As the leaves change color and it gets colder, it's time to get your horse ready for winter. This checklist will help you make sure your horse stays healthy and comfortable during the cold months.

Key Takeaways

·         Importance of fall horse care for winter preparedness

·         Monitoring body condition and adjusting feed for the colder months

·         Ensuring adequate shelter, water access, and hoof care

·         Implementing a deworming schedule and, if required, essential vaccinations

·         Managing pasture and mud control to keep your horse healthy

Importance of Fall Horse Care

As days get shorter and temperatures drop, it's time to get ready for winter. Mid to late autumn is the perfect time to prepare your horse for the cold months. Talking to your vet or equine dentist can ensure your horse stays healthy through winter.  Get their check-ups and dentals done, a fecal and blood work to check on any health concerns from Cushings, IR, Thyroid et al.

Why Fall is Crucial for Winter Preparedness

Fall offers a chance to ease your horse into cold weather. This slow adjustment helps your horse get used to the cold better. By acting now, you help your horse stay strong and healthy all winter.

Transitioning Your Horse into Cold Weather

When it gets colder, watch how your horse's body looks and change their food and exercise to add maybe more calories or hay. Regular checkups with your vet can spot health issues early. This way, your horse is ready for winter's challenges."Preparing your horse for winter during the fall months can help set them up for a successful and healthy cold-weather season."

Getting your horse ready for winter in the fall keeps them comfortable and safe. Always talk to your vet about what's best for your horse.  For the Senior Horse Earth Song Ranch has an herbal blend to help with any body aches and discomfort from the cold. This blend contains anti inflammatory and pain relieving herbs like White Willow Bark and Tumeric, Senior Herbal Support.  This is one of our best sellers in the Fall and Winter.

Body Condition Scoring for Winter

As winter comes, checking your horse's body condition is key to their health. Body condition scoring helps you decide on their diet and nutrition. This ensures they can handle the cold weather and stay at a healthy weight.

Checking your horse's body condition tells you a lot about their health and fitness. Scores range from 1 to 9, with 1 being very thin and 9 being very fat. For winter, a score of 5 to 7 is best, showing a healthy body. Before blankets go on make sure they have enough weight for the winter coming.

Watching your horse's BCS helps you adjust their food. This is very important for horses with little access to pasture or those at risk of laminitis and founder. They need extra care in winter when winds blow and grass begins to fade."Keeping your horse in good condition is key for their health in cold weather. Regular body condition scoring lets you make the right changes to their diet and care. This ensures they can do well through winter." 

A well-conditioned horse can better handle winter's challenges like cold and less food. By focusing on body condition scoring, you help your horse stay healthy. This prepares them for a good winter.  I start mid August with adding more in the way of bucket feed with rice bran meal, alfalfa pellets and joint support as mine tend to lose a bit of weight in summer.

Preparing Your Horse for Winter

As winter comes, taking care of your horse is key. You need to make sure they have enough hay and feed 24/7, a good shelter for cover and wind break, and fresh clean water. This keeps them healthy and happy.  Hay nets or Hay Pillows offered to give them feed 24/7 is a really great idea in Fall and Winter keeps the hay available and dry.

Ensuring Adequate Hay and Feed Supply

Winter makes your horse burn more energy to stay warm. So, you should have plenty of hay and feed ready. Aim for a six-month supply of hay to to avoid running out when the weather gets bad.  Also get the hay tested to see if it needs a balance of especially minerals or is low in sugars. 

Keep an eye on your horse's body weight. Adjust their feed to stop them from losing condition, including putting on too much weight as it could be a sign of IR. Talk to a vet or nutrition expert to find the right food and supplements for winter.

Providing Shelter and Water Access

Good shelter keeps your horse safe from the cold. Make sure they have a strong run-in or barn. It should be well-ventilated but keep out drafts, with dry bedding to keep warm.

It's important your horse always has clean, unfrozen water. Use a heater in your trough or tank to stop the water from freezing. Check and refill the water often so your horse can always get to it."Proper preparation and care for your horse in the fall will help ensure their health and comfort through the winter months."

