Prepping For Winter

Photo From: jennifercollman.com

Horses require a tremendous amount of care and attention throughout the year, but they require even closer attention when the temperature starts to drop. When the weather starts to turn, all horse owners should be aware of how to keep them safe and comfortable despite the bitter cold and flying snow. Below are just a few tips on how to keep your horse happy through every winter season.

Give A Thorough Scrubbing Bath

For most horses, winter is a time of vacation and relaxation from their summer duties. As soon as your horse is about to enter its holiday period, a well-deserved bath is in order. Giving them a total bath before blanketing and going on break is extremely helpful for keeping their coat fresh and clean all season. This pre-winter break should involve cleaning and scrubbing every part of their body, using both shampoo and conditioner. Once the bath is finished, spray their whole body with conditioner and allow it to set as they dry.

Cut And Braid Tail

If your horse’s tail is getting too long to manage, the time period right before winter is the perfect time to cut it shorter. Doing it now will allow the bottom of the tail to grow in fuller, and the edges should grow out the flat edge from the cutting to make it look natural again. This is especially important for Arabian show horses, due to fake flat-ended tails being illegal in the show ring. When giving your horse a bath, make sure to both shampoo and condition the entire tail. For easy cutting, choose your section when the tail is still wet. Once the tail has been cut, it’s recommended to braid it and put in a tail bag. Doing this will allow the tail to grow safely all winter without chance of breakage.

Photo From: horseforum.com

Remove Shoes If Necessary

For many horses, having shoes on all winter is an unnecessary expense. Unless they are kept in intense training year-round or require shoes for medical reasons, horses do not need to keep their big heavy shoes. Removing shoes is incredibly important for horses being turned out during the winter. Metal shoes can be slippery and dangerous on ice and snow. Simply removing the shoes can stop many preventable accidents.

Provide Proper Blanketing

Winter can be extremely cold and harsh, so horses can use all the help they can get to stay warm. Their own fluffy winter coats, while usually adequate, may not be enough for some of the brutal temperatures experienced throughout the season. It is recommended to at least have a waterproof, breathable blanket as an extra layer. If this is not enough, additional layers such as sheets, neck covers, and slinkies may be added.

These are just a few tips to help your horse stay comfortable throughout the winter season. If you need more ideas on how to prepare, click here and here for additional information.