Friday, April 20, 2012

Tips For Taking Care Of Horses In Winter Months

By John Dorian


When you care for your horse, it is important to make preparations for the winter months. Horses need to be able to tolerate the cold weather and stay as healthy as possible. Horses, like other animals, have special considerations an owner has to attend to in the winter. So with that in mind, you want to prepare for winter well ahead of time.

The cold would normally leave most horses unfazed. You may be surprised to know that horses actually prefer the cold. Despite this, there are some basic things owners will want to do to make sure their horses stay healthy. Your horse would need to have some shots and be totally free of parasites during this time. The costs for doing these things will greatly pay off during the winter. You can save some money as well, particularly on food for your horse.

You may also want to work with your vet in setting up a health plan for your horse. This would include prepping your horse's diet for cold weather conditions so that it does not need to consume copious amounts of chow to stay at a healthy weight. Your horse should never lose weight during the winter. This may call for some preventative tactics, such as feeding your horse a little extra before the winter months, as the extra weight could provide more calories, therefore more energy under duress. Continue the process in the winter by giving your horse extra calories for extra energy.

Horses have a natural winter coat which keeps them warm and cozy once December rolls around. This coat is something that you would want to see growing naturally, as it gives them natural protection in a cold setting, offsetting the loss of heat emanating from their bodies. Ice and snow would also tend to bounce off the horse's coat. If your horses really have to stay outside, their coats need to be at a certain length well before winter.

To check the condition of your horse, you will want to rub its ribs. A large winter coat can easily hide the fact the horse may be losing weight. You want to feel the ribs of your horse when you touch it, but you do not want to see them, as this is a sign they may be getting emaciated. Also check the ears of your horse. Are they as cold as the weather? If so, this is a sign that the horse is cold.

A horse's survival is ensured by its maintaining a normal and healthy body temperature. To sum it all up, horses need to conserve heat in the winter months, so it is your duty as owner to make sure this happens.




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