Keep Your Horse Comfortable This Winter
With winter approaching, many of us worry about whether or not our equine friends will be comfortable in the frigid weather. Below are some tips on how to keep your horse comfortable this winter and how to tell if your horse is having a difficult time coping with the weather.
But first, a note. Horses can certainly handle the elements and most can indeed live outside 24/7 even in the winter. As long as we provide them with adequate protection from the elements (shelter and in some cases blanketing as well as some other equine buddies so they can keep each other warm), good feed and a source of water (preferably heated) they tend to do just fine outside.
If you want to give your horse the best chance of being happy throughout the winter months, give your horse a running start by making sure s/he is very healthy prior to winter.
• If you vaccinate or deworm your horse, do so well before winter. Vaccinations and worming can degrade your horse's immune system which may already be taxed by the cold weather. Make sure your horse's teeth have been taken care of and that your horse can eat & chew his food properly.
• Decide on your horse's nutrition program before winter. Frost kills the nutrient levels in grass, so you will begin to see a loss in body condition well before the first snowfall. Prepare for this early on so that your horse can acclimate. Pay close attention to your horse's digestion. A good basic nutrition program will include good quality free choice (or frequently fed) hay, free choice minerals including salt & a cal/phos balancer, a balanced mineral/vitamin supplement and a good whole grain if your horse needs it as well as a good probiotic. In the winter, some people like to add a Vitamin E/Selenium supplement to balance what your horse will no longer be able to get from pasture/grass.
• Make sure your horse is on a regular hoof care schedule. Cold wet weather and the change in the terrain (frozen uneven ground) will cause changes in your horse's feet that you will want to keep on top of.
• Keep an eye on your horse's water intake (adult horses drink between 10&12 gal per day). Impaction colics become more frequent in the winter because horses are reluctant to drink cold water (and some horses do not have enough access to water if it freezes). If you are having difficulty getting your horse to drink, you may want to look into a type of electrolyte such as DynaSpark. Do not force feed your horse salt to get him to drink (see previous articles on salt).
• If your horse is brought in at night, make sure there is adequate ventilation and that the hay and bedding are as dust free as possible to prevent respiratory problems. Proper mucking techniques are important as well to reduce ammonia fumes from urine.
• If your horse is blanketed make sure you use proper blankets. Blankets should fit properly and not rub or irritate the shoulders, withers or any other part of your horse's body. Make sure the blanket is breathable and is of an appropriate weight for the weather. Horses should not be left to sweat under their blankets as this will mean they are stuck wearing damp blankets in cold weather. Making sure your blanket is waterproof (for outdoor use) is also important. Several of the cheaper turnout blankets leak at the seams which again results in your horse having to wear wet and damp blankets all day.
• Warm up and cool your horse down properly before and after riding. Give your horse's muscles plenty of time to adjust. Make sure your horse is dry before putting him back in his blankets, back outside or back in his stall.
• Vary your horse's riding routine so he does not become sour to working or being in the arena.
• If you must clip your horse, try to leave exposed areas (such as the head, neck and legs) unclipped. Make sure the rest of your horse is kept warm with blankets, and you will probably need to house your horse in a stall at night once the temperatures dip below freezing. When riding in very cold weather a quarter sheet and/or warm cooler can help keep your horse's muscles from tightening up.
Signs your horse is not coping well with the weather.
• decreased appetite
• fatigue, low energy, depression
• shivering/trembling
• dehydration, dry mouth/lack of saliva
• abnormal manure, gut aches, impaction, colic
• stiffness, tight, unwilling to work
• Abnormal vital signs (see below, credit to www.hast.net )
Temperature: The normal temperature for the horse is 100.0 degrees. However, a horse's temperature can vary somewhat with the season. During the winter, it is not uncommon for the temperature to drop to as low as 97. But usually, we are not concerned with temperature that are low, but rather, trying to determine if he is running a fever from an infection. During the winter, any temperature above about 100.5 should be suspect, with average fevers normally running from 101.5 up to 104. The summer heat, as well as any exercise, can often raise the core temperature upward even without a fever. This must be taken into account when the assessment is made. A race or show horse, after intense competition, can have a core temperature up to 105!! Even at rest, in the summer heat under a tree, a temperature of 101 would not be considered abnormal. So events preceding the acquisition of the temperature must be taken into account before it is interpreted. Taking a horses temperature is usually done rectally with either a standard glass or digital thermometer.
Pulse: The normal pulse rate, most often taken by listening to the heart on the left side of the chest just behind the left elbow, is 40 beats per minute. Horses that are fit may have rates as low as 28, and this is not considered abnormal. However, ANY rate above 40, even 44, should be looked in the context of how the horse is feeling. Rates between 40-60 are considered "serious", but may be explained by an elevated temperature. However, rates above 80 are considered "critical" and indicate a very serious problem. Of course, these rates apply to a horse at rest, and any exercise just before taking the pulse should be taken into consideration. Also, if the horse is suddenly excited, it may be elevated on a very temporary basis. Listen to the rate for at least a minute, checking to see if it comes down, before recording the final rate.
Respiration: The normal rate for horses is the same for adult humans, that being between 12-20 breaths per minute. However, many things can effect this that must be taken into consideration before considering whether it is abnormal. One common factor is his temperature. Other characteristics of breathing, rather than just the rate, may be more of an overall indicator of problems. Deep heavy breathing, or breathing with an extra abdominal effort, abnormal noise, labored breathing, or gasping are all indications of a very serious problem. Report any observations that are anything but quiet and easy breathing.
Mucus Membrane Colour: The normal colour is pink. Gums that are pale, deep red, purple, overly yellow, or streaked with the appearance of small broken blood vessels are abnormal and should be recorded. Some of the causes for abnormal appearance are listed below:
Pale: Low perfusion of blood indicating a "shock" condition.
Deep red: Congested membranes, also a shock type condition with toxicity.
Purple or blue: Low oxygen levels or serious toxicosis.
Overly yellow: Gums are normally slightly yellow, but very yellow may be a liver problem.
Petecial hemorrhages: Certain types of toxicosis.
Capillary Refill Time: After depressing the gums, the colour should return withing 1-2 seconds. Delayed return of colour, 3 seconds or more, is an indication of poor blood perfusion, often brought on by serious dehydration, shock, or other toxicosis.
Borborygmus: This refers to the sounds that the gut makes in digesting the feed. A horse should have a normal gurgling sound on both sides of the abdomen back near the flanks. Several horses should be assessed before making a determination of what can be considered "normal", "none", "low", or "hypermotile". During colic episodes, horses with little or no gut sounds may be in serious condition. A hypermotile gut may be indicating an irritation, and this may be coupled with a loose stool or diarrhea. Assessing the gut sounds from one moment to the next may indicate whether a horses condition is improving or deteriorating. Take this, and all of the vital signs, frequently.
Hydration State: The best way to determine hydration is through an assessment of the horses blood parameters. However, using the "skin turgor test" can often be a quick field aid. The skin over the shoulder should be pinched with some elevation of the skin. If it snaps back into place very quickly, the horse may be considered to be adequately hydrated. Any delay should be suspect and assessed along with the other vital signs. Older horses tend to have a more relaxed skin, so this should be taken into account. Again, assessing this parameter when the horse can be considered healthy will help determine if this is abnormal.
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