Comments on: Looking for advice on keeping a horse in really awful winter weather?

By: shanna

shanna — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:56:15 +0000

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.

By: xoxDannyxox

xoxDannyxox — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:56:15 +0000

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

By: horsybill

horsybill — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:56:15 +0000

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

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:56:15 +0000

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!

By: Georginaxo

Georginaxo — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:56:15 +0000

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