Winter Care and Feeding for Your Horse

Rutgers Equine Science Center

Winter Care & Feeding

Carey A. Williams, Ph.D.Rutgers University

Introduction

• As the days get shorter and weather get colder

and wetter there are many things to consider to

maintain horse horse’s health and sanity through

the long winter months

• This webinar will address the most common

concerns regarding housing, health maintenance,

nutrition and exercise

Housing & Shelter

• Even in the worst winter most horses do not

“need” a stall in a barn

– Requirement: at least shelter

• i.e. a run in shed or a stand of trees

Housing & Shelter

• If horses are maintained in stalls, air quality

becomes a concern

– Wet bedding and manure should be completely

removed at least once a day

– Ventilation should be maximized by keeping

windows/doors open as much as

possible, even in very cold weather

– Ceiling fans/vents can also help

Blanketing & Clipping

• Rule of thumb: if the horse is shivering it would

benefit from a blanket to help keep it warm

– Not necessary with a naturally thick hair coat and is

adapted to the cold

• How many of you blanket your

horses?A) Yes

B) No

C) No, don’t own a horse


• There is a wide variety of blankets:

– Lightweight “sheets” best for short term use after

riding

– Thick, water proof “rugs” for horses turned out for

long periods of time


• Select a blanket that is appropriate for your

situation

– If wet: water resistant and lined with a material

that will “wick” the moisture away the skin

– If in a stall: make sure the coat is not so heavy to

cause the horse to sweat

• Sweat under a blanket can

contribute to skin irritation

and infections


• It is equally important that the blanket fits the

horse well


• Rub marks can develop on the point of their

shoulders, withers and where the straps secure

the blanket if it is too small, tight, or ill fitting

– If blanketed continuously the blanket must be

removed at least once a day

• Groom, checked for rub marks, infections and monitor for

weight gain or loss


• If you plan to ride regularly through the season,

doing work that will stimulate a lot of sweat, it is

recommended to clip:

• How many of you clip your horse?

A) Yes

B) No

C) No, don’t own a horse


• Body clipped horses may have higher energy

needs

– They may be worked harder

– And will need to generate more heat to stay warm

when not blanketed

• The hair will not grow back rapidly in the winter

– Once you clip a horse be

prepared to keep it warm

for the rest of the winter


• Body clip = all the hair

on the neck, legs and

body has been shaved, it

should not be left out in

inclement weather even

if blanketed

• Trace clip = shave the

hair from the underside

of the neck and

abdomen, and the sides

of the horse from the

elbows to about a

quarter of the way up


• Hunter clip = hair is

removed as in a body

clip only hair is left in

the saddle area and on

the legs

• Blanket clip = the hair is

removed from neck and

body as in the hunter

clip only hair is left on in

the shape of a blanket

Nutrition

• A change in feed depends on how hard you are

working your horse and how it is housed

• Major concerns =

1. Adequate calories to maintain good body condition

2. Adequate water intake to prevent impaction colic

Nutrition

• Horses usually need extra energy to help keep

them warm

– Horses’ energy requirements will 25 % during the

winter months

– Usually this can be met with 25% more hay

• Extra hay will help keep them warm through the

heat of fermentation produced in the hindgut

(cecum and colon) when digesting/fermenting the

forage

Nutrition

• Boredom can be a problem in winter when horses

are not being turned out or ridden as much

– Keep them happy with free choice hay or forage

based feeds

• I.e. hay cubes, chaff, etc.

– Salt and water will reduce the

incidence of stress related

problems and vices

• Grain and grain-based products should be used

only if absolutely necessary to maintain good

body condition

Nutrition

• Poor quality hay may require supplementation with

vitamins and minerals

• Be careful when buying special ‘winter

supplements’

– Any multi-vitamin/mineral balanced for the type of

hay you are feeding and life stage of the horse will do

Nutrition

• Horses will limit their intake of ice cold water to

only what is necessary

– This may not be adequate for optimal hydration

• Give access to water free of ice at least once a day

– Automatic, heated waterers the units should be

checked daily

Nutrition

• A tablespoon or two of plain salt can be added to

the feed to encourage water intake

– If feeding pelleted feeds or hay cubes, they can be

soaked in water to further increase water intake

• Horses should always have free access to salt

blocks

Exercise

• Stabled horses are often kept in

stalls for long periods of time if

weather is poor• As long as they have free choice

hay, salt and water most will

remain perfectly happy– Some will develop swollen legs, or

‘stock up’ – Some may be agitated in the stall

• It is best to turn them out for exercise as

often as possible• Indoor arena work well if no one is using

it for riding

Exercise

• Horses can go barefoot if they are not ridden often

– Better traction on snow and ice

– Snow will not “ball up”

