This document provides information on caring for horses during the winter months. It discusses housing, blanketing, clipping, nutrition, exercise, and health considerations. Regarding housing, it notes that horses do not need stalls but should have shelter, and stalls require proper ventilation and cleaning. It provides guidelines for blanketing based on weather and activity level. Nutrition discusses increasing calories and water intake in winter. Exercise addresses turning horses out daily and riding outdoors when possible. Health focuses on vaccinations and parasite control.

1. Winter Care & Feeding
Carey A. Williams, Ph.D.
Rutgers University
Rutgers Equine Science Center

2. Introduction
• As the days get shorter and weather get colder
and wetter there are many things to consider to
maintain horse horse‟s health and sanity through
the long winter months
• This webinar will address the most common
concerns regarding housing, health maintenance,
nutrition and exercise

3. Housing & Shelter
• Even in the worst winter most horses do not
“need” a stall in a barn
– Requirement: at least shelter
• i.e. a run in shed or a stand of trees

4. Housing & Shelter
• If horses are maintained in stalls, air quality
becomes a concern
– Wet bedding and manure should be completely
removed at least once a day
– Ventilation should be maximized by keeping
windows/doors open as much as
possible, even in very cold weather
– Ceiling fans/vents can also help

5. Blanketing & Clipping
• Rule of thumb: if the horse is shivering it would
benefit from a blanket to help keep it warm
– Not necessary with a naturally thick hair coat and is
adapted to the cold
• How many of you blanket your
horses?
A) Yes
B) No
C) No, don‟t own a horse

6. Blanketing & Clipping
• There is a wide variety of blankets:
– Lightweight “sheets” best for short term use after
riding
– Thick, water proof “rugs” for horses turned out for
long periods of time

7. Blanketing & Clipping
• Select a blanket that is appropriate for your
situation
– If wet: water resistant and lined with a material
that will “wick” the moisture away the skin
– If in a stall: make sure the coat is not so heavy to
cause the horse to sweat
• Sweat under a blanket can
contribute to skin irritation
and infections

8. Blanketing & Clipping
• It is equally important that the blanket fits the
horse well

9. Blanketing & Clipping
• Rub marks can develop on the point of their
shoulders, withers and where the straps secure
the blanket if it is too small, tight, or ill fitting
– If blanketed continuously the blanket must be
removed at least once a day
• Groom, checked for rub marks, infections and monitor for
weight gain or loss

10. Blanketing & Clipping
• If you plan to ride regularly through the season,
doing work that will stimulate a lot of sweat, it is
recommended to clip:
• How many of you clip your horse?
A) Yes
B) No
C) No, don‟t own a horse

11. Blanketing & Clipping
• Body clipped horses may have higher energy
needs
– They may be worked harder
– And will need to generate more heat to stay warm
when not blanketed
• The hair will not grow back rapidly in the winter
– Once you clip a horse be
prepared to keep it warm
for the rest of the winter

12. Blanketing & Clipping
• Body clip = all the hair • Trace clip = shave the
on the neck, legs and hair from the underside
body has been shaved, it of the neck and
should not be left out in abdomen, and the sides
inclement weather even of the horse from the
if blanketed elbows to about a
quarter of the way up

13. Blanketing & Clipping
• Hunter clip = hair is • Blanket clip = the hair is
removed from neck and
removed as in a body
body as in the hunter
clip only hair is left in
clip only hair is left on in
the saddle area and on the shape of a blanket
the legs

14. Nutrition
• A change in feed depends on how hard you are
working your horse and how it is housed
• Major concerns =
1. Adequate calories to maintain good body condition
2. Adequate water intake to prevent impaction colic

15. Nutrition
• Horses usually need extra energy to help keep
them warm
– Horses‟ energy requirements will  25 % during the
winter months
– Usually this can be met with 25% more hay
• Extra hay will help keep them warm through the
heat of fermentation produced in the hindgut
(cecum and colon) when digesting/fermenting
the forage

16. Nutrition
• Boredom can be a problem in winter when horses
are not being turned out or ridden as much
– Keep them happy with free choice hay or forage
based feeds
• I.e. hay cubes, chaff, etc.
– Salt and water will reduce the
incidence of stress related
problems and vices
• Grain and grain-based products should be used
only if absolutely necessary to maintain good
body condition

17. Nutrition
• Poor quality hay may require supplementation with
vitamins and minerals
• Be careful when buying special „winter
supplements‟
– Any multi-vitamin/mineral balanced for the type of
hay you are feeding and life stage of the horse will do

18. Nutrition
• Horses will limit their intake of ice cold water to
only what is necessary
– This may not be adequate for optimal hydration
• Give access to water free of ice at least once a day
– Automatic, heated waterers the units should be
checked daily

19. Nutrition
• A tablespoon or two of plain salt can be added to
the feed to encourage water intake
– If feeding pelleted feeds or hay cubes, they can be
soaked in water to further increase water intake
• Horses should always have free access to salt
blocks

20. Exercise
• Stabled horses are often kept in
stalls for long periods of time if
weather is poor
• As long as they have free choice
hay, salt and water most will
remain perfectly happy
– Some will develop swollen legs, or
„stock up‟
– Some may be agitated in the stall
• It is best to turn them out for exercise as
often as possible
• Indoor arena work well if no one is using
it for riding

