Winter Care For Horses

We decided to provide you with this article based upon requests from our clients. After a number of conversations with the Friends of Trevelyan, we have collated ideas and suggestions from various clients and suppliers including BEVA: British Equine Veterinary Association to help offer suggestions for some of those little problems we horse enthusiasts need to overcome in the cold winter months...

Winter Horse Care - Tip 1

You can quickly test to see if your horse is feeling the cold of winter by feeling the temperature of their ears with your hand...what a simple test and quite effective too! This should give you a quick and easy indication.

However, if you're unsure you should also use a thermometer and follow the instructions to be absolutely certain.

Winter Horse Care - Tip 2

That blue plastic pipes are made to go under ground so if you have water troughs connected to blue plastic pipes (as in the ones supplied by WICKES, for the DIY specialists amongst us) lag them well or they will split during freezing weather. If you have unlagged pipes they can easily freeze up during the winter months...so lag them...even these plastic ones to help reduce leaks from the expansion of freezing water inside plus the wear and tear which freezing conditions can have on the actual pipe material itself.

Winter Horse Care - Tip 3

Horses feed for approximately 16 - 18 hours of the day. Reducing your horses' eating time increases the risk of Gastric Ulceration plus the development of abnormal behaviours. Whenever possible, feed grass, ad-lib hay, haylage or make short chopped forages available off a clean floor as this is the normal grazing position. We add some chopped carrots or swede hidden amongst hay to add some interest to the longer hours spent in a stable.

Soak the hay for around 30 minutes in clean water to help reduce any exposure of the lungs to dust and other particles...but don't leave the water standing long enough to freeze up! Our friends add hot water to cold to ensure it doesn't freeze in mid winter and for the fussy feeders, put a little molasses in the water to encourage them to eat the hay after soaking.

Winter Horse Care - Tip 4

50% - 70% of your horses' bodyweight consists of water. Stabled horses will need more water because they are eating dry feed. BEVA recommend that you clean automatic drinking bowls twice a day as the average daily water requirement of a horse is between 20 - 40 litres (or 5 - 10 gallons). In addition, place a couple of buckets of water in the stall and add some chopped apple to encourage your horse to drink water.

Winter Horse Care - Tip 5

If your field is very wet, stable or yard your horse to help prevent mud fever (please refer to the BEVA website for further advice and guidance...BEVA website). If left untreated, your horses' legs may become permanently filled.

We have many clients that have had horses who suffer from Mud Fever and can highly recommend Zinc Ointment. Its cheap and provides a barrier to water and we've found it works wonders...but you have to catch it early!

Firstly, leave the mud to dry and gently remove from legs. Or wash with Hibiscrub, an Antiseptic solution (which you can purchase from any BOOTS chemist) diluted in warm water and dry thoroughly, including the hoof and sole.Try to dislodge the scabs, if possible, as removing them encourages healing. Lastly, cover in ZINC ointment.

This advice is purely for cases that you have managed to catch early enough and has not caused your horse or pony too much discomfort. If you`re concerned, always always refer to your vet for advice.

Winter Horse Care - Tip 6

Horseboxes need care & attention too! If the winter is going to be as cold as the forecasters advise, we would suggest you closely monitor all plastic pipes. Check gas bottles and lag the pipe from the bottle just to be on the safe side. We advise that you test for leakages...we go as far as to use smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to be on the extra safe side.

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