By focusing on these key steps, you can help your horse get ready for winter. This keeps them healthy and happy all season long.

Hoof Care and Farrier Services

Keeping your horse's hooves healthy is key, especially in winter. A good farrier can prevent many problems and keep your horse comfortable. They help your horse handle the cold season better.  Pulling a horses shoes or the winter is common if they have strong healthy hooves, they have better natural traction in snow and ice if bare foot and gives their hooves time to flex and to grow more naturally.

Scheduling Regular Trims and Shoeing

It's important to set up regular trims and shoeing with a farrier. These services are needed every 4-8 weeks, based on your horse's needs. They help with proper growth and alignment of the hooves as well as the body.

A skilled farrier can spot and fix issues like uneven wear or cracks early. They can also provide shoeing for extra support and protection in winter.

Preventing Thrush and Other Hoof Issues

The cold weather can make hooves prone to issues like thrush. Thrush is a bacterial infection that causes pain and can get worse if not treated.

·         To stop thrush, clean and dry your horse's hooves often. Work with your farrier to handle any hoof problems.  I love Field Paste during the winter on hooves.

·         Keep an eye on your horse's hooves and get help from a vet or farrier quickly if you notice any issues. This keeps their hooves healthy in winter.

Regular hoof care and farrier services are key to your horse's comfort and health in winter.

Blanketing and Clipping Considerations

As the weather gets colder, horse owners must think about whether to blanket or clip their horses. This choice greatly affects the horse's comfort and health in winter. It's important to consider the horse's age, health, and natural coat.

Blanketing keeps a horse warm and safe from the cold, keeps them dry and acts as a wind barrier. But, picking the right blanket is key. The wrong one can cause irritation or limit movement. Clipping helps control body temperature but means the horse needs more blankets to stay warm.

For horses with Cushing's disease, choosing between blanketing and clipping is very important. Wrong choices can lead to serious health problems and discomfort.

Before deciding, talking to an equine expert is a good idea, I love Performance Horse Blankets out of Colorado for the best blankets and advice. They can all give advice tailored to your horse's needs and your typical local weather. This ensures your horse stays comfortable and healthy all winter.  "Proper blanketing and clipping can make a significant difference in a horse's well-being during the colder seasons."

By thinking about the factors and getting expert advice, horse owners can help their horses face winter well. This keeps them healthy and happy and you from worry.

Parasite Control and Deworming

Keeping up with parasite control and deworming is key to your horse's health. The fall deworming season is a key time for this. It helps prevent harmful parasites from building up.

Fall Deworming Schedule

Team up with your vet to create a good deworming plan for your horse. The fall deworming schedule matches the season's changes and parasite activity. Sticking to a regular deworming plan helps manage parasites and keeps your horse healthy. We offer a suggested monthly worming schedule on our Herbal Wormer Page.

Fecal Egg Counts and Veterinary Advice

Regular fecal egg counts show how well your parasite control is working. By checking these counts with your vet, you can make sure your deworming targets the right parasites. Your vet's advice is key to a good parasite control plan for your horse.  Never use Quest as your worming paste, the safest still by far is Ivermectin.

"Proactive parasite control is essential for maintaining your horse's health and well-being. By working closely with your veterinarian and following recommended deworming schedules, you can effectively manage parasites and keep your horse in optimal condition."

Vaccination and Health Check-Ups

As the weather gets colder, taking care of your horse's health is very important. Making sure they are up-to-date on their vaccination if you vaccinate and a health checkup is key. This is crucial for their well-being during the winter as often veterinarians cannot get to you if the snow is deep and in some areas there are limited veterinarians so schedule early.

Essential Vaccines for Fall and Winter

Although at Earth Song Ranch we do not vaccinate our horses we use Homeopathic Nosodes which are homeopathic immunizations, however in some areas of the country, boarding facilities and for show horses they are required.  If a blood titer shows your horses vaccine levels are appropriate you can keep them boosted with just the use of Nosodes which we sell in our store, simple to use. 

