by Susan Dudasik
Each year, when winter first arrives hundreds of people are caught unawares. Ready or not, the snow has come so here are a few tips to keep you and your horse healthy now that the cold weather has hit.
Watch Your Step
When riding in the snow, one must be more cautious about where your horse is stepping. The snow covers all types of hazards. A good practice is to check all riding areas and corrals before the first snowfall.
Often there are holes, wire, pipes, rocks or other items on the ground and while they are obvious most of the time, once buried under a layer of snow, they’re an injury waiting to happen.
Avoid riding through even small ice-covered puddles, for when the horse steps through and cracks the ice, the sharp ice can cut his hoof like glass.
Horse Check-up
All equines should periodically have their hooves checked for snowballs. This sounds like a simple process, but the packed snow is difficult to remove. Most likely you will have to chisel off the top of the ball before reaching the hoof itself. Applying a glop of petroleum jelly to each hoof helps some, but the balls will still form and can cause lameness.
Also take a few minutes to look for injuries. The longer winter coat tends to hide cuts, bumps and loss of condition. At least once a week run your hand over your horse’s ribs to feel if he is loosing weight.
Water
Water is a vital necessity for all animals, even during the winter. They should have access to clean water and not be expected to live on the snow.
According to Dr. Renee Riggleman, DVM, of the Blue Cross Veterinary Clinic in Salmon, ID, in the winter horses generally need at least five gallons of water a day. Warm water is better, as horses are more likely to drink more warm water. This helps keep them hydrated and can help prevent colic.
“Snow is never an acceptable source of water,” states Riggleman. “In fact it actually can lead to dehydration since it requires more from the body to warm the snow. Water is the most important nutrient required by a horse and snow should never be considered as a main source of water.”
If your horses drink from a creek, check it often to be sure it is flowing and not blocked by ice or debris.
Check automatic heaters and waterers often and keep them clean. Algae often grow in the warm water and can clog up the float systems.
If the electricity goes off, an automatic waterer may be frozen in the on or off position, resulting in a flooded or dry tank.
If you don’t use a heater, break the ice in water containers daily. When breaking the ice, protect your face and eyes from flying ice chips. Be sure all the jagged ice is removed.
If you use hoses, make sure they are removed from the faucet every time they are used, even the frost-free types of faucets. Not only will the hose freeze, but the water backed up in the pipe will freeze, too. Remove the hose and let it drain.
No matter what form of waterer you use, make sure you have a few good buckets handy in case something happens and you need to bring water from the house.
Freeze Prevention
It’s important to keep all liquid medicines and ointments from freezing. Often a chemical reaction will occur when frozen and the product will be useless. Besides, if it’s frozen solid, it can’t be used in an emergency.
Move all fly spray, hoof polish, leather cleaner and coat conditioner to a warmer area. When liquid freezes it expands and often will break its container. Avoid the mess by keeping liquids warm until things start to defrost.
