Winter Horse Care: Heat and Hydration

 

Winter is the time of year when sweet hot drinks are the source of comfort, animals switch themselves into hibernation mode, skiing becomes cool again, and the horses try to come to live inside with you.

 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HORSES THIS WINTER SEASON?

Winter is the time of year when sweet hot drinks are the source of comfort, animals switch themselves into hibernation mode, skiing becomes cool again, and the horses try to come to live inside with you.

While most of us don't have a guest room for horse Here are some of the essential things you need to consider to give them a warm pampering this cold season:

MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY OF WATER

Water is life, especially for horses. It’s HEAVEN for them --- they drink 10 to 12 gallons on average daily. And guess what, frozen water is real. As one source revealed, 24 hours without water can cause a horse to lose 4% of its body weight; 48 hours of water deprivation can cause a horse to lose 6.8% of its body weight and in 72 hours, bodyweight loss will increase at about 9%. So make sure you have your de-icing equipment ready.

LET THEM WEAR A COMFY WARM BLANKET

There are two distinctive blankets for horses in varied situations, namely the rain sheet and a stable blanket. A rain sheet is a waterproof and breathable blanket  perfect for rainy, windy, and wet conditions; while a stable blanket is a durable essential that keeps horses warm and cozy all throughout the cold season.

HAVE THEM GRAZE ON FORAGE

The grass is an all-time gourmet food for horses. When it’s winter, they simply vanish and go completely out of sight. The best alternative? Forage. It provides higher energy requirements for your horses in these cold winter months. Speaking of forage, there are two options to choose from Alfalfa and Bermuda. To distinguish the two, alfalfa is a legume; while Bermuda is grass hay.

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