Winter has officially arrived here in central Pennsylvania. Cold weather care of your animals requires extra effort to keep them comfortable and healthy. Horses can withstand cold pretty well, as well as wet -- but not both together. If your horse is dry, in good weight, and has a windbreak, he will tolerate the cold. But a wind will take away the insulating air trapped in his long winter coat and wet will plaster that long coat down, leaving him no insulation. The thick coat will hold the dampness a long time, making it hard for him to dry. If the temperature is not too cold he won't mind getting wet, but once the temps are below freezing he will appreciate being inside out of the weather.
Water is a constant need for all animals; horses drink 5 to 10 gallons a day. Make sure they have ready access to unfrozen, drinkable water.
Impaction colic is a problem in the winter with dry hay and less water available during freezing weather. The bowels will slow down and impact without enough liquid to keep them moving; colic is indeed a life-threatening condition. Many horses don't like to drink very cold water, especially older horses, it chills them and may hurt their teeth while drinking. There are several good water heaters made for stock tanks or buckets.
What you feed your horse is important in how well he can survive the winter. While grain is important to add calories to keep him in proper body condition, hay is the most important to keep him warm.
Eating and digesting hay warms him as he physically chews it, swallows, and processes it through his digestive system. Feed as good of hay as you can, quality hay give him lots of nutrients and calories. It is safer to feed than grain, and keeps him busy. Keep hay in front of him at all times or feed several portions a day, at least morning and night. If you have an older horse that can't chew very well or one having trouble keeping weight on, try adding some forage substitutes to his diet such as beet pulp, rice bran, alfalfa pellets, or other fiber sources. Talk with your vet or feed store to research alternatives to hay if you find it necessary to supplement it. We are lucky to live in an area with several hay auctions and lots of private farms with hay readily available.
Grain can be added to a horse's diet to help him keep weight on and to balance his forages (hay). Large quantities of grain can cause digestive problems, so remember to feed hay as the main diet and grain as the additive. Look for a grain that complements his hay, if you are feeding alfalfa hay with its higher protein, you would feed a lower protein grain. Commercial grains have been researched to add the vitamins and minerals needed for him to stay healthy. You do not need to add extra vitamins if you are feeding a good grain. Again, ask for assistance in finding the best grain for your individual horse's needs. There are a lot of choices available, including some specially formulated for senior horses, growing foals, horses with carbohydrate/starch problems, high fat for extra calories, etc.
Keeping your equine friend happy and healthy through the bad weather is a little more work, but it is worth it when you see him playing and frisking out in the new snow and hear him munching away on his feed. I always enjoy hearing a horse chewing on his hay, it is a comforting sound.
