Horses are strong animals. That’s probably one of the reasons we love them. However as with everything, it can be hard for them to deal with extremes – including hot and cold. We’ve previously written about ways to keep your horse cool in hot weather. So we thought it would be good to write about ways to keep them warm and comfortable in winter too. Our livery yards near Glasgow are set up to ensure horses remain safe and warm through the toughest of Scottish weathers. Here is what we have learned over the years about how to keep your horse warm in winter.

Protect them from the cold rain

Horses can cope with the cold very well. They develop fantastic winter coats which can protect them from much of the bad winter weather. However freezing rain and winds is another matter, and this is something you can help protect against. Coats and rugs for horses are available to protect them from the very worst that Scotland has to offer. Some don’t need anything, but others may benefit form a covering. Whether to do this is often a personal by the owner. Tullochan Stables, being a livery yard near Glasgow, is well used to cold weather and wind! We make sure all our horses are as comfortable as they can be during inclement weather.

Simple rules like never blanketing a wet horse (wait until they are dry) and blanketing the very young or very old/infirm are good rules of thumb. blankets and coats should always be inspected daily.

Keep your horses well watered

As important as it it to ensure your horses have access to water year-round, it’s crucial that they drink enough in winter. They will probably need more water in winter than the rest of the year. This is because of what they eat now.

In the summer, when feeding on pastures, the moisture in the grass contributes to your horse’s daily needs. In winter, when food is going to be mainly dried hay or grain, you need to ensure your horse drinks enough to compensate for the loss of water in thier food. Drinking less can result in a loss in appetite which, in turn, may cause impaction colic. A horse has to eat enough throughout winter to tolerate the harsher weather.

Keep exercising!

Just because it’s winter is no excuse to stop exercising your horse! In fact, a lack of exercise for a prolonged period of time can lead to a range of health problems. One of the benefits of letting your horse stay at our livery yards is access to our all-weather, floodlit 20 x 60 arena. Here there is a comprehensive selection of jumps, poles and training blocks to keep your horse’s body and mind active over winter.

Winter care for horses

If you have any questions or concerns about how to keep your horse warm in winter, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We have many years of experience in ensuring all types and sizes of horse are kept warm, healthy and happy over winter. If you would like to pop into our livery yards near Glasgow to see for yourself, just drop us a line!

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