Winter in Ohio can be a bit unpredictable, and most horses can easily adapt to weather changes that occur. However, some tend to not tolerate change as well as others. Winter can take a toll on the elderly, more so than the average horse. There are a few things an owner can do preemptively to keep their horse happy and healthy all winter long.
Fluctuations in temperature usually instill a sense of dread in horse owners as many have seen unusual hot or cold changes precede colic. Often times this correlation is due to lack of water consumption. Make sure your horse always has access to fresh unfrozen water. Many horses prefer warm water during the winter and there are a few products out there that can keep buckets and troughs from freezing, such as heated buckets and heaters designed to be submerged in tanks. If you know that your horse tends to drink less in the cold, making their grain into a soupy mash can sneak some water in. Adding molasses or flavored beverages to the water supply can also encourage some stubborn horses to drink, but if your horse has any metabolic issues, please consult your veterinarian before adding any substance with sugars in it. A salt lick in the stall can also help encourage drinking.
Colder weather can require a higher calorie intake for some horses or fewer calories for others. Depending on your horse’s needs, a careful eye on their body condition through the winter can prevent major weight loss/gain. Remove blankets regularly to keep an eye on their weight, for the average horse you should be able to feel ribs but not see them. If your horse is less active in the winter months, cutting down some of the grain intakes may be warranted. Older horses can be prone to weight loss in the winter, increasing calorie intake and using more digestible forms of feed designed for the elder equines can help. Lack of dental care can also contribute to weight loss; poor dentition can affect adequate food consumption. If you notice your horse not finishing grain or dropping feed, aka quidding, consider having your veterinarian out to do a dental exam.
Arthritic horses, young and old, benefit greatly from exercise and turnout. Just as with people, cold and damp weather can aggravate arthritis. Motion is lotion, the more your horse can move around, the better, so unless your horse has been prescribed stall rest, increased turnout and exercise may keep your equine a bit more limber in cold weather.
Keeping a savvy eye on your equine companion can help prevent a lot of issues or at least decrease its severity during the cold winter months. If you start noticing that your four-legged friend is having some distress this season, contact your veterinarian and they can help you create a plan that works for you and your horse.
Take precautions as cooler weather approaches
Preparing early for cooler weather is the key to keeping your horse comfortable and healthy for the fall and winter months. The remaining warmer days provide the perfect timing to prepare your pasture, your barn and your horse for the changes to come. Provide a safe living space indoors and out, and make gradual changes to routines, so as to ensure your horse remains healthy physically and emotionally.
Handling these preparations now will mean an easier transition into cold weather for you and your horse.
Our experts are always available for advice on the best methods for keeping your horse warm and healthy during seasonal changes and unusually cold winters.
Nutrition can be especially challenging, so call our team for tips or to schedule a consultation.
The fall and winter months in Northeast Ohio mean focusing on your horse’s nutrition. For horses that are typically pasture fed, this means a change in feeding to hay. Horses also tend to drink less water when temperatures drop, so it is important to monitor their water consumption, add electrolytes if necessary, and encourage drinking by offering warmer water.
When the ground is snow-covered, hay and grain become the primary source of calories for your horse. If your horse has been pasture fed, make the transition to a hay diet gradually and monitor your horse’s weight. Some horses tend to lose weight in the summer, while others may be more likely to lose in the winter months. Learn your horse’s habits and tendencies, and adjust his diet accordingly.
Competition horses that are moving into their offseason will need appropriate adjustments that accommodate their reduced activity. You may consider a grain with a lower fat content, but be sure to follow feeding instructions on the packaging and consider a ration booster if needed to fulfill your horse’s nutritional requirements.
A great way to determine your horse’s weight is to use Body Condition Scoring and begin now to get a benchmark before the cold weather sets in. This system, which provides guidelines for examining and measuring your horse, estimates fat on the horse’s body and gives scores ranging from 1–poor to 9–extremely fat. Optimum scores are in the 5 to 7 range depending on the role of the horse.
Our veterinarians can help you with nutritional decisions for your horse through changing seasons, and show you how to use Body Conditioning Scoring to keep your horse in top condition all year round.
In our part of the country, the summer season can be hot and humid from mid-June through mid-September. Your decisions on horse care should take into account the potential for dangerously hot weather throughout the summer and well into the fall. Horses, like people, are vulnerable to high temperatures, high humidity, and dehydration, so if you feel uncomfortable, your horse does too.
Approach decisions on care and activity for your horse much the way you would for yourself when weather conditions are hot and humid. Limit work or strenuous activity to cooler times of the day whenever possible and take extra time to cool your horse down. Sponging and misting are great ways to keep your horse cool.
Provide plenty of fresh, clean water and consult your veterinarian about adding electrolytes when appropriate. Consider, also, your horse’s access to shade. If your horse spends significant time outside, trees or some type of shelter should be available to allow escape from the sun. Likewise, horses that are confined inside on hot days will benefit from a fan to keep air moving.
Finally, realize that horses can get a sunburn, especially white horses. Sunblock on vulnerable areas or use of a fly scrim can be helpful if your horse will be outside during peak sun.
Why Spring? Each vaccine should be given based on risk. Some vaccines, such as Tetanus and Rabies, should be given yearly. They can be given in any season, as the risk for these diseases is year-round. Other vaccines depend on season and should be given based on when the risk of disease is highest. West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Western Equine Encephalitis are all transmitted by mosquitoes. These vaccines should therefore be given a month or two before “mosquito season” (springtime) to ensure the horse is protected against these viruses. The risk for Potomac Horse Fever (not common in NE Ohio but common in many surrounding areas) is July-Oct, so spring/early summer is ideal for vaccination. Since the “seasonal” vaccines should be given in the spring, most people opt to give all recommended vaccines in the spring. If you have any questions regarding your horses’ vaccine program, please do not hesitate to call!
| Vaccine | Who Should Get It? | How Often? | Other info. |
| Influenza | Any horse that may be in contact with others. | Every 6 months; those at high risk every 3-4 months. | |
| Rhinopneumonitis (EHV1/EHV4) | Any horse that may be in contact with others; especially important for pregnant mares. | Every 6 months; those at high risk every 3-4 months. | Pregnant mares: at 3, 5, 7, and 9 months of gestation. |
| Rabies | All horses. | Once a year. | |
| Tetanus | All horses. | Once a year. | May be boostered at 6+ months if at risk. |
| West Nile Virus | All horses. | Yearly in the spring. | Boostered at 6 months if traveling to a warmer climate. |
| Eastern Equine Encephalitis | All horses. | Yearly in the spring. | Boostered at 6 months if traveling to a warmer climate. |
| Western Equine Encephalitis | All horses. | Yearly in the spring. | Boostered at 6 months if traveling to a warmer climate. |
| Potomac Horse Fever | Horses traveling to an endemic area (e.g. southern OH, KY, MI, PA, NY) | Yearly in the spring. | Vaccine not always effective at preventing disease; can often reduce disease severity. |
| Strangles | Horses at high risk. | Yearly if at risk. | Check titers prior to vaccination. |
| Equine Viral Arteritis | Breeding animals. | Yearly, 2-4 weeks prior to breeding. | Check titers prior to vaccination. |
| Botulism | Horses in an endemic area. | Yearly. |
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