How to care for a horse in winter is easy. Horses can regulate their temperature better in the winter than they can in the summer. To keep them happy only a few things are needed.
Having a few more calories during the winter and keeping a little extra fat will not hurt in the cold months.
It is really important that you are regularly worming your horse and keeping them parasite free!
Provide your horse with shelter from the elements. There should be no leaks and the opening should face away from the prevailing wind direction.
Be aware of your horse’s water supply, horses tend not to drink as much water in the winter than other months mainly because its cold. So it is important to encourage them to drink as much as they can. If you think your horse’s water might freeze then you should invest in a water heater.
Look at your horse’s coat. It should thicken to keep warm and gradually become greasy; helping to repel ice and snow.
If your horse is stabled during winter but turned out during the day your horse will need a blanket. If your horse is outside its own winter coat is better than any blanket you can provide. If you feel you want to use a blanket make sure it doesn’t 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.