Caring for your horse during the winter months can be a challenge, especially if you live in a much colder climate that tends to have a lot of snow. Making sure your horse is well cared for during these months is important, so let's look at some tips at how you can best care for your horse this winter.
Feed More Hay
During the winter months, the growth of grass slows down or stops completely, depending on your climate and location. This results with a pasture that can get grazed down tremendously. If your horse is on pasture in the winter, offer your horse hay. Even if your horse is not on pasture, you should have hay available to your horse. Your horse's diet should consist mainly of pasture/hay. For horses that need to gain weight, alfalfa hay is the most common type of hay that is fed. Alfalfa hay is higher in protein compared to other types of hay.
By providing your horse with hay, the fiber digestion that takes place is what keeps your horse warm. This is also highly important for senior horses that may struggle to keep warm. For an average 1,000 lb horse, you should feed about 2% of their body weight in hay. This would equal about 20 pounds of hay per day for a 1,000 lb horse. When feeding hay, it is also important to reduce hay waste and maximize the time your horse has hay available. An easy way to do this is to use a hay net. Head here to read about why I use Hay Chix nets.
Shelter
In any kind of weather, your horse needs shelter from the elements. This is especially important in the winter months. You can have a run-in shed for your horse to get out of the elements, or let your horse have access to come in a barn. Many horse owners choose to keep their horse in a stall during the winter months, just make sure to have hay available for your horse. Trees also can provide some protection from the elements, but not as well as a three-sided shelter.
Blanketing
Deciding whether or not to blanket your horse is a very controversial topic in the horse world, but ultimately it's your decision. If your horse is going to be out in the rain or snow, it might be handy to have a blanket on hand. Blankets help keep the precipitation off of your horse's coat, therefore keeping your horse warm. Blankets are also very nice to have if your horse does not have access to shelter. Remember to only put a blanket on a dry horse, never put a blanket on a wet horse. Head here to read more about blanketing.
Remove Shoes
If your horse is shod, it's best to remove shoes in the winter if possible. Removing shoes from your horse during the winter months can help prevent balls of snow or ice building up in the hoof. If your horse needs shoes for therapeutic reasons, then you can have an alternative option to traditional shoes. Speak with your farrier about shoeing techniques for the winter months.
If your horse only needs shoes because you ride on rocky terrain, consider using hoof boots. Hoof boots are a great alternative to shoes. If you are considering using hoof boots on your horse, I highly recommend Cavallo hoof boots. You can find them here, and also get a discount!
Grooming Techniques
It is very important to keep your horse as clean as possible during the winter months. Due to cold temperatures, it is not ideal to bathe your horse. However, there are a few tools that will help your horse be clean during the colder months. A few of my favorites are the StripHair Gentle Groomer, Espana Silk waterless shampoo and grooming gloves, and StripHair Bamboo Grooming Wipes.
The StripHair Gentle Groomer makes a perfect curry tool to remove dried mud and dirt, while the StripHair Bamboo Grooming Wipes help clean your horse and get the dirt off the top of the coat. Head here to read about the StripHair Gentle Groomer. The Bamboo Grooming Wipes are a perfect finishing touch to your daily grooming routine. To learn more about these, head here . For a deeper clean, I prefer to use Espana SILK Natural Protein Waterless Shampoo. This all-natural waterless shampoo is easy to use, and will leave your horse smelling amazing with a soft and shiny coat. I use this waterless shampoo once a week on my horse during the winter months. To learn more about the Espana SILK waterless shampoo, head here.
I also highly recommend using a tail bag on your horse during the winter months to help keep the tail clean. It is hard to keep a tail clean since you can't give your horse a real bath, so using a tail bag is a great option. I recommend the Biomane tail bag, it is a nylon material that is durable and very easy to use.
Conclusion
Caring for your horse in the winter months takes time and deidcation, but by taking the correct approach, your horse will be happy and healthy this winter.
Disclaimer: I am a part of the Cavallo Inc. referral program and may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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