01/10/2024
❄️ cold snaps + horses ❄️
As soon as the temperatures start to plummet, we all naturally panic a little about the well being of our horses.
The good news is that they are typically less worried than we are!
Your average healthy horse just needs access to hay, water, shelter, & fresh bedding and they should be just fine.
Additionally, I like to feed soaked beet pulp and/or alfalfa cubes with electrolytes to encourage water intake. My biggest concern with fluctuating weather is colic due to dehydration or impaction.
I personally don’t add electrolytes into their main water source as I don’t want to accidentally put them off their water if they aren’t used to it. (Mine are not. But I know some people do this regularly and have no issues)
I always like to have my horses on some sort of pre/probiotic. My favourites are G’s formula, Technavet Galozyme, and Equine Choice. I find it depends on the horse and what they prefer and feel their best on.
My horses have access to a round bale with a slow feed net 24/7. I choose to put it further in the pasture to force them to move around and keep from getting stocked up and stiff. When the temperatures plummet, I will supplement with free fed hay up by the shelter.
Digesting forage will warm them up quicker than extra grain!
If you choose to blanket remember..
The wrong blanket is worse than no blanket ‼️
Putting on a blanket that is not completely waterproof or not warm enough, will do more harm than good.
The fill in the blanket needs to be enough to make up for flattening their natural coat. Horses adjust for colder weather by fluffing up their coat and creating natural insulation.
Placing a light weight blanket on them will flatten the hair and leave them more chilled than if you had left them alone.
In -30 and colder, I will have anywhere from 300-500 gram blankets on. This completely depends on the horse, their condition, and how they handle the cold.
Kitten is more than comfortable in her regular 300, while horses like Croc and Wick prefer an added layer. This is very evident in their behaviour.. Croc will run up to the fence when he sees me and shiver. Wick will just make everyone’s lives miserable until he is warm enough 😅
Bunny is so fat and hairy that she doesn’t even feel the hot fence, let alone the cold. Clearly she’s fine au natural.
BUT we all know that blanketing is not necessary for the average happy, healthy horse if they have all their other needs met.
It is typically a personal preference. If your horse has never seen a blanket a day in their life, no need to go running for one now.
These are just my personal preferences and there’s so many good ways to keep them comfortable! Stay warm everyone ❄️
Feel free to share some of your tips and tricks in this weather!
