Winter Management Tips for Horse Owners

Now that it is officially winter, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure that our horses are well cared for during these colder months.  Some of the items to keep on the winter management checklist include adequate water, good nutrition, and protection from disease.

Making sure there is adequate water for horses during the winter is an important factor in preventing impaction colic.  During the winter months, horses may not drink enough water for a number of reasons. One of those reason is that the water they drink freezes, so they can’t possibly get a drink when they want it.  There is a fairly simple solution to this, and that is to break the ice whenever necessary, or at least twice a day if you happen to live north of North Carolina.  We usually don’t have extended periods of weather cold enough to cause water to freeze solid for extended periods, but it can happen over several days now and then.  During those times, be sure to supply water or to break the ice in the water trough.  If the water fountain freezes up, supply water in a bucket or trough until the drinking fountain can be thawed.  Stock tank deicers can be used to keep water in the trough or stock tank warm enough to prevent freezing over.  These can save a lot of time breaking ice!  Frost-free waterers also save a lot of worry and time.  Remember, adequate water during the winter months reduces the risk of your horse developing impaction colic.

The second part of the management equation is to make sure the horses have adequate nutrition.  Eating and digesting forages helps to produce heat, which helps keep the horse warm. Horses need access to good quality grass hay that will meet nutritional needs, yet won’t supply too many calories.  Supply about 2% of the horse’s body weight of forage per day.  For a 1,000-pound horse, that means supplying 20 pounds of forage per day.  Some horses may need some additional feed, depending on age, exercise level, body condition, type of forage available, or frequency of feeding.  In those cases, supply concentrates at .5% of body weight, or about 5 pounds of grain per day.  Split that up into 2 feedings to avoid overfeeding.

The third part of this article is to make sure that horses are kept healthy.  Vaccinate horses on schedule for the common diseases found in your area.  Consult with your veterinarian to stay up to date on which diseases are prevalent, which vaccines to use, and to develop a year-round horse health schedule that includes giving vaccinations at the right times of the year.  Also, remember there are factors that can reduce a horse’s immune function, making them more susceptible to disease.   One of the main factors is to make sure there is adequate shelter during high winds and from precipitation.  Most of the time, a horse only needs a windbreak now and then, but the ability to withstand weather can be altered by the quality of the hair coat or extended rainy, icy, and windy conditions.  If conditions are bad, or the horse is shorn for showing, a nice, dry stall can make the difference between a healthy horse and treating an illness.