Winter is just around the corner, and it is time to start
thinking about how you are going to keep your horse in top health during the
season. There are many aspects to your horse management, nutritional and
veterinary health programs that should be assessed prior to the onset of cold
weather. Here are 5 tips that may help you “winterize” your horse and get your
management practices geared up for the weather changes ahead.
1. Water, Water, Water.
Providing a clean, abundant water source in the winter can
be a real challenge. But adequate water intake is especially critical in the
winter as dry cold air can cause a horse to dehydrate quickly and additional hay
intake increases the horse’s need for water. Most instances of impaction colic
occur in the winter and the middle of summer because this is when horses are
most likely to not consume enough water which compromises gut motility, fiber
digestion and the movement of manure through the small colon. Consider adding
Purina® HyrdaSalt® supplement to your horses’ daily
ration to encourage maximum water intake. Be sure your horse always has easy
access to water; avoid overflowing your water troughs and creating ice around
them; and make sure tank heaters are in good working order and that electrical
cords are out of reach of the horses. Some horses have a strong preference for
a particular water temperature. Water that is too cold or too warm may make horses
back off from drinking. Providing water at the horses’ preferred temperature
range will help to encourage drinking.
2. Parasite Control.
Next, be thinking about your winter deworming strategies. If
your area has hard freezes and consistently cold winter weather, your best
parasite control plan may be to deworm with ivermectin after the first hard
freeze and then you may not need to deworm again until next spring. Have a
discussion with your veterinarian about appropriate winter deworming for your
geographic area and develop a parasite control strategy together. Having a
horse free of parasites will dramatically improve feed efficiency, making it
much easier to keep your horses at a healthy body condition through even the
coldest months.
3. Dental Health.
During the winter, most horses that have been primarily kept
on pasture in the summer will be offered hay and perhaps additional grain or pelleted
diets. Hay, grain and pelleted diets generally require more chewing than grass before
swallowing, so it is important to be sure your horses’ teeth are in good shape
to handle the additional work and to decrease the risk of choke. Have your
veterinarian perform a dental exam to see if your horse needs any dental work
prior to the onset of cold weather. Good oral health will make it much easier
for your horse to stay at a good healthy weight throughout the winter months.
4. Keep Vaccinations Current.
In areas of the country that don’t have prolonged winter
freezes, horses are still at risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases such
as Eastern, Western and Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile virus.
Depending on the product your horse has been vaccinated with, a booster may be
needed every six months to provide year-round protection against these
devastating diseases. Consult your veterinarian to determine if your horses
need a fall booster shot.
5. Fall Veterinary Exam.
Have your veterinarian give your horse a thorough physical
exam (including blood work) before your horse is subjected to the stress and
rigors of a long winter season. This is especially important for senior horses
(aged 16+). A fall veterinary exam can help identify any potential problems that
may make it harder for your horse to maintain good health and body condition during
the long winter months. Armed with this information, you can make plans to
implement nutritional or management changes to help cope with any health
issues.
Remember, your pastures will be changing (either going into winter dormancy, covered in snow or the emergence of cool season grasses such as rye), so be sure that you have a plan in place to replace the forage from pasture with either hay, or a Purina® hay stretcher or complete feed (visit: http://www.horse.purinamills.com for more information).
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