By Jason L. Turner, PhD

NMSU Extension Horse Specialist

Now is the time to begin preparing your horses for the colder winter months where they may be turned out and not used as often as the rest of the year. In order to best prepare your horse, consider your plans for health care, nutrition, and shelter.

The important health care concerns are vaccinations, deworming, and hoof care. Be sure your horse's vaccinations are up-to-date before winter hits, especially if your plans involve travel to indoor events where your horse is kept in close quarters with others where they may be at increased risk for respiratory disease. Consider giving a "booster" for influenza and rhinopneumonitis if you will be hauling a lot. As for deworming, it is best to wait for the first frost before you administer an ivermectin-type dewormer to rid your horse of any bot infestation that may "over-winter" in the stomach. This also can help improve feed utilization and prevent colic. Lastly, unless you plan to stall and routinely monitor your horse's hoof condition, make sure your horse has a proper trim prior to turning out for winter. Pulling the shoes can give the horse a chance to grow a "normal" foot and reduce the chance of slipping on winter ice.

Take time to consider your horse's body condition. Is he too fat, too thin, or just right? I suggest that you should not be able to see or easily feel any of your horse's ribs. Fat not only provides energy in stressful conditions, but it is an excellent insulator. It is easier and cheaper to feed your horse now to improve body condition rather than waiting until February when you see he is too thin. Good quality hay at 2 to 2.5 percent of your horse's bodyweight in daily intake is the cornerstone of a good winter diet. A high fiber diet not only minimizes the chance for starch-induced colic, but it creates more heat (than grains) as the fiber is digested. The other important part of winter nutrition is WATER! Be sure that your horse has clean, liquid water readily available. Snow and ice require the horse to expend energy to convert it into usable water. Many studies have shown that intake by horses in winter is greatest when water is in the 50 to 60 F range. In addition, providing free choice trace mineralized salt can stimulate water intake by the horse. Inadequate water intake along with feeding very fibrous, low quality hay is one of the most common causes of impaction colic in winter.

Horses have a lower thermal neutral zone than humans. If they are allowed to grow an adequate hair coat, horses can easily tolerate temperatures in the 20s and 30s. However, they must have shelter to help them stay dry and out of the wind. A wet hair coat in a 35 to 40 mph wind does little to insulate the horse. An open front shed or dense shelterbelt of trees is often adequate shelter in many areas. For horses that will be stalled through the winter, adequate ventilation helps minimize respiratory disease. While you may be cold in the barn at 45 F, the horse handles this better than inadequate ventilation.

For more information, you can contact me at jlturner@nmsu.edu.