Spending winter with your equine friends can be magical with snowy rides and cozy grooming sessions in the barn. As temperatures drop, it’s important to take extra precautions to keep your hooved friends safe, healthy and happy. Here are a few winter weather reminders from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC).

Feeding for Cold Weather

Did you know that a horse’s calorie requirement can increase by as much as 25% on cold winter days? While this doesn’t apply to every horse, some may need additional feed during the winter. Shelter, outside temperatures and individual tolerance can affect how much additional nutrition your horse needs. Work with your veterinarian or nutritionist to ensure that they have adequate nutrition year-round.

Fresh Water

When horses graze in a growing pasture, they naturally consume water from the vegetation. During the winter, horses are often given more dry hay and pelleted feeds, which contain less water than fresh pasture plants. Dehydration is a common cause of impaction and colic, so it’s important to monitor your horse’s water intake and ensure they always have plenty of fresh water.

Horses can be reluctant to drink cold water, and chilly winter temperatures can cause your horse’s water to freeze. Keep your horse hydrated during the winter and prevent ice from forming in your horse’s trough by implementing heat sources. You can install a water heater, use a larger trough, place the trough in direct or partial sunlight, or add compost manure around the trough to help insulate it.

Keeping Surfaces Safe

Remove icy areas from your barn or paddock. If that’s not possible, apply sand or mulch to these areas to decrease the risk of falls, but don’t allow your horse to consume sand as that can lead to impaction. If heavy snow occurs, promptly remove the snow to enable your horse to access their shelter, food and water.

Winter hoof care is also important. Continue routine hoof maintenance, such as picking out hooves and farrier care, to aid traction and prevent injuries.

Adequate Shelter

Ensure that your horse always has access to shelter to escape wind, snow, sleet or rain. Horses who are exposed to the elements are more susceptible to illnesses like frostbite. Young horses are especially sensitive and require special care.

To Blanket or Not to Blanket

Horses will grow a winter coat while the days get shorter. Blanketing your horse before the winter solstice will reduce the growth of their winter coat.

You may need to blanket a horse who is:

• Clipped.
• Very young or a senior.
• Thin and with a body condition score less than four.
• Not acclimated to the cold.

Note: Once you start blanketing a horse, you need to continue blanketing them until warmer weather arrives.

If you blanket your horse, be sure to:

• Choose a blanket that fits your horse.
• Inspect the blanket each day for damage.
• Monitor your horse for areas of irritation from the blanket.
• Remove damp blankets immediately and bring your horse to a sheltered area to dry. Then place a fresh, dry blanket on your horse.
• Remove blankets on warm winter days to prevent sweating.