It is late October and the horse shows, trail rides, and
other equine activities are drawing to a close.
Well, not really totally shut down, but there are fewer opportunities to
go ride somewhere, plus the weather is a lot less likely to cooperate with
riding plans. It’s not really in the
best interest of your horse to just turn out into the pasture for the winter and
let all the lessons learned from training and riding just fade away over the
winter. Nor is it good to allow your
horse to get too much condition from incorrect rationing and not enough
exercise. Making a plan now to keep your
horse in good shape during the winter months will pay dividends when the trail
riding and horse show season starts again next year, which is March in this
area of North Carolina. Here are a few
things to pay attention to:
Nutrition – don’t let your horse need to work off “extra”
pounds next spring! A horse owner needs to make sure that the horse is getting
the needed energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins needed for the level of
activity the horse will be at during the winter. Feeding extra energy to a horse that is not
exercising much leads to those unwanted pounds, so get a forage test on the hay
to be fed, and supplement only the energy and protein needed to meet the needs
of the horse – and no more! See your NC Cooperative
Extension Livestock Agent for assistance with forage testing. Ensure that minerals and vitamins are
available during the winter months through the ration or through access to free
choice mineral supplements.
Activity – Rather than just turning out for the winter
months, consider setting an activity level and routine during those months when
the weather may not be conducive to riding a lot. Exercise doesn’t always mean getting into the
saddle and riding. Working the horse in
a round pen on a lunge line can reach a level of activity that will keep the
hose’s muscle tone good and will help the horse reach mid-season form more
quickly next spring. When the weather is
good for riding, work on some things with the horse that were not up to par
last season, either in the show ring or on the trail. This can include working on loading and
unloading the trailer, waiting for the rider commands, or getting used to a
certain obstacle so that will not be a problem at the next show or trail ride. Set
up a calendar for the different activities planned and stick to it. Your horse will appreciate both the attention
and the company!
Grooming – A little attention paid to grooming during the
off months will help the horse stay clean, will help build the bond between
horse and rider, and will help identify any physical or health problems that me
not be that noticeable from a distance.
Early detection of these problems can help get an infection cleared up
before it becomes a major inflammation. Checking
feet will get foot problems identified and fixed, and checking teeth can make
sure that any dental needs are identified and addressed before wasting feed and
losing body condition of the horse. Frequent
brushing gets rid of dirt and loose hair, making the coat more efficient in
handling adverse weather conditions.
Untangling and removing foreign objects from the horse’s mane frequently
will save a lot of time and aggravation when preparing for the first horse show
next spring.
Having a plan for working with horses during the off-season
makes a lot of sense over just feeding and letting them run loose in the
pasture for a few months. Monitoring
activity levels, knowing what is being fed, and keeping up with grooming
chores, farrier needs, and general health items will yield dividends for both
the horse and the horse owner.
For more information on horse care, nutrition, or health
matters, contact your NC Cooperative Extension Livestock Agent, or the
Cooperative Extension Center in your state.
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