winter hazards for horses

 

The top 5 cold weather hazards for horses!

 

 

Sure, the bugs and humidity are gone, but winter and cold weather have their own set of challenges. Here are some things to watch out for:

 

 

frozen horse water trough

 

  • Your horse’s waistline! Some horses pack on the pounds, some horses drop them away. But it’s human nature to not notice the big changes if you see your horse every day. Use a weight tape weekly or so to notice trends and make adjustments. You may need to add extra calories somewhere, you may need to add extra exercise.

 

horse weight tape

 

  • Watch the ground! My very own vet euthanizes at least one horse every winter due to a fall on the icy ground. Make changes to your horse’s turnout if the ground is icy. Also, be wary of frozen ground – uneven areas are a tripping/twisting hazard. Not to mention the absolute concussion of frozen ground.

 

icy ground

 

  • Be on colic alert! There’s a whole lotta science that says BOTH weather causes, and doesn’t cause, colic. But really – it boils down to hydration, movement, feed, exercise, barn management. And most importantly, you paying attention. For more on colic signs, read this. For more on weather changes and colic, read this one!

 

bay horse rolling in field

 

  • Skin issues! This may seem pale in comparison to the hard ground or hydration issues, but skin issues are real in winter. A winter coat can trap moisture from sweat and create the perfect petri dish for rain rot (a bacterial infection), sores from hair and goop and maybe tack friction, and overall grossness.

 

 

What do you stay on alert for in the winter?