It’s doubtful that there is a single horse owner that relishes the onset of winter. There are winter tips for horse owners that can make a horse owners life easier.
Winter is a difficult time for horse owners. Unceasing rain, wind, and mud, often put the dampeners (quite literally) on most outdoor activities. Horse owners don’t have the choice of staying inside in the dry; horses always need caring for regardless of the season. However, there are winter tips that can help make winter more bearable.
If you’re worrying about winter and all the problems it can bring, read on to find out winter tips for horse owners that may help.
Be Prepared
Before winter arrives, make sure that you have everything prepared.
- Rugs – Take the rugs to the cleaners, or wash and reproof them at home. There’s nothing worse than realising the rug you need now lets all the rain through.
- Fencing – Check your fencing before the storms come and find the weakened section for you. I guarantee that trying to fix fencing in pouring rain when it’s blowing a gale is deeply unpleasant.
- Feed – Stock up on feed. It may be awkward to find the extra storage space, but not being able to get to the feed store in bad weather will not be forgiven or forgotten by your horse….ever.
- Work – If you have to manage your horses around work, you could save up the tubs that supplements come in (or large tubs from home). If you save enough, you can measure out a weeks feed in one go and save time each morning.
- Hair – Braid manes, oil feather, and if not showing, cut tails a little higher than normal to keep them out of the mud.
- Home – Make sure that you have a dedicated place at home to hang and dry your wet horse clothes and boots; not everyone appreciates the smell and mud related to horses in winter.
- Buddy Up – If you’re on a yard, try to buddy up with another owner so you each only have to wade through mud once per day. This buddy system often works well throughout the year too, so it need not be winter only in the long term.
- Exercise – It may not be possible to exercise your horse so much with the failing light. Try to do more in hand and groundwork to stop your horse getting bored stood out in the field.
- Track System – If your horse lives on a track system without grass, then use the winter to prepare the track for Spring. Leaving your horses on the track for a little while longer in winter will help kill off the grass for the following season. Having two tracks, one for summer and one for winter will enable you to track your horse for longer each year.
Being prepared will help throughout the season, and will make the most of the time that you have.
Rugs
If you have the chance, try to purchase extra rugs through the summer. Saving a few pennies at tack sales can give you the extra money to buy necessities through the winter.
You can never have too many rugs. At least two of each weight is probably the best idea. That way, one can be on your horse whilst the other is drying ready to use when the current one is wet or covered in mud. Sometimes though, the rugs don’t get near to the ponies fast enough….
Try to be disciplined when storing your rugs as otherwise the one you need will invariably be at the bottom of the pile!
Remember to have your rugs washed, reproofed, and repaired, during the summer so that they are ready from the first day of winter.
Feed
Look at the amount and type of feed you give your horse in its current workload. Also body score and weigh your horse if possible. If your horse is looking a little ‘well covered’ then winter is the best time to help them lose weight. Unlike people, horses are designed to yo-yo weight wise, loosing weight in the winter, ready to gain it back in the spring.
If your horse is likely to be doing less work in the winter, and is going to be stabled, at least overnight, then start reducing portions so that the reduction is gradual. If your horse is to work less but live out, then you may be able to keep feeding the same, but manage weight by choosing rugs appropriately.
One thing that you should do, regardless of whether the horse is turned out or stabled, is to add salt to their feed. It is often found that horses drink less in the cold weather, and dehydration can be a real problem, even if you always provide fresh water. Adding salt to their feed will help to encourage them to take more fluids onboard.
If your horse is elderly, or finds it difficult to maintain weight even when rugged to the nines, then adding sugar beet, or other supplemental feed should be considered. Consulting a vet or a qualified nutritionist is the best option in this situation. Double checking that their teeth are in good condition before winter sets in can also be a sensible precaution if you have an older horse.
Lighting
Lighting is simple if you have mains power to your yard. Many people are less fortunate and rely on alternative lighting methods. Head torches and portable solar lights are an absolute necessity if you have to be at the yard early in the morning or late at night.
Solar lightbulbs for indoors, and waterproof sensor lights for outdoors will help to make the yard such a dreary prospect first thing in the morning when really all you want to do is be back in a warm bed fast asleep!
If your lighting is managed by batteries, then make sure you have at least one back-up, fully charged replacement. If using remote controls then keep a spare control with new batteries available without having to search for hours.
Getting temporary lighting so that you can still use your schooling area in the dark can help keep your horse fit over winter. If you have the option of applying for Planning Permission to erect permanent floodlights then so much the better as time for training will be far less problematical.
Hay
Having a full winters delivery of hay makes life easier. However, if you don’t have the infrastructure to store it, placing it on pallets and covering with tarpaulin, should work effectively. A polytunnel is also a brilliant place to store hay, and wet rugs can be hung from the roof bar to dry out.
Waterproofs
Getting the right waterproofs will be one of the most important winter decisions you make. Staying warm and dry when a storm is billowing around you is far better than returning home soaking to the skin and unlikely to thaw out for several hours.
The Equi-dry jacket is well regarded, although quite expensive. Requisite make a fantastic storm coat with hood that can be ridden in and is waterproof. It can get a little warm as it’s not highly breathable. Otherwise, it’s a comfortable coat that is now going into its fourth winter and showing few signs of wear.
Water
Whether you water comes from the mains or is stored in an IBC, make sure the pipes and taps are lagged. Insulated tap covers can be very helpful in ensuring that you can access fresh water even when the temperature is below zero.
If you have water buckets in your field, try putting out a tyre and filling it with straw before putting in your water bucket. This should help the water to take longer to freeze.
Improve Drainage In The Summer
Many fields suffer from prolonged rain in the winter. This can lead to muddy fields that are no fun for horse or human. The best time to try to resolve mud issues is in the summer. Apart from gateways and regularly walked paths, which are always going to improve with treatment, take a note of where the water pools and areas where mud is most problematic. During the summer you can put in drainage (subject to permissions) and add stone or mad mats so they remove the worst of the mud and make winter more bearable.
If you use mats or rubber pads around field hay feeders you’ll find that the ground doesn’t become so poached and you won’t have to move heavy feeders so regularly.
Remember to put up guttering and water butts. These will direct water away from the ground and mean it takes longer for the ground to become swampy. The water you collect can be used for various purposes so it’s not always necessary to waste it.
Buy A Kettle
Sometimes the rain comes down unexpectedly and you need to take shelter. When that happens, having a kettle handy is invaluable. Sitting inside with a coffee (or drink of your choice) allowing the cloud to pass over is a good use of time. If you don’t have mains electric, or gas at your yard, then a kettle that runs off a leisure battery is a wise investment.
Conclusion
Winter is a lovely season with roaring fires, robins, Santa Claus, and snow. Unfortunately, owning horses more often means rain, more rain, mud, and more mud. Ensuring that you have everything ready in advance will make things go far more smoothly. Filling all the haynets you need for the week at the weekend, and making up feed in advance are not only tips for winter management, but often are good practices to put in year round.
Related Articles
