THE World Horse Welfare says owners should continuously monitor their horse's health and welfare throughout the year and regardless of the season it is important that all farriery, veterinary and dental care is kept up-to-date.
But during winter months they should consider their horse's age, breed, size, diet, coat and what type of shelter is available.
On their website they lay out ten top tips for caring for horses in winter.
Treat each horse, pony or donkey as an individual
Check your horse regularly for any changes in body weight by using a weighbridge or tape and assessing its body condition score
Provide ad-lib access to good quality forage during cold weather (below 5 degrees)
If your horse is overweight, use a mixture of systems to vary the way your horse accesses forage to slow down consumption rate whilst ensuring ad-lib access
Make sure your horse has access to a shelter – either natural or man-made – and remember donkeys need a fully waterproof shelter
Don’t rug horses based on how cold you are, but whether they actually need to be rugged – be careful not to over-rug your horse as it could lead to discomfort, weight gain or development of skin conditions
If you do need to rug your horse, use a rug that fits properly and have a spare in case one gets wet
Keep a close eye on your horse’s legs and coat for early signs of mud fever or other skin conditions
Make sure fresh water is always available, and remember in freezing conditions you may need to check the water trough or bucket two or three times a day to break any ice
Have some sand available to use on icy paths
It is important to remember that all horses, ponies and donkeys need to be treated as individuals.
They may all have similar needs but how best to care for them as the seasons change, such as whether to rug or provide supplementary feed, should be based on the situation of each animal, not what the one next door is receiving.
It is a good idea to check your horse regularly for any changes in bodyweight by using a combination of a weighbridge or tape and assessing its body condition score.
You may be riding less or increasing the amount of time that your horse is stabled, which means that it is burning fewer calories.
Equally, if you find your horse is dropping weight you may need to increase the calorific value of their forage, introduce supplementary feeding or think about rugging them.
Try to allow rugged horses time during the day to get fresh air and the sun on their backs, don’t keep them rugged 24/7.
Be careful not to over-rug your horse as they may sweat and become uncomfortable.All horses when out at grass will need constant access to shelter, either natural such as a copse of trees or a thick hedgerow, or a man-made field shelter.
World Horse Welfare cares for around 300 horses at any one time across their four UK Rescue and Rehoming Centres.
Even at the most northern centre, Belwade Farm in Aberdeenshire, horses are only rugged if they are clipped, particularly elderly, underweight or thin-skinned.
Deputy Chief Executive Tony Tyler says: “The majority of horses can cope very well in cold weather as long as natural or man-made shelter is provided from the rain and wind. The digestion of fibre such as hay or haylage generates heat which keeps them warm from the inside out and native ponies grow their very own rugs so shouldn’t need to wear one at all!”
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