"I love it when my face is frozen and I get to break ice from frozen water buckets and trudge through snow, ice and mud to feed my spicy dragons," said nobody ever.
Anyone who has ever had horses in winter will tell you it’s no picnic, but we endure it every year because we love our horses and would do anything for them. While there's no way to take away all the headaches, there are definitely ways to make ourselves and our horses a little more comfortable until spring rolls around. Read on for a few tips on how I keep our horses, Olivia and Sierra, comfy and healthy during the winter months!
Blankets
An easy way to get horse people fired up is to bring up the age-old blanket debate. To blanket or not to blanket? That is the question! But in reality, the answer is always going to be dependent on your horse. I have two horses with very different blanketing needs. My senior Quarab, Sierra, gets chilly more quickly than my young, super-fuzzy Miniature Horse, Olivia. In fact, today it's only about 15° out, Sierra is blanketed, but Olivia said, "No way!"
Of course, if we had precipitation or wind, she'd be getting a blanket. The rule here is that if there's precipitation or strong winds with colder temperatures, they both get blanketed to help keep them dry and warm.
Things to consider when you are blanketing your horse include age, breed, body condition (and coat), as well as weather conditions. And a reminder, if you ARE going to blanket your horse, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Use the right blanket for the current conditions. Putting a blanket on that’s too light or too heavy can sometimes cause more issues (shivering/sweating) than letting a horse use their natural coat without a blanket.
- Be sure to check under your horses’ blankets regularly for rubbing, sores, and cleanliness, as well as a general check of their weight and body condition.
- Keep up with a daily check of the blankets themselves to ensure straps and clips are securely fastened and in good working order.
Forage (Hay/Grass)
The easiest way to keep our horses warm is by making forage readily available. Generally speaking, if horses have food, they self-insulate and keep themselves warm. My girls get hay nets in their stalls overnight to help their hay last longer and cut down on waste. During turnout, we throw out flakes of hay because Sierra is a vacuum and can be trusted to never waste a drop. But, if hay waste is a concern for you, there are lots of available options for both stalls and pasture. You can read more about bulk slow feeders here!
Water
Keeping horses hydrated in the winter is crucial to preventing stomach/intestinal issues--but it's not always easy to do when we're dealing with water freezing. Whether it’s breaking ice in the troughs, carrying water buckets to your horses, or battling with frozen hoses, we all have our frustrations when it comes to dealing with ice.
Our favorite winter amenity is our stock tank heater. If you have electricity available, they are 100% worth it. Just be sure to check troughs daily to confirm that they are still full of water, and that the heaters are in good working order. Another item we've heard great things about and wish we had is a heated bucket. With both tank heaters and heated buckets, it's important to refrain from using a regular extension cord, as these can overheat and cause fires. If you need an extension cord, be sure to get a properly rated heavy-duty cord for the type of heater you are using.
While we don't have heated water buckets at our farm, we are lucky enough to have access to hot water at the main building. If you have access to hot water, we highly recommend offering your horses warm water. On days when the water buckets freeze overnight, I’ve found that when I offer each of my girls a bucket of warm water in the morning, they will always take a nice, long drink. In the evenings, they always get warm water, as well as a bucket of cold so they can choose what they like best--but when given the choice, they almost always choose the warm!
And if I notice they aren't drinking as much, I add electrolytes to their food. Of course, we always recommend consulting with your vet before changing your horse’s diet!
Humans
We mustn't forget that keeping the humans happy and comfy is just as important as keeping the horses healthy and happy! We all know what we should be doing, but sometimes we need an extra reminder to take care of ourselves, too. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Layer up! It may be 10° outside, but once we get working on barn chores, we can still work up a sweat. Wearing wool or moisture-wicking fabrics can help keep you warm and comfortable.
There are various heated products out on the market nowadays, like vests, jackets and gloves. I was recently gifted a heated vest and I must say that it is a game changer! Once you get cold to the core, it seems impossible to warm back up, but a heated vest takes care of that!
Keeping your hands and feet warm and dry is very important. Try wearing wool socks and be sure you have insulated waterproof boots. You can also add hand warmers or feet warmers to the mix to help generate extra heat for your extremities.
Keep a change of clothes (as well as spare gloves, hats, and socks!) either in your car or at the barn in case you get wet. If you do, change immediately to avoid getting chilled.
Sierra and Olivia hope some of these tips will help keep you and your horse(s) a little more comfortable so you can forget the hassles of winter, and enjoy the more pleasant parts, whether it’s taking a snowy trail ride, watching your horses play in the snow, or just appreciating the fact that there are no flies or mosquitos biting you and your horses all day long!
We hope you and your horses stay warm, healthy and safe this chilly season!
Follow Jackie (@livys.mom), Olivia (@minilivy), and Sierra (@sierra.dream) on Instagram!
(You can read their other blog post: A Mini's POV: Why I use a Grazing Muzzle)
