diet as hay. In order to check that your horse is getting enough nutrition, you will want to keep an eye on his/her overall body condition. This may be tough through blankets and thick hair coats, so you are going to have to put your hands on the horse. Ribs should be felt with a layer of fat over them, but you should not see them. The shoulders and neck should blend smoothly into the body. You also should have some fat covering over the hips, and withers. It is important to check your horse’s body condition regularly especially if your horse is older.
Water is also very important from proper digestion and to prevent impactions, etc. Horses may not want to drink as much because of the cold weather. Bucket heaters or changing the water throughout the day will help encourage drinking. Horses seem to prefer water between 45- 65 degrees F. Ways to increase water consumption include feeding your horse’s grain as a mash (add warm water to feed and let sit for 10 minutes). You can always add apple juice, kool aid, or electrolytes to water if your horse likes to drink it, but always provide fresh plain water as well.
Blanketing is also something to consider in the winter. If your horse has been clipped, has a thin hair coat, or is not used to being outdoors, he or she will need a blanket. Many horses do fine without blankets if they are accustomed to living outdoors and have an appropriate coat. It is always a good idea to provide a form of shelter to break the wind and to help them keep dry in wet conditions. If you are concerned about how your horse will do through the winter, you can always have him checked by a veterinarian to make sure he/she is in the appropriate body condition and to check the teeth, which are especially important to check regularly in older horses. If you have any questions about your horse or would like to speak with us feel free to call our office at 803-641-0644.
Kay Clarke, DVM
