Winter care for the competing horse

As we think about popping on our Christmas jumpers, preparing for the almost inevitable Winter White-out, it's important we don't forget about our horses either! Especially show horses, whose health is of the utmost important, particularly over the cold confines of these winter months. 

Horses and ponies do require some additional care and attention through the winter but are genuinely much better equipped for the seasonal changes than we are! For instance, your horse, unless you clip him, does in fact do his own winter preparation. Horses can grow thick coats of fur that help ward off the cold, wind, rain and snow. As an owner, it's up to you to provide a suitable atmosphere and environment in which to hole up in over the winter, as well as all of the important care, feeding and exercise to keep you horse healthy throughout the winter.


Water intake - Proper intake of water is essential for horses during the winter. There is a greater risk of dehydration due to decreases in water consumption - unfrozen, even warmed, water will increase hay intake and stimulate water intake.


Blanketing - If your horse is not clipped, then the blanket might compress a horse's natural winter coat and upset his natural thermostat. If it's raining,  there are few blankets that will stay dry and help contain the horse's body heat. Even heavy rugs allow water to under-run them. And it is worse to have a soaking blanket on a wet horse than none at all.

Diseases caused by inactivity - Horses in box stalls will tend to get stiff legs, and run the risk of going lame from lack of exercise over the winter months. And in older horses, any conditions such as arthritis could worsen. Horses in these kinds of conditions are also more prone to common conditions such as colic, and respiratory problems due to the lack of fresh air. 

Pasture or stall? There are many opinions on this, but it's not always a case of one over the other. For example, if you have both stall and pasture, your horse can surely get the best of all worlds, if you work them in well together.

As for Exercise - Generally there is no reason to alter your riding routine because of the winter weather. As a loose rule of thumb - your horse can take it if you can. But it is recommended that you shouldn't ride in the winter, in order to give your horse some time for well-deserved rest and rehabilitation after long periods of competition.

It shouldn't take too long, after a decent bout of rest, to bring a previously well-conditioned and seasoned endurance horse up to condition. However, much younger horses, or horses that aren't well-conditioned or used to competing in endurance riding will likely take a little longer to get back in great riding condition.