Keeping Your Horse Protected from the Elements This Winter

Cold winter weather is a challenge for horse owners. From keeping the water pipes from freezing in the barn to keeping an older horse comfortable during the cold snaps here are some facts about keeping your horse comfortable in those cold winter months.

Healthy horses can normally tolerate temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit without much of a problem. This is provided they have adequate body fat, a thick winter coat and no major health problems. Even if the temperature goes down to the 30's it is advisable to have some sort of shelter from the wind for the horse. The other day I was driving passed a large flock of sheep and noticed that they had gathered behind a barn as shelter from the 20 mile an hour winds. The air temperature at the time was in the 30's. The sheep had full fleeces on them and still they needed shelter from the bitter cold wind. Shelter can be in the form of a stand of trees, a rocky outcrop, the side of a building as well as a pasture shelter put up for the job of protecting the horse.

If you have an older horse, consider purchasing a stable blanket as well as a warm turnout blanket. Older horses have a harder time keeping warm. On sunny colder days when the younger horses are enjoying running around, an older horse will spend time just trying to keep warm. I made the mistake of leaving a blanket off of my 24 year old horse a few weeks ago because it felt like a warm day to me (in the 40's) but my old guy came limping in from pasture that day because the cold air had gotten to his hips. He needs a blanket in temperatures under 50 degrees now, just because of his age.

Horses will need access to unfrozen water. Keep your water troughs full and the water flowing. Just having a water hose set on a fast moving trickle will keep the water from freezing solid.

Just by keeping your horse well fed, access to unfrozen water, blanketed if needed, and shelter from the wind will help your horse through the cold bitter winter.