365 Days in Horse Country – Happy in Bad Weather
It’s a cold night and you are warm and snug by the fire. What about your poor horse? Standing in the wind, rain, snow, and cold
can’t be pleasant for her. Right?
In truth, horses are much more tolerant of bad weather than humans. Our species is designed to seek shelter and stay out of bad weather. After all, we don’t have winter coats to keep us warm and dry. Horses, on the other hand, evolved to live outdoors only. They don’t have a denning instinct like dogs, cats, or humans. Nature equipped them to be able to handle bad weather. Hence those thick winter coats that start growing in early fall.
Nevertheless, you will want to make sure your horse is comfortable when it’s cold outside. If you love your horse, you want to feel like she’s cozy and warm, even though that is really more of a human impulse.
Generally, horses are fine in cold weather as long as they stay dry. However, hundreds of years of human interference has rendered certain breeds with coats that hardly seem capable of keeping them warm in very cold weather. Horses that have short coats can benefit from being blanketed on cold nights. Older horses, sick horses, and horses that must stand tied during the night should also wear a blanket when the temperature drops. If rain and snow are in the forecast, these horses should wear a water resistant blanket.
One of the most unpleasant aspects of bad weather for horses is the lack of exercise they usually get when temperatures are uncomfortable for humans. If it’s pouring rain out the last thing you want to do is take your horse out. A day or two in a stall or small paddock without getting out won’t kill your horse, but beyond that, she is going to start to feel pretty cooped up. A twenty minute hand walk can do wonders for your horse’s attitude as well as for her body. Invest in a good raincoat and rain boots, and get out there to get your horse moving….. even if it is pouring outside.
Some people like to give their horses warm bran mash during cold weather. This is a nice gesture, and horses love it, although it’s really more for your own peace of mind than for the horse. Horses survived millions of years in cold weather before humans came along to give them a warm mash on a chilly night.
Finally, keep your horse happy in bad weather by continuing to care for her even if it’s uncomfortable for you to be outside. Feed her a little bit extra on cold days to help her fuel her internal heat engine. Clean her feet every day, just like you would if the weather were nice. Take her for hand walks if it’s too lousy outside to ride. And try not to worry about her too much when the weather is bad. Nature is taking care of her.
Michael