How to Feed and Shelter a Horse in Winter

Horses against a snowy winter backdrop are a magnificent sight, but keeping those animals fed, healthy and active in winter requires some special knowledge which every horse owner should know. Horses need food, water and shelter, all of which acquire different dimensions when the snow (or cold rain) starts falling.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Horses
• Barn, lean-to or other farm/ranch facilities
• Hay and grain
• Water and water heaters
• Willingness to work a little harder than during warm weather months

How to Feed and Shelter a Horse in Winter

1. Keep in mind that horses normally eat 35 pounds of hay a day, which increases during cold weather, nearly doubling when temperature goes below 15 degrees F. Keep in mind that water requirements also go up when it gets very cold. Keep in mind that not all horses require the same winter care, and that older horses generally require more shelter from elements.
2. Ensure that horses have shelter from the wind and rain, and that their pens or corrals are as free of ice as possible. Horses need access to water all the time. Horses cannot, under any circumstances, subsist on eating snow in substitution for water. Ensure that hay is free of mold, of good quality, and always available, and if fed via a feeder, it is designed for horses, not cows.
3. Check horses daily or several times daily if possible. Look at hay consumption, increase it if you have to. If grain is given start with small amounts, NEVER feeding more than 2 gallons of grain a day and be sure that horses can't get into grain on their own (too much grain gives them laminitis). If possible, keep shoes off horses during winter and let hoof walls grow out about half an inch relative to summer so horses can grip the ice if they need to.
4. Feel free to work your horses during winter as long as you know what kind of ground and 'industrial material' is under the snow. Horses like it, and you will as well. Working or training green horses in snow is a good way to ride safely and deal with excess energy in an overeager animal.

Tips & Warnings

• Winter can be a very horse-bonding season in terms of working with them.
• Winter can start at any time, and can end late. The times when horses get into most problems is during cold days in late winter or early spring, and (to a lesser extent) cold snaps in late fall.
• If an old horse is going to die of just being too old, it is most likely to happen during the winter. Be prepared.