21. Exercise
• Horses can go barefoot if they are not ridden often
– Better traction on snow and ice
– Snow will not “ball up”
• If shod “snow pads” are recommended
– Full hoof pad or a rim pad
– Borium can be used as calks
– Ask your farrier about your options

22. Exercise
• Sole bruising is a problem in the winter when
working on frozen ground, especially in horses
with thin soles
– If riding regularly in the winter keep workouts to
unfrozen footing (or deeper snow)
– If arenas are frozen it may be better to postpone
riding instead of risking a bruised sole
• How many of you ride outdoors in the winter?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Yes, but not on snow

23. Exercise
• When working in the deeper snow it will act as a
sort of resistance training
– Be careful that the snow you are riding in is not too
heavy and damp
• It could potentially cause tendon injuries
– If the snow is light, doing trot sets or some lighter
flat work can help with cardio and hind end
strength

24. Exercise

25. Exercise
• It is recommended to use a quarter sheet if riding
a fully clipped horse in the extreme cold
– A sheet that covers the horse‟s hind quarters
– Especially during warm up and cool down
• With only a trace clip they may only need one
when warming up
– When cooling down it will depend on the sweat
– A quarter sheet might be necessary to help wick
away some of the moisture

26. Exercise
• Even with clipped horses it is not recommend to
continue exercise with a blanket or sheet
• Never leave a hot, wet horse standing in a cold,
drafty stall or turning them out in the cold
– Could cause them to get chilled
– Also potentially stressed to the point where they
could get sick

27. Health
• Most horses get their routine
vaccinations in the spring
• Booster vaccinations for diseases
transmitted by direct contact
– Recommended if transporting or
showing:
• Influenza, rhinopneumonitis and strangles
• Mosquito borne diseases should not be
a problem in the temperate climates
• Booster vaccines should be considered
if shipping to warmer climates

28. Health
• De-worm only as needed
– Based on fecal analysis for
intestinal parasite larvae or eggs
• Manure should be picked up in
the paddocks and sheds
– Help prevent unsanitary mud
accumulation and skin infections
on the lower legs
– More important when snow and
ice melt

29. Health
• After storms always check the paddocks/pastures
for fallen tree limbs
• Horses could chew on the branches of potentially
toxic trees and shrubs
• In the spring, the first green plants to appear are
usually the noxious weeds
– It is important to feed plenty of hay and try to keep
the weed population down by mowing

30. Facts and Myths
• There are several questions I always get asked in
the winter, some and myths and some are facts

31. Bran Mashes
• “Bran mashes is good in the winter
to keep my horse from colicing.”
A.True
B.False
C.Don‟t know

32. Bran Mashes
• FALSE:
– Wheat bran has never been proven to act
as a laxative or increase fecal moisture
when fed at 50% of the diet
– Theory is that wheat bran has high fiber so
helps in digestion
• Oats have same fiber content as bran
• Increase water intake is the only benefit
• Very high in P, not recommended to feed daily
– Mostly bran mashes are a „Comfort Food‟
• For the owner more so than the horse!

33. Digestive Aids
• “Digestive aids or anti-colic
supplements need to be fed in the
winter to prevent colic.”
A.True
B.False
C.Don‟t know

34. Digestive Aids
• FALSE:
– Digestive aids usually consist of some sort of
probiotic or yeast culture
• These have never been found to increase digestion in a
healthy horse
• May be beneficial if sick or has digestive problems
– Anti-Colic Supplements have never been
scientifically proven
– Problem in the winter is usually decreased
water intake
• That can only be cured by increasing their intake!

35. Hoof Supplements
• “Hoof supplements will help the
horses hooves grow quicker and
stay healthier in the winter.”
A.True
B.False
C.Don‟t know

36. Hoof Supplements
• FALSE:
– Horses hooves may be brittle or crack from
the cold dry climate in the winter
• Hoof supplements will not help
– Biotin and other hoof supplements work
from the inside out
• A hoof grows from the cornet band down in 6 to 12 mo
– If hooves are poor due to weather conditions
you need to apply something externally
– It is best to talk to your farrier about what
product would be best

37. Calming Aids
• “Calming aids or B-vitamins will
help keep my horse calm when in
the stall for a long period of time.”
A.True
B.False
C.Don‟t know

38. Calming Aids
• UNKNOWN:
– These have not been scientifically proven
– Some horses become very nervous if stalled
for a long period of time
• If your horse responds to these supplements they may
not be a bad idea
– B-vitamins are water-soluble, so if your
horse has too much excess, they will just get
rid of what they don‟t need in the urine

39. Take Home Message
• Depends on how hard you are working your horse
& how it is housed to determine if a change in
feed is necessary
• Major concerns are adequate calorie intake &
adequate water intake

40. Thank You!
Carey Williams, Ph.D.
Equine Extension Specialist
cwilliams@aesop.rutgers.edu
www.esc.rutgers.edu
Equine Science Center
Better horse care through research & education

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42. Upcoming Webcasts
• Feeding & Care of Donkeys and Mules
December 6, 2011 | 7PM ET
• Find Your Dream Job in the Horse Industry
January 10, 2012 | 7PM ET
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February 28, 2012 | 7PM ET

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