Horses are generally tolerant to cold weather conditions. In fact, horses handle cold weather a lot better than warm weather. In the face of this, there are some essential things owners will need to do to ensure their horses remain in good health. Be sure the horse doesn't have any parasites, and has been vaccinated up to date. The costs for doing these things will greatly pay off during the winter months, as the outlay of feeding your horse will be much reduced.
You may also consider consulting your vet in arranging up a health plan to care for your horses. Helping your horse prepare for winter will help it decrease the necessity to eat copious amounts of feed in order to retain its weight. Your horse should never lose weight during the winter. Permitting your horse to put on a slight amount of weight will aid them throughout the winter months, as the additional fat will operate as a guard to supply the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. During the winter you will want to provide your horse with some extra calories.
Probably the most effective protection for a horse during the winter is its natural winter coat. If allowed to grow, it will act as a natural heat blanket which will lessen the loss of heat that the horse experiences in cold environments. Your horse's coat is also smooth and will brush off snow and ice. If kept outside, you will want to be sure their coats grow long before the temperature drops for winter.
To confirm the state of your horse, you will want to rub its ribs. A longer coat may indeed hide the fact that your horse has lost weight Your horse should be lean enough so that you can feel the ribs, but not so lean that you can see them. Feel your horses ears. Are they cold? If so it's a good indication that your horse is cold.
Like all animals which are warm-blooded, your horse must maintain its body temperature to stay fit and well. It is crucial that they preserve heat throughout the winter, so you should make sure they're prepared for the cold.
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