How to Care for Horses in Subzero Weather

Horses are warm-blooded animals that need to maintain body temperature during winter months by eating a larger amount of food, such as hay. Before winter sets in, a horse should be prepared for winter by increasing its feed so that it can increase the fat and muscle on its body to keep warm. Horses grow out thicker winter coats that provide protection against the cold. In addition to allowing the winter coats to grow, you will need to provide shelter and proper hoof care.

Things You'll Need

  • Hay
  • Clean cloth
  • Three sided horse shed/shelter
  • Insulated water bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Increase the amount of hay you feed the horses by 10 percent feed weight per every 10 degrees F below freezing. Horses eat 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. of hay per 100 lbs. of body weight.

    • 2

      Do not curry comb the horse's hair coat during the winter months. This can remove the natural layers of protective oils that its winter coat creates to provide protection from snow and rain. Rub the horse's coat with a clean cloth to dry it off if it has been outside in the snow.

    • 3

      Use waterproof horse blankets that are made with a breathable material. This will stop water from soaking into the blanket, but allow moisture and body heat from the horse to dissipate. Keep a close eye on the horse if you blanket it. If it is covered with a blanket that is too heavy, the horse will overheat and sweat. The sweat will soak through its coat and then chill it, which can lead to respiratory infections.

    • 4

      Provide a three-sided shed/shelter for pastured horses. Position it with the back wall facing north, and the open side facing south. This allows the sun to shine into the shelter, and block the strong cold winds from the north. The shelter needs to provide 80 square feet per horse, with a 9-foot high back wall, and an opening that is 12-feet tall with a 4- to 6-foot overhang to keep out the rain and snow. Place the shelter where it can be properly drained.

    • 5

      Keep the horse's water supply between 45 and 65 degrees F by placing it in an insulated water bucket. Remove ice that forms on the surface of the water.

    • 6

      Clean the horse's stalls daily and provide dry bedding.

    • 7

      Remove the shoes on any horse that you are leaving outdoors. When worn in snow, horseshoes will have ice and snow compacted in them, which can cause the horse to slip. Trim horse hooves every six weeks to prevent cracks from forming, which can result in hooves breaking off.