Posted on by Gina T.

Winter Is Coming – Are You Ready?

As many regions of the US are still experiencing fairly mild conditions, the inevitable is coming…winter. But with proper preparation and foresight, the extreme conditions can be slightly more bearable. Read on for some handy tips to keep you and your horse warm and cozy.

  • Blanketing:  In general, horses adapt well to decreasing temperatures by growing an insulating hair coat.  As long as they have shelter to get out of wind and precipitation, and are able to meet their increased energy (calorie) requirement, they do quite well and can tolerate sub-zero temperatures.
    • Keep in mind, the insulating value of the hair coat is compromised if it gets wet.  As temperatures drop below the critical temperature which is around 50°F on average, horses require more energy to stay warm, which is best provided by increasing the forage in their diet, not grain.
    • Blanketing may be a good option if:
      • There is no shelter during turn out
      • The horse’s hair coat is clipped
      • You have a very young or very old horse that might not be efficient at maintaining body temperature
      • The horse is under-conditioned or under weight
    • Finding a blanket that fits well, is waterproof, breathable, and the proper weight (light, medium, heavy fill) based on the conditions are important considerations.
    • If you already own blankets, dig them out before you need them and check to ensure they are clean, in good repair, and still fit your horse properly.
    • Never blanket a wet horse, or put a wet or damp blanket on a horse.
  • Don’t forget to periodically remove the blanket and assess body condition, and check for any rub marks that the blanket may be causing.
  • Winterizing the barn and trailer: Fall is a good time to prepare your barn and trailer for colder weather.  Cleaning, installing or checking insulation, replacing screens with windows, ensuring ventilation is adequate, insulating water sources, cleaning and safety-checking heaters and electrical systems, are recommended.
    • In the barn:
      • Check the roof for structural integrity and leaks
      • Clean gutters and install snow slides if needed
      • Plan for snow removal and de-icing walkways, if applicable.
    • In the trailer:
      • Check the floor, lights, brakes, and tires and replace or provide maintenance as needed.
      • Put together an emergency kit for you and your horse in the event of a break-down in winter weather.
      • If you are on the road frequently, consider road-side-service for equestrians in the event of an emergency.

Good luck, stay safe, and take a moment to enjoy the site of your horse playing in the snow if you are lucky enough to see some!

14 Replies to “Winter Is Coming – Are You Ready?”

  1. I’m disappointed that nothing was mentioned in this article about the importance of water during the Winter months and encouraging horses to drink more.The water temperature is also a critical factor as well as the increased risk of impaction colic because the air is dryer and reduced water intake.

    1. Hi Cherie,
      Thanks for your comment. You make a great point, water is a very important consideration during the winter months. The focus of this article was more on facility care and protection from the cold, although you will see we mentioned insulating your water source as well. There will be future articles that have more a nutrition focus this winter as well, so thanks for the call-out!

      Best wishes,
      Robyn

  3. Mine our horses are out and fuzzy all winter long other than icy days and when they are in the barn we live in TN where the barns are old tobacco barns with lots of ventilation but enough to break the harsh winds, all the time whether in or out they get never ending hay supply n fresh water! So their quite happy 😊

  4. Good info, except I would address the importance of salt to get your horse to drink during the cold winter days and nights

  6. Thank you for pointing out that you should never blanket a wet horse and also that you should remove the blanket to check the body condition frequently. I have witnessed so many times these two things happen and the horse owner not being aware that they were potentially creating a catastrophic event with their horse.

  7. We are ready for when it hits. We have plenty of hay, heater plugged in on our automatic waterer, barn cleaned. Usually don’t need to blanket our 2 horses.

  10. Yep. Our barn has water de-icer, insulated buckets, varying blanket weights for all horses, doors easy to open, paddocks prepped for winter turnout, round balea in turnout lots.

  13. people forget about th e trialer until an emergnecy arises thank you for mentioning that

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