Winter Horse Care Tips – Keeping Your Horse Healthy in Cold Weather

Winter brings cold temperatures, frozen water buckets, and potential health risks for horses. Keeping your horse healthy during the colder months requires proper feeding, blanketing decisions, and smart turnout practices. Here’s how to ensure your horse stays comfortable and thriving through winter.

1. Nutrition – Feeding for Warmth & Energy

Horses generate heat through digestion, so feeding more forage (hay) is the best way to help them stay warm.

✔ Increase Hay Intake – The digestion of fiber produces internal heat. Free-choice hay can help maintain body temperature.

✔ Adjust Grain as Needed – Horses in heavy work may require additional calories from grain, but avoid overfeeding starches.

✔ Monitor Hydration – Horses drink less water in winter, increasing the risk of colic. Adding warm water to buckets or using heated waterers can encourage drinking.

2. Blanketing – When and When Not to Blanket

Blanketing depends on your horse’s age, coat, and climate.

✔ Healthy Horses with Thick Coats – May not need blankets if they have adequate shelter and forage.

✔ Older or Clipped Horses – Often need blankets to help retain body heat.

✔ Wet & Windy Conditions – Even hardy horses can benefit from waterproof blankets when exposed to rain, sleet, or strong winds.

3. Turnout & Hoof Care

✔ Encourage Movement – Horses standing in stalls all day are prone to stiffness. Turnout keeps them active.

✔ Check Hooves Regularly – Ice, mud, and snow can lead to hoof cracks, thrush, or abscesses.

✔ Provide Windbreaks & Shelters – Even if your horse is outside, having a windbreak or run-in shelter is essential.

Conclusion

Winter horse care requires careful planning and adjustments to keep your horse warm, hydrated, and healthy. By ensuring proper nutrition, thoughtful blanketing, and safe turnout, you’ll help your horse thrive through the colder months!