Horse care in winter months

Les Burwash, with the livestock business development branch of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD), suggests horse owners need to take steps now to prepare for cold weather ahead.

“Horse owners need adequate feed, water supplies and shelter for their horses over the winter months,” says Burwash. “Owners should also take steps to determine what level of feed will be necessary over the winter months for their horses to maintain good body condition.”

In general, horses are going to require somewhere in the vicinity of two to 2.5 per cent of their body weight in good quality forage or hay per day to maintain their body condition.

Burwash believes that an economical way to maintain horses during the winter is through grazing. “Owners need to be cognizant of what’s happening in the field.”

There should be at least four to six inches of forage covering the field, and as the winter progresses, be sure the snow doesn’t get too deep. For anyone in southern Alberta or the Peace Country, chinooks can melt the snow. When it freezes, the crust may be too hard for the horses to paw down to the feed supply.”

Ideally, horses should have body condition scores of five to six on the nine-point scale going into winter. Also, horses generally require about three pounds of water for every pound of dry feed.

“Therefore, the average horse is going to need six to seven gallons of water a day. It is physically impossible for the horse to meet its needs by eating snow. For the health and welfare of the horse it is preferable to have access to water with a temperature warmed to four or five degrees,” says Burwash.

Shelter is also an important consideration. “Horses can stand the cold quite well if they can get out of the wind,” says Burwash. “I suggest shelter can be provided in three ways; naturally if there are trees to protect the animals, by building a three-sided shelter or by constructing a windbreak fence.”

Burwash urges horse owners to always be aware of the weather and the condition of their animals by regular monitoring throughout the winter months. “With regular monitoring, adjustments to feed and water supplies and shelter can be made when necessary.”