Northwest Winter Horse Care

by Brandon Enyeart

Living in the Northwest, you never know what kind of winter weather you are going to wake up to. Some days you might have a tropical storm, others you might have an arctic storm, and the rest fall somewhere in between. When it comes to caring for your horse, there is never a such thing as too much information, so listed below are some simple things to remember going into the winter and links you can follow to learn more.

Thrush
One of the more common diseases that affects horses in winter is thrush. It is caused when anaerobic bacteria attacks the frog on the foot and the sides of the frog. For more information visit www.horsehealthcare.info/horse-thrush.html

Rain Rot
Horses whose thick coats get soaked repeatedly or that are left in wet blankets are most likely to develop problems with rain rot or rain scald. Do a thorough, deep grooming at least once a week and keep at least one spare dry blanket available. If your horse does develop rain rot, the good news is that it will probably disturb you more than your horse. It isn’t quite as bad as it looks. For more information on how to cure rain rot visit www.understanding-horse-nutrition.com/rain-rot.html

Cold Weather Tips
Keeping a blow-dryer and several heavy towels around may come in handy for times when your horse doesn’t come in out of the rain until it is too late.

If you have multiple horses in a paddock or field, make sure to keep a close eye on herd dynamics. Sometimes horses lower on the pecking order get shoved out of the shelter you've provided.

If your horse is stabled, his coat probably isn't as full as an outdoor horse's. Always be sure to have the proper blanket ready for turnout.

When temperatures dip very low, allow enough air circulation between the barn and outside to avoid temperature extremes so it is easier for your horse to adapt.

Snow is never a substitute for water and horses will not drink water that is extremely cold. Heated troughs or buckets are ideal. If this isn’t possible, buckets can be wrapped with insulating materials and enclosed in a wooden box to keep horses from chewing on the insulation.

Hopefully this will help you be a little more prepared for some of the issues you may deal with for the next few months. Keeping a close eye on everything and thinking ahead can make the long, cold, times ahead much easier.