Looking for advice on keeping a horse in really awful winter weather?
This will be my first time having a horse over the winter in this kind of climate. I live in Eastern Washington, and it gets very cold and it snows a lot here during the winter as well - last winter there were periods of time where we had feet and feet of snow on the ground.
I’m worried, specifically because we board my horse a drive away - it’s a drive i probably won’t be able to make at all during the winter, because i don’t have 4WD and the road is none to good. The people i board with live on-site and i am planning on paying them extra each month to feed, water, and check on my horse when i can’t make it out there.
Naturally i’m concerned though, and i want to know what i can do or provide to make it more likely that my horse will do well over the winter - that are still economical, because i’m not in the best financial situation right now.
My main questions are - in cold weather where things freeze right away, what can i do to ensure that her water stays liquid? There is no hot water access in the barn - is there some tip or trick or something i can do to her water trough or a bucket that would make it not freeze over?
I’m also worried about the turnout area right outside of her stall. It’s likely to get icey, and it slants downhill. My horse had a previous pastern injury from barrel racing and goes very ’stiff’ on her front right leg in cold weather, which makes me doubly concerned about this area and the dangers it poses, but at the same time she can’t be on 24/7 turnout in the flat area because she will need the shelter of the stall. Is there something i can do regarding the icey downhill area (or provide, and have them do), to make it safer?
Is there anything else that i should have or buy that would make things easier over the winter?
Lastly, i know she needs hay… i’m not sure how much to get for her. I usually buy orchard/bromegrass mixed round bales that are 750 lbs apiece… how many of those should i purchase to be ready for winter, assuming it starts snowing in mid-late october, and continues until at least march/early april?
She’s a 15.1HH arab/paint cross, maybe 1000#?
I’m sorry if these seem like stupid questions but i’m from Texas originally and there isn’t much of a winter there, so i’ve never had to deal with freezing or snow or winter hay consumption. =/
I’m not sure about South Dakota, but i can tell you it does get freezing and below here often, and i saw the boarding place towards the tail end of winter and the downhill slanting turnout was covered in a thick sheet of ice. Last winter there was like 3-4 feet of snow on the ground and i got frostbite from being outside for like 15 minutes at dusk, so it can get really cold here…
Tagged with: bales • barrel racing • climate • cold weather • financial situation • hot water • last winter • orchard • pastern • periods • slants • snow on the ground • water trough
Filed under: Weather
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Tammi,
first of all, I live in the same region as you pretty much. I live in North Idaho near the Canadian Border in a small town (Bonner’s Ferry). It gets cold here like where you live. Before that I lived in Northern Montana.
I have quarter horses and paints. We have small barns or run in sheds that the horses can go in by choice. They are three sided and face away from the wind. My horses only use them by choice for shade in the summer, to get out of the rain occasionally, and if the wind is really bad. Snow doesn’t really bother them.
I do not blanket them ever. They get really thick winter coats. I do think extra feed is good. Either round bales, for free choice feeding, or feed hay three times a day. And I add three way for extra calories.
We use tank heaters in the winter. We have electricity to our paddocks, but you can just run an extension cord if you have to. Be aware that stock heaters can melt holes in plastic or rubber troughs if used incorrectly. If you can’t do that she/he will have to be given fresh water several times a day.
As far as the ice goes, I agree with leaving them barefoot. Also we scatter sand for traction.
Using round bales is probably more economical than small bales. At least around here they are cheaper than buying hay in small bales.
Don’t feed free choice alfalfa though, get a good grass mix like you mentioned. You can get the three way grain cheaper if you go to a granary rather than a feed store. Ex= if I get it at the granary it’s 80 lbs for 12 dollars. Feed store sells it 50 lbs for 14 dollars. I also add a scoop of screening pellets every day. Those are alfalfa pellets made at the granary, they are 80 lbs for 9 dollars.
