Horses who live outside, or have access to frequent turnout are more likely to develop a thicker winter coat, whereas competition horses, or those who are in frequent work may benefit from having their long winter coat clipped off. Horses should always receive additional hay in the winter time, as well as access to a heated or non-heated water source. Horses who are blanketed over the winter should frequently have their blankets removed to ensure proper fit and positioning, while horses who aren’t blanketed should be closely monitored for signs of chilling and dampening by rain. Access to an outdoor shelter can greatly benefit horses housed outside, as it serves as protection from the wind and rain. The decision whether or not to blanket horses come winter time should be directly correlated to the horses’ body condition, physical characteristics, and frequency of exercise. The horses’ body condition should be monitored throughout the year in order to determine his individual needs and requirements, as well as his age and amount of winter coat growth. These characteristics are unique to each horse, therefore it is imperative that you wholly understand what your horse needs, in order to maintain his health and happiness for years to
Horses who live outside, or have access to frequent turnout are more likely to develop a thicker winter coat, whereas competition horses, or those who are in frequent work may benefit from having their long winter coat clipped off. Horses should always receive additional hay in the winter time, as well as access to a heated or non-heated water source. Horses who are blanketed over the winter should frequently have their blankets removed to ensure proper fit and positioning, while horses who aren’t blanketed should be closely monitored for signs of chilling and dampening by rain. Access to an outdoor shelter can greatly benefit horses housed outside, as it serves as protection from the wind and rain. The decision whether or not to blanket horses come winter time should be directly correlated to the horses’ body condition, physical characteristics, and frequency of exercise. The horses’ body condition should be monitored throughout the year in order to determine his individual needs and requirements, as well as his age and amount of winter coat growth. These characteristics are unique to each horse, therefore it is imperative that you wholly understand what your horse needs, in order to maintain his health and happiness for years to