Post by Calaminty Jane on Jan 16, 2014 8:37:41 GMT -5
Six Winter Horse Care Must Do’s
by Mike Guerini, Ph.D.
With winter now in full swing with cold, rain, and snow, it is time we turn our attention to some very important winter health care concerns for horses. Here are six must do’s to make sure your horse stays healthy.
1. Keep your horse’s feet properly trimmed. A balanced foot packs in less snow and mud. Sometimes when people are not riding, or they are a bit short on funds, they push-off the scheduled appointment for the farrier. Your horse’s feet are critical and need good care all year long.
2. If you blanket, check under the blanket daily. If you blanket your horses, look under the blanket each day to make sure your horse’s skin, hair, and body weight are in good shape.
3) If you live in areas that get muddy when it rains, get the mud off the feet and legs. We all know there are some therapeutic benefits to a mud bath, but it is critical that you make sure the mud does not cake on your horses feet, tail, and legs. Get that mud off every few days to make sure your horse does not developed cracked skin or bruises from the rough edges of the mud.
4. Exercise your stalled horse every few days, at least. Take your horse for a walk on his halter. Make sure he keeps his feet moving. A horse needs to move his feet to make sure he is getting good circulation in his legs.
5. Clean urine soaked stalls daily. If your horse tends to stay inside during the winter, high levels of ammonia from urine can irritate your horse’s nasal passage and lungs. Make sure you keep those wet spots cleaned up in the stalls. Wood stove pellets make a great absorbent material (better than shavings) when you need to get that moisture out of a stall.
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6. Keep the barn ventilated. Keeping your horse warm in an enclosed barn is great, but you need to make sure fresh air gets in daily if the horses do not have a winter turnout option. Fresh air helps prevent breathing issues.
You are the primary caregiver for your horse and it is important to make sure he receives just as much (if not more) care during the winter, as compared with your spring, summer, and fall seasons.
Dr. Mike Guerini, Ph.D., is an author and horsemanship clinician. Learn more about him at dunmovinranch.com
by Mike Guerini, Ph.D.
With winter now in full swing with cold, rain, and snow, it is time we turn our attention to some very important winter health care concerns for horses. Here are six must do’s to make sure your horse stays healthy.
1. Keep your horse’s feet properly trimmed. A balanced foot packs in less snow and mud. Sometimes when people are not riding, or they are a bit short on funds, they push-off the scheduled appointment for the farrier. Your horse’s feet are critical and need good care all year long.
2. If you blanket, check under the blanket daily. If you blanket your horses, look under the blanket each day to make sure your horse’s skin, hair, and body weight are in good shape.
3) If you live in areas that get muddy when it rains, get the mud off the feet and legs. We all know there are some therapeutic benefits to a mud bath, but it is critical that you make sure the mud does not cake on your horses feet, tail, and legs. Get that mud off every few days to make sure your horse does not developed cracked skin or bruises from the rough edges of the mud.
4. Exercise your stalled horse every few days, at least. Take your horse for a walk on his halter. Make sure he keeps his feet moving. A horse needs to move his feet to make sure he is getting good circulation in his legs.
5. Clean urine soaked stalls daily. If your horse tends to stay inside during the winter, high levels of ammonia from urine can irritate your horse’s nasal passage and lungs. Make sure you keep those wet spots cleaned up in the stalls. Wood stove pellets make a great absorbent material (better than shavings) when you need to get that moisture out of a stall.
795071
6. Keep the barn ventilated. Keeping your horse warm in an enclosed barn is great, but you need to make sure fresh air gets in daily if the horses do not have a winter turnout option. Fresh air helps prevent breathing issues.
You are the primary caregiver for your horse and it is important to make sure he receives just as much (if not more) care during the winter, as compared with your spring, summer, and fall seasons.
Dr. Mike Guerini, Ph.D., is an author and horsemanship clinician. Learn more about him at dunmovinranch.com