How to look after your horse this winter

Make sure to provide your horses with a clean and safe environment. The floor should be free of ice, snow or mud.

Ice can make walking hard and unsafe for horses, as it can be very slippery. Slipping on ice might cause painful injuries like bruises, sprains and lacerations. To prevent this, keep the walkways and paths shoveled and salted or sanded.

Snow can hide possible ditches, rocks or other impediments on the road that can make your horse trip. Not only is it difficult to walk trough, it also causes blockages to pathways and doorways. Ensure that no drifts block these paths, as you never know when you will have to pass by it in an emergency.

It is in wet and cold season that fungal bacteria build up the most, which might cause skin infection in the lower leg of a horse, a condition referred to as 'scratches'. Horses that are out for long periods in rain or sleet fall with no chance to dry their thick winter coats can suffer rain rot, another skin infection.

Equip their shelters with a wind-break. A three-sided lean-to can offer sufficient protection from the most of wind, snow and ice, but cannot keep out the cold. Do your best to provide your horses a warmer atmosphere. If possible, take them indoors to enclosed boarding facilities.

Increase the hay consumption of your horse. Digestion can generate heat that allows horses to stay warmer. Make sure that the hay they consume provides most nutritional benefits to sustain healthy body weight through the winter season.

Provide fresh water for your horse regularly. Ensuring adequate water intake in winter can be complicated, as some horses don't like to drink cold water, making their intake decrease, or that the water gets too frozen to drink at all. Decreased water consumption can lead to dehydration and impaction colic. Give them warm water at every feeding time. If the water surface keeps getting frozen, consider installing a stock tank heater to keep them warm. Use rubber water buckets instead of plastic ones, as the latter are most likely to break if they get frozen.

Provide your horses a resilient blanket, if you think they are not getting enough heat. Blankets should be well-maintained and fits your horse properly. Perform daily grooming to ensure that there is no chaffing and irritation on your horse's skin. Regular grooming keeps the horse's coat clean and comfortable under the blanket.

Keep up proper hoof care. There is a possible risk of chipping or cracking if your horse is unshod, as ice may build up in their hooves as well as mud and manure. Keep the hooves clipped to hold less snow and provide better grip on slippery ground.

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