09/01/2025
Well, it's that time of year again...time to remind you about the COLD weather and what you can do to help your horses/donkeys/mules get through it without an extra special visit from yours truly.
When the temperature plunges, the horse has to work harder to maintain its core body temperature. This is especially true in thin horses that lack an insulating layer of fat. To avoid losing weight, horses must increase their caloric intake roughly 15-20 percent for every 10-degree drop in temperature below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here are some helpful tips to keep your horses happy and healthy during this snap:
1) Hay:
First and foremost, it's not grain that keeps your horses warm, it's hay. Forages are digested in the large intestine by bacterial fermentation, a process that generates heat and raises the horse’s core body temperature. Grain, which is digested in the stomach and small intestine, creates much less heat. So the key is to provide plenty of good-quality hay during very cold weather, free choice, if possible.
2) Water:
Another crucial consideration during the winter months is the horse’s water intake. The incidence of impaction (constipation) colic significantly increases during the coldest months and is often due to inadequate water intake and lack of exercise. Although a horse’s water consumption varies depending on temperature, diet and exercise, an average 1000-pound horse requires at least 10 gallons of water each day for maintenance.
There are ways to help keep your horse hydrated. You can simply add electrolytes or some salt to your horse's feed, twice a day, to stimulate water consumption. You can also feed moistened concentrates, if your horse will eat them that way. Soak your hay or cubes, prior to feeding, to provide additional water intake.
Unfortunately, during cold weather, many horses fail to drink enough because the water is too cold and it chills them. Recent research has demonstrated that horses will drink more water during cold weather if the water is warmed to between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. There are a number of mechanical and electrical devices on the market that will keep tanks or buckets ice-free. However, if an electrical device is used, ensure that the horse does not have access to the electrical cords because curious horses can chew through the cords and electrocute themselves.
3) Shelter:
The good news is that horses are inherently well equipped to handle practically anything that winter can dish out as long as they have a way to get out of the wind. Their long winter hair coat traps air next to the skin, which helps insulate them against cold weather. In fact, horses in good body condition can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit without difficulty.
However, problems can occur when strong winds ruffle the horse’s hair and disturb the insulating layer of warm air trapped beneath it. Wet weather, especially cold driving rain or sleet, can also flatten the hair coat, chilling the horse. To prevent this, make sure your horses have access to a simple shelter such as a three-sided, southerly facing shed or a heavy tree line that can serve as a windbreak.
4) Blanketing:
Many horse owners prefer to blanket their horses in cold weather, but placing a blanket on a horse with a heavy winter coat can compress the horse’s hair and reduce its natural insulating ability. The result is that the blanket might actually decrease the horse’s ability to ward off the cold.
Horses that are body clipped or worked hard enough to sweat will benefit from a blanket. Blankets are also beneficial short term in extremely cold, wet weather.
Please keep an eye on your horses/donkeys/mules/pets, etc. You know their normal's and if things aren't "normal", then pay attention. Your horse's health could depend on it.
(and your veterinarian will appreciate all your extra efforts)
Bundle up and do all you can to help take good care of your furry family members.
