Seasonal Information
Winter Horse Care Considerations
According to the calendar, winter is still more than a month away. But with the two recent snowfalls, it may be closer than we think. So it’s not too early to check your winter stores, hay and blankets.
Here are some winter horse care tips to help.
Water:
It’s time to check your heated stock tank or heated water buckets. Make sure that they don’t leak and that wires are in good shape. If you don’t have heated water containers, you can still help your horse have warmer, liquid water this winter. Wrapping your bucket or small tank with Tek-foil (an insulated, foil-covered bubble wrap, available in most hardware stores) will help to keep the water warmer longer.
Hay/Grain:
Look at your hay supply. Do you have enough to get your horse through until May/June when you’ll get next year’s hay? If you don’t store all of your winter’s hay in your barn, have you arranged for a steady hay supply for this winter and into the spring? If not, check now with your hay supplier. Don’t wait until April when all the hay is gone.
Look closely at your horse’s body condition. Is he too fat or too thin? Does he need more (or less!) grain? Dr. Hoyns can help your decide which grain and how much with a nutritional consultation.
Body/Blankets:
Most horses are given the ability to grow a thick, insulating winter coat. If your horse is not being used much during the winter, your horse may be healthier and happier if he goes blanketless for all but the coldest, windiest, wettest weather. More blanket info...
Hoof Care:
Now is a good time to decide if your horse will be barefoot or shod this winter. If shod, it may be time to get your horse “sharp-shod”, either with borium or studs, and consider snow pads. We’ve been fond of the “Hoof grips” rim pads. They allow the sole to be open, but (usually) keep snow from balling up in the foot. If your horse is to be barefoot, try not to pull his shoes or trim him just before the ground freezes hard to avoid sore, bruised feet. The wet fall weather we’ve had recently has led to a larger number of hoof abscesses, as well as an increase in thrush. Daily cleaning & occasional thrush medication application can help keep thrush at bay.
Vaccinations:
Winter can be cold and flu season for horses, too (just like it is for us). They are often moved to barns where there are more horses, the doors are kept closed, and dust and moisture levels rise. This can lead to coughs and flu. We strongly recommend that horses (especially those that are boarded, are old, or are very young) receive a vaccination against Flu and Rhino in the late fall/early winter.
Deworming:
Don’t forget about parasite control during the fall/winter. Late fall is a good time to deworm for tapeworms with a product containing Praziquantel. Call us if you have any questions about winter fecal egg counts or which dewormer would be best for your horse now.
Lameness Issues:
If your horse is lame, why wait until spring to see if he has "healed"? Wouldn’t it be great to get the lameness issue diagnosed and treated now, rather than waiting until spring/summer riding and competing?