And the feeder for the round bales is a great idea. That way they don’t tear them apart and waste as much.
Horses do better in cold weather than many people think.
here in good old Canada we have winter blankets on our horses in the cold months sometimes it goes down to -40 also we have outdoor shelters and stalls all with heated water and we up the hay
good luck and don’t worry summer is just starting
I live in South Dakota and it gets a lot colder here than eastern Washington. I don’t think you will have a lot of below zero temps. The first thing I would recommend is to let your horse have a winter coat. It keeps the horse a lot warmer than any blanket can. Next in dealing with ice, which there shouldn’t be a lot of times when there is ice, I would keep the horse barefoot through the winter. Barefoot it will have better traction on ice. Free choice hay would be best in below freezing temps. Your horse will need the roughage to keep warm. Get a hay feeder to put the bales in to cut down on waste. Believe it or not horses do winter pretty good if they have enough to eat. I would figure about 30 to 40 pounds of hay per day. I like to feed 2nd cutting alfalfa in the winter. You can get bucket and tank heaters from Tractor supply or any other farm store. You can also find them at horse.com
First you need a winter blanket. Try sstack.com they have really great prices on blankets.
Second make sure your horse has plenty of hay. That is how they keep their bodies warm by eating lots of hay. It keeps them warm from inside out. Also when eating this much hay it’s a VERY important that they drink plenty of water or they can become impacted and colic. So try a tank or bucket heater. I also recommend getting a trace mineral block to insure she is drinking plenty of water.
I would also look for some sort of joint supplement if she gets stiff in her legs.
Hope this all helps. Good luck!
Hey, I have an Arab and during the winter she gets two turnouts (one heavy and one light weight) and the both have neck attachments and tail flaps. This should keep your horse warm but you don’t have to have two rugs on.. just Arabs are hotbloods and lightweight so they get cold easily.
As for the water.. put a tennis ball in the water and that works for me over the winter.. although our winters in england only go to -3 or there abouts. You could also insulate the buckets and troughs with the water proof polystyrene stuff. It’s gray and I can’t remember the name..
Also ask them to salt or grit the steep icy bit outside your horses stable, this will dissolve the ice and snow things. And ask them (if possible) the shovel the snow away. Maybe put boots on your horse too, to keep her legs warm! (:
You could also keep your horse in during the night with a thick stable rug and neck cover. And my horse was even sometimes in during the day too. She’ll probably need a lot of nets, i don’t know how much but I’d think about 4nets a day.. which will cost a lot; but I guess it’s worth it..
happy winter xD
ohio i made sure they had shelter. shed or stall.
bought hay in bales. 350 for the winter. if i ran out i would have to buy more at an extra price. never used round bales for the horses.
icy downhill area is just stay off it. maybe build a shed in flat area.
they have water heaters for troughs but i preferred to just put out fresh water day and night.
ask the people what they normally do.
Listen to Shanna, she’s got it about right.
Just an aside. . . If you do decide to blanket (and you should probably have one handy "just in case" since your Arab is used to Texas winters - it can take them a year to acclimate) don’t put the blanket on too early or you will impeed the growth of her natural winter coat. Wait until she’s good and fuzzy, then give her the blanket if she’s still cold (shivering).
First and foremost let the horse grow its own blanket. Mother Nature is very experienced in what type and thickness a horse needs for that area. Horses live in a lot harsher climates than Wa and do very well. The healthiest horses on the planet are outdoor horses that are allowed to go natural throughout all of the climates, why does man try to interfere all of the time.
For the freezing of the water, you can try floating a chunk of wood in the water depending on how big the container is. Also if the container is a bucket I suggest using a plastic bucket, they do not freeze as fast as the metal ones.
I am sure that where you are boarding the owners and/or barn manager knows what to do in the barn for slippery footing and be able to address the rest of your questions as far as hay and feed. That is their job. Why not sit down and talk over your concerns and hash it out face to face.