Caring for horses attentively through winter will
help to ensure that they get through the season
with relatively few problems. Horses are
reasonably hardy in cold temperatures and grow a
winter coat for additional warmth.[1] All the
same, care still needs to be taken to ensure that
they cool down properly after being ridden, that
they're not subjected to drafts, and that they're
being fed properly through the winter months.
!! Steps !!
Focus on the horse's housing first. When
preparing the stable or barn for winter, ensure
that the horse's quarters are clean, warm, well
ventilated and free from drafts. Clean bedding
is a priority and regular changes of the bedding
should be prioritized. Remove anything that
might injure or tempt the horse, such as
low-hanging lights, nails sticking out, toxic
cleaning substances, etc.
* If your horse is wintering outdoors in a temperate winter climate,
be careful of rain. Wet cold is far less tolerable than dry cold,
and you should consider blanketing your horse, as well as ensuring
that there is access to some form of shelter such as a shed, to
allow the horse to get out of the rain.
* Read How to winterize a livestock barn for more information on
this topic.
Know how to care for a horse that is ridden
during winter. Riding in winter brings up two
issues – preparing the horse adequately for
the ride, and cooling the hot horse down safely
in the cold after the ride, and the following
steps deal will deal with preparation, riding,
and post-riding. Be aware that there is no
temperature bar to riding a horse, provided
your horse has adapted to the temperature
(which requires regular outings) and it's not
too cold for you.[2] Fierce cold winds are not
ideal for riding, nor are severe thunderstorms
or blizzards, so use your common sense when
judging the riding conditions.
* Aim for four to six hours weekly of riding during winter. This is
especially important if you're a competition rider, as well as
ensuring that young horses get used to the work required of
them.[3]
* Plan well ahead. Winter means longer driving times, longer
preparation times, and shorter days. Be aware of the time
constraints affecting your ability to ride your horse and care for
him.
Prepare your horse for riding. Even before you
get your horse ready for riding, check the
terrain and pasture where you plan to ride your
horse. Look for ice or deep mud hazards that
could cause your horse to slip or trip and make
plans to avoid those areas. Add de-icing agents
such as salt or sawdust to slippery zones
around the stable and tacking areas, gateways
and doorways, etc. In terms of the horse:
Warm the bit before you tack up. Run hot water over it, or use a
non-toxic hand warmer gel. If you don't have access to either, remove
the bit from the bridle and put it in your pocket close to your skin
as you prepare everything else. You can also breathe on the bit to
warm it.
* Another alternative is to use a sweet iron bit; this isn't as
harsh and doesn't become as cold as normal steel.
* Clean out your horse's hooves well. Add a layer of non-stick
cooking spray or petroleum jelly to your horse's hooves; this will
prevent balls of ice and snow from forming in the hooves.
* Groom your horse. This is not only good for warming the horse's
muscles, but serves as an excellent warm-up workout for you
too.[4]
* Consider using an exercise sheet to prevent the horse's muscles
from becoming cold while riding. This is especially important for
a clipped or thin-skinned horse, or a horse that as been
restricted to a stable. Use it while tacking up as well as riding.
* Tack up. Find a clear, clean spot to tack up,
where it is not muddy or icy and has good footing. The same
requirements apply to the riding area itself.
During riding, take care about where you choose
to ride. Pitfalls for riding during winter are
varied depending on whether you're riding in
snow or in more temperate muddy, cold
temperatures. Things to watch out for include:
* Deep snow, especially where it conceals holes, tree wells, and
crevices where your horse could slip down.
* Ice. Any ice is potentially dangerous as your horse has no grip or
traction.
* Mud. While a little mud is fine, a lot of mud can cause the horse
to become bogged, or to trip. Mud can also conceal objects that
might harm your horse. Large areas of mud are best avoided.
* Wet slopes. Take care riding a horse down a wet slope, as it is
easy to lose grip, especially when going fast, and moving over wet
stony or rocky areas.
* Never canter or gallop your horse in snowy, muddy, icy, or slick
terrain.
Post riding, cool down your horse properly.
This is a time when the horse can get a chill,
moving from being very hot and sweaty, to being
cold. The following procedures form an
important part of sensible post-riding care
during winter:[5]
* If his ears are hot, walk him around a bit. Feel his ears again.
They should be cool, not cold nor hot. Cold ears mean a cold
horse.
* Dry your horse. A wet horse should be dried after riding in
winter; there can be snow, rain, and sweat combining to make for a
very wet horse. Take a towel in each hand and rub the towels over
his coat in circular motions. Roughing the hair up will help dry
it faster. If your horse is used to a blow dryer, you might
consider using this as well.
* Brush off snow. Any snow that has attached to your horse
(especially his legs) should be brushed off. Try to do this
outside to prevent taking it indoors where it can melt and become
slippery.
* Clean the hooves out and apply another layer of non-stick cooking
spray or petroleum jelly to the hooves.
* Brush or curry your horse once he is dry. This will separate the
hairs and help to keep him warm, as body heat warms the air
between the coat and skin.
* If adding a blanket, make sure it is a breathable blanket that
allows water vapor to pass through.
Return your horse to his stables, barn, or
field. Ensure that there is adequate food and
water. Give him hay to eat, as eating roughage
warms him quickly, releasing heat as it's
digested.[6]
* Be sure to check that the drinking water supplied is not frozen.