• If shod “snow pads” are recommended

– Full hoof pad or a rim pad

– Borium can be used as calks

– Ask your farrier about your options

Exercise

• Sole bruising is a problem in the winter when

working on frozen ground, especially in horses

with thin soles

– If riding regularly in the winter keep workouts to

unfrozen footing (or deeper snow)

– If arenas are frozen it may be better to postpone

riding instead of risking a bruised sole

• How many of you ride outdoors in the winter?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Yes, but not on snow

Exercise

• When working in the deeper snow it will act as a

sort of resistance training

– Be careful that the snow you are riding in is not too

heavy and damp

• It could potentially cause tendon injuries

– If the snow is light, doing trot sets or some lighter

flat work can help with cardio and hind end

strength

Exercise

Exercise

• It is recommended to use a quarter sheet if riding a fully clipped horse in the extreme cold

– A sheet that covers the horse’s hind quarters

– Especially during warm up and cool down

• With only a trace clip they may only need one when warming up

– When cooling down it will depend on the sweat

– A quarter sheet might be necessary to help wick away some of the moisture

Exercise

• Even with clipped horses it is not recommend to

continue exercise with a blanket or sheet

• Never leave a hot, wet horse standing in a cold,

drafty stall or turning them out in the cold

– Could cause them to get chilled

– Also potentially stressed to the point where they

could get sick

Health

• Most horses get their routine

vaccinations in the spring

• Booster vaccinations for diseases

transmitted by direct contact

– Recommended if transporting or

showing:

• Influenza, rhinopneumonitis and strangles

• Mosquito borne diseases should not be

a problem in the temperate climates

• Booster vaccines should be considered

if shipping to warmer climates

Health

• De-worm only as needed

– Based on fecal analysis for

intestinal parasite larvae or

eggs

• Manure should be picked up in

the paddocks and sheds

– Help prevent unsanitary mud

accumulation and skin infections

on the lower legs

– More important when snow and

ice melt

Health

• After storms always check the paddocks/pastures for fallen tree limbs

• Horses could chew on the branches of potentially toxic trees and shrubs

• In the spring, the first green plants to appear are usually the noxious weeds

– It is important to feed plenty of hay and try to keep the weed population down by mowing

Facts and Myths

• There are several questions I always get asked in

the winter, some and myths and some are facts

Bran Mashes

• “Bran mashes is good in the winter

to keep my horse from colicing.”

A.True

B.False

C.Don’t know

Bran Mashes• FALSE:

– Wheat bran has never been proven to act as a laxative or increase fecal moisture when fed at 50% of the diet

– Theory is that wheat bran has high fiber so helps in digestion

• Oats have same fiber content as bran

• Increase water intake is the only benefit

• Very high in P, not recommended to feed daily

– Mostly bran mashes are a ‘Comfort Food’

• For the owner more so than the horse!

Digestive Aids

• “Digestive aids or anti-colic supplements need to be fed in the winter to prevent colic.”

A.True

B.False

C.Don’t know

Digestive Aids

• FALSE:

– Digestive aids usually consist of some sort of probiotic or yeast culture

• These have never been found to increase digestion in a healthy horse

• May be beneficial if sick or has digestive problems

– Anti-Colic Supplements have never been scientifically proven

– Problem in the winter is usually decreased water intake

• That can only be cured by increasing their intake!

Hoof Supplements

• “Hoof supplements will help the

horses hooves grow quicker and

stay healthier in the winter.”

A.True

B.False

C.Don’t know

Hoof Supplements• FALSE:

– Horses hooves may be brittle or crack from the cold dry climate in the winter

• Hoof supplements will not help

– Biotin and other hoof supplements work from the inside out

• A hoof grows from the cornet band down in 6 to 12 mo

– If hooves are poor due to weather conditions you need to apply something externally

– It is best to talk to your farrier about what product would be best

Calming Aids

• “Calming aids or B-vitamins will help keep my horse calm when in the stall for a long period of time.”

A.True

B.False

C.Don’t know

Calming Aids

• UNKNOWN:– These have not been scientifically proven– Some horses become very nervous if stalled

for a long period of time • If your horse responds to these supplements they may

not be a bad idea

– B-vitamins are water-soluble, so if your

horse has too much excess, they will just get

rid of what they don’t need in the urine

Take Home Message

• Depends on how hard you are working your horse

& how it is housed to determine if a change in

feed is necessary

• Major concerns are adequate calorie intake &

adequate water intake

Carey Williams, Ph.D.Equine Extension Specialist

[email protected]

www.esc.rutgers.edu

Thank You!

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Equine Science Center

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Winter Care and Feeding for Your Horse