Winter is coming upon us and with temperatures below freezing for several weeks or even months, it can be difficult to keep horses happy and healthy.

We have listed a few tips that can help your horse get through the winter happy and healthy!

-Horses kept outside need to eat more food. Horses produce a lot of heat during digestion. A big supply of hay helps keep the horse’s internal furnace stoked.

-Using a blanket can flatten the hairs against the horse’s body. The hairs need to be able to move upwards to help regulate temperature and trap heat.  If you use a blanket you must also make sure you regularly brush underneath, this is a very important part of horse care.

-Blanketing should be considered during wet, very windy, or freezing weather. A wet coat causes the hairs to lie flat, like a wet down jacket, and won’t hold body heat. Windy weather pulls warmth away. Some horses are comfortable during very cold weather; some will be more comfortable in a winter blanket.

-If your horses are stabled or outside provide them a windbreak or shelter.

-Rubber buckets are easier to get the ice out of if they become frozen. Plastic buckets used as water buckets can break when they freeze.

-Have your horse on a deworming program.

-Adding a mineral supplement to your horse diet should be considered.