Horses will drink more water if it is warmed, reducing their risk
of colic brought on by dehydration.[7]
* Bank your horse's bedding up against any doors that lead out to
the pasture so drafts don't chill him.
* For horses in temperate winter zones, ensure that there is still
access to shelter even when they're left outside, such as a
lean-to shed or a grove of trees.
Be sure to give horses kept in stables or barns
plenty of outdoor time during winter. This
helps to keep them healthier because they
breathe fresh air and can adjust to the
temperature changes on a regular basis.[8]
* Encourage lots of movement and exercise to keep warm; this is how
horses keep warm in the wild.
Be careful with using blankets to keep your
horse warm. Realize that when you touch a horse
with your bare hands in winter, it will feel
cold to you. On the other hand, the horse's
coat and body heat will be doing a wonderful
job of insulating the horse, keeping the warmth
directed into the horse, and your bare hand
cannot feel this. Dr Joyce Harman recommends
that blankets only be used on horses with
special needs, such as clipped horses, old
horses, sick horses, thin horses, rescued
horses, horses which seem cold by nature, and
horses without shelter.[9] Young, fit,
sheltered horses probably don't need
blanketing.
* If you do use a blanket, keep using it, as the horse adapts its
temperature regulation to wearing a blanket.
* Keep in mind that your idea of cold is not your horse's idea of
cold; don't add too heavy a blanket, or too many.
* Wet cold is worse than dry cold for horses. Blankets are important
to prevent rain from making horses too cold.
Be aware of possible winter ills. Just like us,
horses get sick during winter and it's
important to know what to be on the lookout
for, and how to manage the problems that human
intervention can cause.
* Horses are susceptible to respiratory illnesses during winter. The
ammonia build-up, mold, and dust inside barns and stables can
bring on a variety of respiratory illnesses. Do your best to
prevent this by ensuring adequate ventilation and giving your
horse plenty of outdoor opportunities to breathe in fresh air.
Clean out stalls regularly.
* Horses are also susceptible to skin conditions during winter, such
as rain-rot, bed itch, ringworm, lice, and infected scratches.
Keep the horse clean, groomed, and medicated appropriately. Be
careful not to blanket a wet horse or to use blankets that do not
breathe but cause moisture build-up. See your vet promptly for
treatment of skin ailments.
Spend time with your horse during winter. Even
when the weather is foul and bleak, be sure to
sit with your horse in the shelter and talk to
him, groom him, and just be with him. He'll
appreciate your company and it keeps the two of
you connected. It will also help you to look
forward to the better winter riding days, and
the warmer days to come.
* Keep a regular grooming time in place during winter, no matter
what the weather.
* If you can't get to your horse as often as you'd like because of
winter conditions on roads, etc., have someone else check in on
your horse regularly to make sure he's fine.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Feed horses extra hay and some grain to replace their usual
pasture and help them keep themselves warm.
* Trim any fetlock hair to prevent mud fever.
* Peanut oil on the outside of the hooves keeps them sturdy and
retain their moisture in the winter.
* Use a bit of baby oil in the horse's mane and tail. This helps to
keep it looking cleaner and shinier.
* Turn your horse out in turn out boots to keep his legs clean and
dry.
* Make sure your horse has access to clean, fresh drinking water and
forage all the time.
* If your horse becomes sweaty when being ridden, consider having
him clipped.
* Use sawdust on mats, trailers, and entrance ways to prevent
slippage in icy and snow conditions.
* Tack should be dried in a warm, dry area out of direct sunlight.
Be sure that it is not somewhere damp, or mildew can start to grow
on the leather.
* For you: wear layers of clothing. Your inner layers should wick.
You'll sweat too when mucking out the stables, riding, and working
with your horse. And take water for you when riding; it's harder
to feel dehydration coming on during winter but it's as real an
issue as any other time of the year, so keep your fluid intake up.
!! Warnings !!
* Always wear the correct safety gear, including helmet and boots.
* Some horses try to protect their owners and themselves by avoiding
mud puddles and ice, be aware of this and be careful that they
don't catch you off guard.
* Horses that are stabled for long periods are more likely to be
frisky. Lunge them before you ride if they seem to be hyper.
* Horses have a hard time walking, trotting, cantering, and
galloping through snow. Watch how you are riding so your horse
doesn't become tired in 5 minutes.
* Hard, frozen ground it puts more stress on the horse's legs.
Avoid high-impact work.
* Put down salt at the yard to prevent ice forming.
* Greasing a horse's soles, helps, but doesn't totally prevent
snow balling. Check the hooves regularly during the ride.
* Do not feed a horse too much grain as they can colic from it.
* Be vigilant about barn, stable or shed safety. Don't overload
electrical circuits using kettles, heaters, machinery, lighting,
etc. and be sure there are no dangling cords that can be tripped
over or chewed.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Horse blanket (optional) - breathable, with nylon layer for
waterproofing if needed
* Heated drinking trough
* Heating
* Fresh straw for bedding
* Safety cupboard for anything toxic so that it cannot be accessed
by horses
* Cooking spray or petroleum jelly
* Salt, sawdust, etc., for icy ground
* Hoof cleaning equipment
* Winter riding gear
* Horse grooming gear
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Ride a Horse With One Arm
* How to Ride Horses Bareback
* How to Ride a Horse
* How to Ride a Horse or Pony
* How to Jump on Horseback
* How to Cool Down a Horse After Hard Work
* How to Condition Score a Horse
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
0 comments:
Post a Comment