b'AAEP FORUM JENNA DONALDSON, DVMTheHorse.com/AAEP-ForumSafe Exercising in Cold WeatherH orses and humans alike enjoy cooler riding weather in the fall, but it does remind us that winter is fast approaching. Here in the Northeast, short days, significant snowfall, and icy footing can make it a challenge to keep horses in consistent work. For those who are not planning to head south when the snow flies, here are some tips to keep your horses safe and healthy when riding them this winter.Cold, inclement weather and poor footing in paddocks can make horses less likely to move around in turnout, leading to stiff muscles. It can also mean more time spent in stalls. A thorough warmup is important to minimize ISTOCK.COMthe risk of sustaining musculoskeletal injuries during exercise. This is especially important for older horses, those withRemember that while snow might cushion hard ground, it can also hide dangerous ice patches.prior soft tissue injuries or arthritis, and horses that are not being workedcan become very hard and slick. Makesituations. Regardless of what your horse consistently during the winter.sure to inspect your riding surface care- wears, provide him access to clean, frost-Thicker hair coats mean horses arefully prior to working your horse. If infree water at all timesespecially right more likely to be sweaty after a heavydoubt, stick to slower speeds. after exercise. workout. It is very important to ensureHorses with shoes in snowy climatesThere have been few scientific stud-that horses are cool and dry beforetypically benefit from snow pads to pre- ies looking at the effects of exercise in blanketing and/or turning them out. Ifvent ice chunks from building up in theirextreme cold weather on horses. There-you plan to ride consistently, it mightfeet. In some situations farriers applyfore, it is difficult to give specific recom-be worth clipping your horse to preventsmall corks (also called caulks or studs)mendations about how cold is too cold excessive sweating. Make sure to blanketto shoes for traction. It can be tempt- to ride. Consider each horses fitness level, appropriately based on the type of cliping to pull shoes on horses that arentavailable riding facilities, and any pre-performed. If you do body-clip yourin regular work over the winter. How- existing health conditions when setting horse, you might want to use a quarterever, keep in mind that even the frozen,winter training schedules. Cold air has sheet during cold weather warmup andchoppy footing in the paddock can causebeen shown to damage the respiratory cool-down. foot bruises, particularly in horses with tracts of horses exercising heavily under Footing can provide a real challengepoor-quality or sensitive feet. Discussexperimental conditions. It is more likely for both turnout and riding during thewinter shoeing strategies with your far- that a horse with underlying inflamma-winter. If you will be riding outside,rier in the fall.tory airway disease will be affected by footing can become quite hard in coldIf your horse wears a blanket, removecold weather.weather and can bruise feet, especially ifit regularly to give him a brief once-over.In summary, make sure to provide your horse is barefoot and you are canter- This will allow you to detect changes inan appropriate warmup and cool-down ing or jumping. Snow might cushion thebody condition and check for blanketwhen riding. Pay close attention to footing, but it can also hide dangerous icyrubs. Older horses expend more caloriesturnout and arena footing, as well as your patches. Indoor arenas are convenient forto stay warm and might need extra feed.horses shoeing needs. Managing these winter riding; however, some syntheticAdding blanket layers to thin horsesdetails carefully will help your horse get footings freeze in low temperatures andcan help them put on weight in somethrough the winter injury-free. hAmerican Association of Equine Practitioners, 4033 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY40511859/233-0147www.aaep.org14November 2018The Horse | TheHorse.com'