Poll: Cold Weather Horse Care Concerns
Tell us more about your answer in the comments below! Users must be logged in to their free account on TheHorse.com to comment.
Related Content:
Share
More from The Horse
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with
9 Responses
Last year I converted my hay to Happy Horse hay biscuits which is a complete balanced feed. No need to feed grain or supplements. There is no shortage of help to bring in hay bales on the hottest, most humid day. Feed is consistent without dust, mold or inconsistencies of hay. No weeds! No disposing of hay uneaten or disliked hay. No cough.
The product is a little pricier on the front end but much friendlier for my horses and me than hay.
Availability of quality forage. Here in the northeast, that means HAY. After several years of drought, this year we were hit with constant and sometimes excessive rain. The ground is so saturated that farmers can’t get out on the fields without sinking. Both hay crops, 1st and 2nd cuts, have suffered mightily and it’s reflected in the price. Local hay is not only hard to find (often selling out), but it’s expensive and of lower quality.
My horses are limited to a dry lot in winter which becomes a mud pit no matter what we do. They stay cooped up in their run-in to avoid the mud. With one being insulin resistant and no place to provide exercise (that wouldn’t instantly become a quagmire), I worry about lack of exercise and laminitis.
We get lots of snow and once it gets fairly deep or covered in ice from freezing rain, horses do not move around much. Thus, turnout good for their lungs but does not do much for exercise. Freezing rain increases the risk of injury even for shod horses with corks. In arena riding a challenge when temperatures are below -10 degrees. Water consumption is a concern when horses are turned out.
Less water intake even with salt and electrolytes I worry about impaction
Our winters are nonstop mud season, November thru early May (if we’re lucky!). Thrush, soft hooves, slipping and strains, and everything else that comes with mud-mud-mud is a concern. Even with improved footing in a sacrifice area, the pastures are risky (and at risk).
Edit: my horses are TURNED out 24/7.
Availability of quality forage. My horses are trimmed out 24 seven with a loafing shed for protection from the elements m. I’m not concerned about reduced water intake because I use a deicer in my stock tank and add salt to my horses feed to make them want to drink more in the winter. When we do get snow, it usually melts before it has a chance to turn to ice.
Lack of exercise due to rain and muddy conditions.