01/13/2024
Ah, Winter… We chat again. It’s no secret that I do not love winter. Do not come for me on this, I have my reasons lol. I’m not completely numb to the fact that it brings great joy to some, but I'm also sticking to my guns about my distaste for the cold weather and icy conditions that can pose risks to the well-being of our horses and ourselves.
Whether you love winter or hate it, if you, like us, live in a region of the country that experiences real winters - the kind with face-biting cold and thick snow, you know just how challenging riding this time of year can be. It’s extremely difficult to get in a good ride - and not just because the days are cut short either. Weather plays a serious role in dictating the ease with which we can make it out to the barn to feed, let alone saddle up and ride. That said, enjoying a ride on your horse in winter IS possible and it can actually be extremely enjoyable if you take the right precautions to keep you and your horse safe and warm.
In general, a shod horse is a lot more likely to slip on ice than a barefoot one. Shod horses are much more likely to collect ice balls unless pads are introduced to reduce frozen build-up. Studs can be used to help with traction, but while they aid in grip, they also create a far more dangerous situation for other horses and humans your equine companion encounters on the daily. If your horse is unable to go barefoot, the use of hoof boots over their shoes is a safe alternative to studs. They're kinda like the equine version of snow tires.
Always be mindful of footing regardless. Just like with 4-wheel drive in your vehicle, you may be able to go a lot easier, but stopping without slipping and sliding is not a guarantee. Horses are prone to slips and falls regardless of whether you leave them barefoot or equip them with boots or studded shoes. Try and avoid working and walking over ice or frozen mud and be careful of potential hazards hidden under snow. Never try to cross a frozen body of water. You have no way of knowing if the ice is thick enough to support the weight of your horse and, again, the fall hazard is prohibitive enough.
Be prepared to feed a bit heavier if you're exercising your horse during winter. Exercise is a resource hog and your horse is already burning significant calories and expending an amazing amount of energy trying to stay warm. It's ok to compensate your feed routine with additional rations. Some extra calories will help supplement the calories being lost. We personally like to up forage intake and add more alfalfa to our horses' diets for a nutrient and calorie-dense meal. The more forage the better! Adding healthy fats like oils and flax seeds is another great idea to consider. Talk to your veterinarian about what may work best for your horse.
Which reminds us about hydration. Always push hydration. Horses are much more prone to colic due to dehydration during these cold winter months. For whatever reason, they seem to decide that they aren't nearly as interested in drinking when it's cold out, and when combined with high-fiber diets and the energy spent staying warm, you have a perfect recipe for a very expensive life lesson. Check water sources at least twice a day and keep them free from ice as best you can. If you're using heated buckets or heaters in your water sources, keep an eye on them. The last thing you want is a fire caused by a faulty heater.
Adding a measure of salt or electrolyte powders to your horse's grain and/or providing a block of mineral salt or trace mineral salts left free choice is another great way to encourage drinking. It’s kind of like us eating salty potato chips. We’re gonna want a good long drink with it.
We don't recommend giving them a warm mash all the time as it could cause digestive upset, but offering them a nice, warm sloppy mash if the weather is set to really take a nose dive or they've just had an especially strenuous workout is a great way to contribute to healthy hydration. A study reported by the University of Minnesota actually showed that horses that eat mashes in winter will still drink the same amount of water, so this is a beneficial way to naturally increase water intake and sneak in a healthy amount of salt to keep them thirsty.
And then there's the cool down after the workout. Try to have your horse unsaddled and cooling down/drying off at least two hours before sundown. You don't want a horse to be wet after sundown when temperatures drop to their lowest. We highly recommend the use of toweling to absorb the majority of sweat and fluff up their hair coat to provide the best amount of natural insulation.
You can also throw a moisture-wicking fleece cooler on your horse after toweling to reduce chill and encourage further drying, but we definitely recommend fluffing that coat before you put them up for the night. If you choose to blanket, please remember to remove the wet damp fleece sheet before putting your horse’s winter blanket on. A wet layer is not going to allow for adequate warming and increases the potential for skin issues. We also recommend spraying a diluted mixture of apple cider vinegar and water over your horse when possible. Don't saturate them with it, but it's a great coat conditioner and PH balancer that can thwart fungal development.
On the bright side, winter with horses IS survivable and we only have 66 days until spring (at time of writing). We can get through this together!
Do you have any additional cold weather month survival tips? Drop them below!