It's important to work with your veterinarian to know which vaccines your horse needs for fall and winter, if any.  If you have a sensitive horse that “must” be vaccinated we recommend one vaccine at a time spacing them a couple weeks a part.  We also recommend blood titers to find out which they really need, if any.  The most typical vaccines are:

·         Influenza

·         Rhinopneumonitis (EHV)

·         Tetanus ( the only one I vaccinate for but not yearly)

·         West Nile Virus

·         Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis

Your vet will tell you when and how to give these essential vaccines. This makes sure your horse is safe before winter hits.

Being proactive with your horse's health checkups and vaccinations keeps them healthy and strong. This is especially true during the tough fall and winter months.  Again vaccines are a personal choice unless you are boarding or show, some horses get very sick and lethargic from vaccines.

Dental Care and Floating

Regular dental care and floating are key for your horse's health. Before winter, make sure to book a check-up with your equine dentist or veterinarian. They will look at your horse's teeth and fix any problems that affect eating and digestion. 

Good dental care helps your horse eat well and stay in good shape during the cold months. If dental issues are ignored, your horse might lose weight, have stomach or digestive issues/ problems, if food is not properly chewed can lead to colic or impaction so watch t see if you horses or acting or chewing differently.

At a routine checkup, your horse's dentist or vet will check their mouth closely. They'll look for sharp teeth or other issues. Then, they'll use special tools to smooth out the teeth for better chewing.  In my case I get my mini’s checked  yearly or if I see one dropping weight or quidding, my Arabian gets checked twice per year as he came to me with dental issues and TMJ from a broken jaw along the way.

Being proactive with your horse's dental care keeps them healthy all winter and beyond.

Managing Pasture and Mud Control

As the colder and wetter months come, managing your horse's pasture and controlling mud is key. Using strategic pasture rotation and dry lots can prevent mud issues. This helps avoid health problems and discomfort for your horse.

Rotating Pastures and Providing Dry Lots

Rotating your horse's pasture keeps the grazing healthy. In the fall, when grass grows slower, overgrazing can cause too much mud. By moving your horse to a new pasture section, you let the old area rest and regrow. This ensures a steady supply of fresh forage.

Creating dry lots is also crucial for mud control. These are areas with a firm surface that drain well. They give your horse a clean spot to exercise, rest, and eat when pastures are muddy. Dry lots reduce the risks of mud-related hoof and skin problems.

These strategies help your horse stay comfortable and healthy in the cold season. Even when the winds blow and grass grows less, your horse will be okay.

Preparing for Adverse Winter Weather

As winter comes, it's key to get your horse ready for the cold. Snow, ice, and cold winds can be risky, causing slips, falls, or even hypothermia. By acting early, you can keep your horse safe and healthy all winter.

Dealing with Snow, Ice, and Wind Chill

Heavy snow can block your horse's way to food and water. Make sure their paths are clear and they have a dry place to hide. Ice can be dangerous, making it easy for your horse to fall. Use sand or safe ice melt on paths to help them grip.  Also the pellets for a wood burning stove work well in soggy and muddy areas, they soak up the wet while leaving a non slippery type footing, I keep a supply on hand since they absorb the water and are a lot like using Mini Flake Shavings at a much lower cost.

Wind chill can also be a big problem, making your horse lose heat and get hypothermia. Dress your horse in a warm blanket or rug, or if very cold, windy or stormy I layer blankets. Watch for signs they're cold, like shivering or not wanting to go outside.

Being proactive about snow, ice, and wind chill can keep your horse safe and cozy. Always check on their living area and adjust as needed for their health."Taking the time to prepare your horse for adverse winter weather can make all the difference in their health and safety."

Monitoring Water Intake and Hydration

Keeping your horse hydrated is key during winter. Make sure they always have access to clean, unfrozen water. They might need up to 12 gallons a day, especially if they're inside a lot.

Watch how much water your horse drinks. This helps avoid dehydration. It's important to keep an eye on their water intake and adjust as needed.  I avoid automatic waters for this reason as you cannot monitor what they are drinking or if they are drinking. 

In the cold, horses might drink less water. This can lead to dehydration but also digestive issues. Keep an eye on their water intake. Use a heated water trough or break the ice in their buckets regularly. This keeps them healthy and happy all winter.  Feed wet buckets with soaked hay pellets and some electrolytes to encourage them to drink if you feel they are not drinking an adequate amount.

