This winter has brought freezing weather to the Central and Southern United States – blasting residents with a polar vortex that makes the summer heat look… a lot less miserable. These extreme and uncharacteristic temperatures have been harsh on horse owners. Indeed, horse husbandry doesn’t stop regardless of the weather conditions.
We spoke with champion trainer Judd Paul (Judd Paul Show Horses), who is based in Ohio, to get his tips on how to keep the chill at bay for horses and humans alike.
TIPS FOR HUMANS
“The most obvious thing you can do to help yourself withstand the cold is dressing in layers,” Paul explains.
“I tend to wear Under Armour under my clothes and pair that with a heated Ororo Vest – this helps keep us warm as we work with the animals. Even when it’s too cold to ride, work on the farm doesn’t stop, so you must be appropriately dressed for the elements.”
Another key to staying warm is ensuring your feet are well-bundled up so your toes stay warm. Many riders recommend wearing larger boots in the winter to allow for layering or thicker socks.
TIPS FOR HORSES
Add More Calories
“Often people work their horses less in the winter due to weather conditions and breaks in show schedules,” Paul observes. “It can be easy for people to assume that, because they aren’t in as heavy of work, they don’t require as many calories. This isn’t true – especially in cold temperatures.”
He explains, “We feed extra hay in the winter because they need those additional calories to stay warm. We feed the show horses roughly fifteen extra pounds of hay daily in addition to their usual grain ration to ensure they keep weight and can stave off the cold.”
“While our show horses remain in the barn all winter, the broodmares and horses that aren’t in the show string are kept outside in the fields. We will keep round bales available to them at all times throughout the winter. These aren’t necessary in the summer because the horses are on grass and able to graze.”
Blanketing
He smiles, “I know blanketing can be a contentious issue, but we blanket all the show horses because we don’t want them to hair up too much in the winter. It is also easy to take the blankets on and off when they are stalled, and the barn is heated.”
“If you don’t have a heated barn and still want to keep the hair coat off your horse, I recommend using both sheets, heavies, and sleazies to keep them from hairing up too much.”
He adds, “But when it comes to horses that live outside all winter, so long as they are healthy, we let them get their natural coat without blanketing because their hair protects them from the elements.”
Hydration
Paul emphasizes, “It’s important to remember that hydration is key for horses in all seasons. Ensuring they have access to clean, unfrozen water throughout the winter is necessary to help prevent impactions.”
He explains, “If you don’t have a heated barn, some people invest in heated buckets to ensure their water doesn’t freeze. I recommend giving the horses salt licks or minerals to help encourage them to keep drinking.”
Grooming
Paul admits, “Our grooming habits change with the colder weather. We have heated water in the barn, but we avoid giving them baths unless we have to.”
He continues, “Instead, we only wash tails in the winter and stick to a good currying regimen. This way, we can clean the dirt from their coat, bring the good oils to the surface, and keep it in nice condition so it isn’t dull in the spring.”
“We also use DAC Lazer HD as a coat conditioner that we have found serves us well throughout the winter months.”
Know Your (and Your Horse’s) Limits
Paul reminds us, “Sometimes it’s simply too cold to do much with the horses, and you do yourself and the animals a favor by not pushing to ride when the weather is freezing.”
He laughs, “We live in a consistently cold area in the winter. So, we’ve made a heated barn and arena an essential requirement of where we set up shop.”
Paul continues, “The older I get, the less I can tolerate the cold, and if you live in an area where you know the cold is coming in the winter, it makes a world of difference to invest in a heated barn.”
“For those without the option of a heated barn or arena, I would say that it is paramount to know your limits and the limits of the animals. Horses need to take in a lot of oxygen while working, which can be hard to do in freezing temperatures, especially when there is a wind chill.”
He advises, “Therefore if you’re outside without shelter, I recommend avoiding riding if the temperature dips below 20 degrees. I don’t know of any training gains you would make that would be worth it to you and the horse in those conditions.”
“Additionally, if the ground is frozen, that can be hard on your horse’s feet. There is no reason to risk your horse slipping or bruising their feet on frozen ground. The time off they would need for rehabbing some of the possible injuries would set you back much further than giving them a cold day to hang out in their stall out of the elements.”
Get Creative
Sometimes, you may need to get creative if you don’t keep your horse at a location with access to a heated indoor arena.
Paul smiles, “Again, we consider our indoor arena essential in the Midwest, where temperatures are regularly below freezing in the winter. Not everyone is so lucky.”
“For those who keep their horse at home or don’t board at a facility with an indoor arena, I recommend looking into local facilities willing to accommodate riders who can haul in for the day to have access to an indoor arena. Some show facilities have open arena days where you can haul in for a fairly minimal fee and take advantage of more hospitable facilities in the dead of winter.”
He adds, “Another option, although it would be more expensive than hauling in, would be to simply board your horse at a heated barn for the winter to make their care a little more manageable. Finding a heated barn to winter at with access to an indoor arena can make a huge difference in your ability to continue to ride in the winter months and might be worth the extra money.”
