However, don't despair as I am here to help. Having had horses since the tender age of six I have had my fair share of horrible, dark winters to endure.
Exercising, clipping and feeding for work.- By now your horse will probably have been clipped. Don't forget to use an exercise sheet if he is as it will help keep him warm during exercise. It may sound stupid that he can get cold even when being ridden, but it is true.
- When clipping ensure your horses coat is clean and free from mud. If you don't this could blunt your clipper blades very quickly and end up being costly.
- Avoid riding around your arenas track too many times during the winter. If you haven't got a lot of time to harrow it then it could cause it to become boggy.
- Lunging your horse for 20 minutes is still enough to keep him fit. If you haven't got enough time to ride because of the dark nights then lunging will do just as good a job.
- After working your horse in winter ensure he is rugged up quickly after. If you don't rug up soon after he could get a chill, which isn't good.
- Some horses tend to get fat during the winter because owners think they need to increase feed. Yes, feed increases is necessary, however if your horse is not doing any work then it wont need as much food. Adjust food rations accordingly.
- Exercising your horse in the morning can save a lot of stress. Sometimes owners think they will leave exercising until the afternoon, but often the weather can take a turn for the worse and it means you don't get to ride at all.
Rugging- If your horse is one that feels the cold during winter or he is completely clipped then in stead of layering on thousands of rugs, try bandaging his legs as well. Bandages can make a huge difference in keeping a horse warm.
- Rugs with neck covers are fantastic for keeping horses that extra bit warm.
- To avoid manes from becoming rubbed then spray a little show shine onto the inside of the neck. It works a treat.
Yard work
- Check your water pipes are well insulated to stop them from freezing over. Automatic water drinkers are a pain for freezing over, so ensure they are well maintained to stop this.
- If you have water buckets, try putting a tennis ball or any ball of some sort to stop them freezing over so your horse has no access to water.- Put salt or grit on your yard before you go in for the night if you know the weather is going to reach freezing temperatures. This will stop your yard from freezing over. Black Ice is and can be lethal to your four-legged friends. However remember to wash your horses hooves off regularly as salt dries them out!
- Get your horses stable ready in the morning, so when he comes in at night everything is already done. It will save time at night when it gets dark fast.
Other tips
Whilst having horses in winter can seem a chore, it can also still be rewarding. Winter doesn't have to mean you can't ride or can't compete, but it just means you will need to plan things in advance a little more.
Buy supplies in well in advance if the weather says we are going to get some bad weather. If you usually go to the feed shop to buy one bag of feed, then buy two in stead. You never know, you could well just experience snow that could stop you getting anywhere and the second bag of feed will be needed.
Planning ahead will ensure winter being as easy going as possible. If you think your field gate-way will need extra drainage then sort it now, before the weather gets any worse.When our menage freezes over I find harrowing it sorts it out straight away. Investing in an all weather arena is well worth its money and there have been endless times when I have been able to ride yet friends who have other surfaces haven't been able to.
I have my pony on rubber matting as I find it much easier, especially in the winter. It not only saves time, but also money. Having rubber matting is also dust free, so if your horse suffers from the dust in winter, this is the perfect thing for him to be on - along with some shavings!
One thing I hate seeing in winter is horses with manes and tails absolutely sodden with mud. When it dries it is horrible and can be a real pain to get out. If it means cutting your horses tail a little shorter in winter to keep it from dragging along the floor then do it - its much nicer for him than it dragging around in mud and water!
Last but not least, don't forget to still enjoy your horse. You can still ride during the winter, it may just mean riding a little earlier than usual. If you can't ride until its dark, try and find a livery yard that offer a flood lit menage. We only charge a £1 for our flood-lights to be used for an hour. Yes, some might moan about the charge, but it goes towards the maintenance of the lights and cost to keep them running! A good livery yard will help you as much as possible during winter if you're still having to work until its dark. Sometimes its about a little give and take.This is it from me for now. I will updating my winter tips again soon. Watch out for part 3! If you have any tips tweet me at @FurryMane and let me know, or comment below!
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