Cold weather brings its own set of health considerations, from keeping water from freezing to managing body condition through a season of reduced grazing. A little extra attention through winter prevents most seasonal problems.
Water & Hydration
Horses drink less water when it's ice-cold, which raises the risk of impaction colic in winter. Using a heated water source or checking troughs frequently for ice keeps horses drinking enough.
Shelter & Blanketing
Most healthy horses with a full winter coat and access to shelter from wind and precipitation don't need to be blanketed, but clipped, older, or thin-coated horses often benefit from a well-fitted blanket in harsh conditions.
A horse's winter coat traps a layer of warm air against the skin, so blanketing an already well-coated horse unnecessarily can actually flatten that insulation.
Winter Feeding
Extra hay, rather than more grain, is usually the best way to help a horse generate body heat in cold weather, since the digestive fermentation of forage produces warmth from within.
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