If you have a horse then it is understandable that you’d want to take care of them as much as possible. This can be difficult to do when the winter weather hits, as you may find that you end up having to take extra measures to try and combat colder temperatures. If you feel as though you need some tips to take care of your horse then you can find out everything you need to know, right here.
Horses and ponies have evolved so that they can fluctuate their weight throughout the year. This allows them to adapt to the seasons. In summer, it is common for horses to pile on a few extra pounds so that they can have extra body fat going into winter. If you use rugs for your horse when it is not needed then this can affect them. One thing to take note of is that not every horse or pony needs a rug. You need to take into account different things, such as the conditions that they are living in, the workload that they carry out during the day, and even their breed. Age is another factor, as it’s common for older horses to need extra layers even if their breed doesn’t necessarily indicate that this is the case.
You also need to watch out for winter diseases and ailments. Winter will ultimately bring more wet weather and this comes with the risk of mud. Muddy conditions can mean that your horse is at a higher risk of skin conditions. They may be vulnerable to mud fever and even rain scald. If your horse is all turned out then you should make sure that you are brushing their coat and that you dry their legs off. Keep an eye out for the signs of scabs or mud fever. Keep an eye out for the signs of mud fever and also make sure that you take note of any matted patches of hair.
If you remotely suspect that your horse has a bit of a health issue then you need to get this sorted as soon as you can. If you can do this then you will be able to stop it from getting worse and you may even find that you can save yourself some vet bills. Of course, if you can you also need to make sure that you are aware of how your horse is behaving too. If they seem to be acting a little off then this can be a small indicator that they aren’t feeling their best and that you may need to take steps to try and help them to get the treatment they need before it progresses into something more dangerous. Acting now could save your horse, especially in winter so try and keep that in mind if you can as it could help you.
You also need to watch out for signs of your horse being dehydrated. The goal should be for you to maximize the amount of water that is available to your horse. A lot of adult horses drink up to 12 gallons of water every single day. During summer, they may strangely drink less. A lot of this comes down to the fact that your horse has access to lush pastures that have up to 80% moisture. If you look at grain and hay however then this only contains around 15% moisture. Your horse may need more water in winter so try and keep that in mind if you can. If you notice that your horse doesn’t drink enough water when the weather is colder outside, which is a common complaint, they may be more prone to things like colic. Even if you give your horse the best food possible, you do need to make sure that they have enough food so that they can tolerate the cold weather. Although colic won’t develop in a day, it can take several weeks, you do need to look out for the signs so you can intervene as soon as possible.
If you notice that your horse is not drinking water as much as they should then you can offer them some apple cider vinegar or some apple juice in their water. You can also experiment by adding things like molasses, so try and keep that in mind if you can as it could make a big difference to your horse and how comfortable they are.
Choose the Right Rug
Horses and ponies have evolved so that they can fluctuate their weight throughout the year. This allows them to adapt to the seasons. In summer, it is common for horses to pile on a few extra pounds so that they can have extra body fat going into winter. If you use rugs for your horse when it is not needed then this can affect them. One thing to take note of is that not every horse or pony needs a rug. You need to take into account different things, such as the conditions that they are living in, the workload that they carry out during the day, and even their breed. Age is another factor, as it’s common for older horses to need extra layers even if their breed doesn’t necessarily indicate that this is the case.
Winter Diseases
You also need to watch out for winter diseases and ailments. Winter will ultimately bring more wet weather and this comes with the risk of mud. Muddy conditions can mean that your horse is at a higher risk of skin conditions. They may be vulnerable to mud fever and even rain scald. If your horse is all turned out then you should make sure that you are brushing their coat and that you dry their legs off. Keep an eye out for the signs of scabs or mud fever. Keep an eye out for the signs of mud fever and also make sure that you take note of any matted patches of hair.
Source: Pexels
If you remotely suspect that your horse has a bit of a health issue then you need to get this sorted as soon as you can. If you can do this then you will be able to stop it from getting worse and you may even find that you can save yourself some vet bills. Of course, if you can you also need to make sure that you are aware of how your horse is behaving too. If they seem to be acting a little off then this can be a small indicator that they aren’t feeling their best and that you may need to take steps to try and help them to get the treatment they need before it progresses into something more dangerous. Acting now could save your horse, especially in winter so try and keep that in mind if you can as it could help you.
Stop your Horse from Being Dehydrated
You also need to watch out for signs of your horse being dehydrated. The goal should be for you to maximize the amount of water that is available to your horse. A lot of adult horses drink up to 12 gallons of water every single day. During summer, they may strangely drink less. A lot of this comes down to the fact that your horse has access to lush pastures that have up to 80% moisture. If you look at grain and hay however then this only contains around 15% moisture. Your horse may need more water in winter so try and keep that in mind if you can. If you notice that your horse doesn’t drink enough water when the weather is colder outside, which is a common complaint, they may be more prone to things like colic. Even if you give your horse the best food possible, you do need to make sure that they have enough food so that they can tolerate the cold weather. Although colic won’t develop in a day, it can take several weeks, you do need to look out for the signs so you can intervene as soon as possible.
If you notice that your horse is not drinking water as much as they should then you can offer them some apple cider vinegar or some apple juice in their water. You can also experiment by adding things like molasses, so try and keep that in mind if you can as it could make a big difference to your horse and how comfortable they are.
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