by: Lydia Gray, DVM.
Here are tips in four different areas of horse management to help your horse not only survive, but thrive during cold weather so you have a healthy and willing partner when warmer temperatures return.
Nutrition - Forage, or hay, should make up the largest portion of your horse's diet especially in winter. Increasing the amount of hay is the best way to keep weight on horses when it's cold, as the fermentation process generates heat. Horses needing more calories can also be fed fortified grain, fat or other supplement. "Easy keepers" should be given a ration-balancer or multi-vitamin/mineral supplement to correct any deficiencies in hay alone.
Exercise - Studies have found that muscular strength, cardiovascular fitness and overall flexibility decrease in horses that have been "let down" during winter, even if daily turnout is provided. Warm up and cool down with care, spending twice as much time on each of these than when it is warmer.
Health - It’s a good time to check your shot records. Around this part of the country, the mosquitoes are out heavily this time of year, so it’s a good time to vaccinate for West Nite virus, if you haven’t already. Also, check your worming schedule. The schedule provided by Rockwall Equine Center recommends worming your horse four times a year, with rotating wormers. For more information, ask a club member for the deworming schedule. This schedule is for healthy, adult horses. If you have a colt or older horse, consult your veterinarian. |