Always make sure your horse has clean fresh water, even if they're in a shelter. By watching their water intake and keeping it fresh, you help them stay hydrated and healthy in winter.

FAQ

What are the key steps in preparing my horse for the winter months?

To get your horse ready for winter, check their body condition and make sure they have enough hay and food. Make sure they have shelter and can get to water. Keep their hooves healthy, think about blanketing and clipping, and de-worm them. Don't forget to keep their vaccinations and health checks up to date. Manage the pasture and mud, and prepare for bad winter weather, before it happens.

Why is fall a crucial time for winter horse care preparations?

Fall is key for horse owners to prepare for winter. It lets you ease your horse into the cold weather. Talking to your vet or equine dentist helps address health issues and prepares your horse for winter challenges.  If your horse needs to add some weight this is the time to do that by adding more fat (full fat flax for example)  or higher calories to their feed rations including adding alfalfa pellets to their wet buckets.

How can I assess my horse's body condition to ensure they are prepared for winter?

Check your horse's body condition score to make sure they're at a healthy weight for winter. This score helps you decide on their diet and nutrition as it gets colder.

What steps should I take to ensure my horse has adequate hay, feed, and access to water during the winter?

Make sure your horse has enough hay by filling and hanging hay nets of bags and feed for winter, no skimping on hay. They need a strong shelter and always access to clean, unfrozen water. This keeps them healthy and comfortable in the cold.

Why is proper hoof care important for my horse during the winter?

Good hoof care is key in winter. Regular trims and shoeing help keep your horse's hooves healthy. They also help fix issues like thrush that can happen in the cold and wet. Many pull shoes in winter to give the hooves a chance to flex and breathe, leave it to your farrier or your veterinarian to help you decided if your horse can go barefoot in fall/winter.  I keep a supply of ArtiMud and Field Paste I apply to hooves during long time of rain, snow or mud, all natural and helps prevent thrush.

How do I determine if I should blanket or clip my horse for the winter?

Deciding on blanketing or clipping depends on your horse's age, health, and coat. Think about the pros and cons of these methods. They affect your horse's comfort and health in winter.  Also how your horse is stabled or stalled, what area of the country you live in and if you get lots of very cold or snowy weather.

When should I schedule a de-worming program for my horse before winter?

De-worming is crucial in fall. Use fecal egg counts to check if your routine parasite control is working.  At Earth Song Ranch we do fecals in October then use our Herbal Wormer on the full moon cycle and a half dose of Ivermectin per weight on the 6th night of the full moon cycle if fecals come back with any count. Once you use a chemical wormer be sure to use a probiotic to put back the good bacteria the chemicals unbalanced like Equine Zyme or Equine Zyme Plus

What essential vaccines should I make sure my horse is up-to-date on before winter?

Make sure your horse's vaccinations are current for winter if required by a boarding facility or showing. Talk to your vet about the vaccines your horse needs or get a blood titer done to find out where their vaccine levels are.

Why is it important to have my horse's teeth evaluated before winter?

Dental care is vital for your horse's health. Before winter, get your horse's teeth checked by a dentist or vet. This helps them chew and digest food well.

How can I manage my horse's pasture and address mud issues during the winter?

Manage your horse's pasture and mud in winter by rotating pastures and using dry lots. This prevents mud problems and keeps your horse healthy.

What steps can I take to prepare my horse for adverse winter weather conditions?

Get your horse ready for winter weather by preparing their living area and yourself. Take steps to prevent slips and falls in snow and ice.

How can I ensure my horse stays hydrated during the winter months?

Keep your horse hydrated by giving them access to clean, unfrozen water. They might need up to 12 gallons a day, especially if they're inside a lot. Watch their water intake to avoid dehydration.  I also give my horses electrolytes in their wet buckets to encourage them to drink during the cold winter months.  You can also purchase a trough heater so that the water is not freezing.

Jessica Lynn, Owner Earth Song Ranch, Equine Nutritionist and Homeopath