How to Dry a Wet Horse in Cold Weather

Whether your horse has rolled in wet, chilly mud or worked up a sweat from training, drying the horse in colder temperatures can be tricky. While winter bathing it is not impossible, you should strive to minimize it. Working quickly to keep your horse comfortable is most important to keep in mind. Avoid the use of heat lamps or other appliances in the barn, as they can be a fire hazard. You can safely bathe or work a horse in winter temperatures as long as he is healthy and not prone to immune problems.

  1. Bathing

    • If possible, bathe your horse inside and away from drafts. Wash your horse using a sponge and bucket rather than using a hose, and wash only the areas that you must. Waterless or dry shampoos are a smart alternative and require far less water, which will reduce drying time. Scrape off excess water with a sweat scraper, then place a fleece cooler over your horse. Replace the cooler as necessary until the horse is dry. While your horse is drying, place him in a stall or barn that is free of drafts.

    Intense Training

    • Galloping through snowy paths and trails with your horse can be an exhilarating way to enjoy the winter weather. After a hard workout, briskly rub the wet areas of the horse with a clean towel. Place a fleece cooler over your horse and make sure his stall is free of drafts. If the horse is very wet after work, place a traditional square-shaped cooler over the first fleece cooler. To speed up drying time, place fluffed up hay or straw between the coolers, to allow heat to escape and dissipate without causing a chill to the horse.

    Inclement Weather

    • Horses are very hardy creatures; they can actually be very comfortable with an inch or two of snow covering their thick winter coats. After bringing your horse in from inclement weather, you do not want to trap the cold moisture collected on his coat underneath a fleece cooler or blanket. Instead, allow the horse to dry in a barn or stall that's free of drafts along with plenty of hay, as he will create heat naturally by eating roughage. Wait until he is dry to brush and blanket him.

    Medical Bathing

    • Horses do not wait for a warm, sunny day to be injured, and on occasion need medicinal baths or treatments in cold weather. Consider applying a medicated wipe to your horse if the area is small enough in lieu of a bath. If you must use a medicated wash, keep the horse in a barn or dry stall with a breathable sheet, blanket or cooler covering him. When the horse's fur is dry, remove the blanket or sheet. Brush the horse's coat to fluff up his fur.