Winter Horse Care FAQs

e g. body condition score overall health status acclimation to his environment age and clipping status the winter weather youre expecting and whether the horse will have access to shelter in the field for protection against wind and precipitation.
3. Is it dangerous to ride a horse in cold weather?
Just as you wouldnt run a 5K in winter dressed as if it were July winter riding requires specific preparations but that doesnt mean you cant or shouldnt enjoy hacking through the snow. One of the trickiest aspects of winter riding is preventing postride chills in a sweaty horse.
If you know youll be riding regularly throughout the winter consider clipping your horse. With several partial clips to choose from you can tailor your horses nakedness to your anticipated level of exertion.
The benefits of clipping are twofold A clipped horse doesnt sweat as much plus he will dry much faster after a workout than a horse with a full winter coat. However with the convenience of clipping comes the responsibility of blanketing. Removing a horses natural coldweather barrier means he will need a blanket to help keep the chill away.
To shoe or not and how are other considerations for winter riding. Regular horseshoes have poor traction on ice and snow. For this reason some people elect to pull their horses shoes in the winter.
However if you think you might ride a reasonable amount in snow or icy conditions consider talking to your farrier about studs for traction or snow pads to prevent the buildup of ice balls under your horses shoes. Walking on uneven packed ice also tends to bruise a horses soles which is another reason some riders elect to use snow pads.
4. Can a horse get enough water by eating ice and snow?
Most domestic horses unless already acclimated to a severe

winter environment where water is scarce have lost their natural ability or inclination to consume adequate amounts of ice or snow in amounts large enough to satisfy their daily water requirements. Leaving a horse to consume only ice or snow places him in a constant state of dehydration thereby putting him at risk of impaction colic.
Frozen water alone isnt the only problem in winter. Horses can be picky drinkers and many will turn their noses up at water that is deemed too cold. Studies have shown horses prefer water between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit to drink. Heated water buckets
and troughs are the easiest solution for winter water woes.
Decreased water intake not only increases a horses chance of impaction colic but also impacts his feed intakewhen a horse drinks less he also eats less. This then further affects his ability to keep warm.
While bran mashes and other methods of adding a bit of liquid to a horses meal may seem like a good alternative to increase your horses water intake in the winter these methods typically dont provide enough moisture. A horses average water intake can vary widely due to many factors but on average an adult horse will drink between 5 and 10 gallons of water a day. When grazing a lot of this water is consumed within grass.
In winter however hay does nothing to help with water intake which is why it is vital to make sure your horse has continual access to clean nonfrozen and preferably warmed water in cold weather.
5. How should I change my horses diet in the winter?
Although grain has more caloric density per pound than hay its actually roughage that helps keep your horse warm in the winter. Therefore when temperatures plunge below freezing for extended periods increase your horses hay ration.
Because blankets and thick winter coats easily hide a horses body condition its important to regularly monitor his body weight either through evaluating his Henneke body condition score BCS or by using a weight tape. Although tapes are notoriously inaccurate they do catch significant changes up or down.
These objective measurements will tell you if hes taking in too few or too many calories. Evaluating body weight monthly through the winter should give you a good idea about the adequacy of your horses diet.
Most horses do not require any further alterations to their diet during the winter. Mineral and vitamin needs stay
the same as in the summer although if your horse is a voracious salt consumer he may appreciate some loose salt instead of a frozen salt block to lick.