Preparing Horses (and Horse

Farms) For Winter

Karen L. Waite, Ph.D.

MSU Department of Animal Science

Why Now?

• Winter 2014

• Weather extremes

• Animal health and

welfare

• Human health and

welfare

Winter 2013-2014

• 10th coldest Michigan winter on record

• 10th snowiest

• Ice

• Power outages

Winter 2014-2015

• Coldest weather likely to be more focused on the

East coast

• Will depend on El Nino

• El Nino depends on the rest of the atmosphere

• So....

Problems in 2013-2014

• Thin horses

• Feed quality and amount

• Water sources

• Manure removal

Planning

• Nutrition

• Water sources

• Shelter and facilities• Manure removal & storage

• Bedding

• To blanket or not to blanket

Anatomy of the Horse’s GI Tract

• Limited stomach capacity

• Rapid rate of passage • Low amylase production

• Hindgut contains microbes

BCS 3

BCS 8

Body Condition Scoring

BCS 1 - 9

Thin VS Fat

• Low energy supply

• Converting protein to energy

• Poor heat dissipation

• Mobility compromised

• Metabolic disturbances

THIN FAT

Ideal Moderate Condition Score (5)

• Backbone level

• Ribs visually hidden but easily felt

• Withers slightly rounded

• Shoulders blend smoothly

The single most important ingredient in

a horse diet is....

Forage

• Pasture

– Quality

– Species

• Grass

• Legumes

• Hay

• Other fiber sources

Roughage

• Base for ration– 1% of body weight or

– 50% total ration

• Long stem roughage best for gut motility

• Saliva production

• Psychological need

• Produces heat when digested– 20 lbs per day in cold

weather

How Much Hay (and how much is

it?)

• If “nutritional quality” pasture isn’t available at

least 6 months a year...

• 110 50# bales per horse, per year is a good rule

of thumb (minimum).

• 2014 prices $4.25/bale=$470 per horse, per

year

• Rough math

• Best time to buy hay: June, August

Storage Issues

Pasture VS Turnout

Nutritional Value of

Legume VS Grass

Alfalfa Timothy

Moderate to high Low to moderate

Straw

• Stalks left over from

harvesting wheat or

other grains

• Good source of fiber,

chew

• Must have other source

of nutrients

• Increase risk of

impaction colic without

other forage

Beet Pulp

• By product of sugar beet industry

• Good source of fiber

• Very low in sugar, protein (8%)

• High in calcium

• Raw form soaked

• Up to 10 lbs., not sole source

Hay Quality Based on:

• Type of forage

• Stage of maturation

• Cleanliness

• Moisture Content

• Foreign

material/pests

• Storage conditions

What About Grain?

• Adds energy if they can’t consume enough hay

• Also useful if hay quality isn’t good

• Typically balanced for other nutrients

• Options for adding fat

• May cause other issues for some horses

Access to Water

• Adult idle horse can

drink between 10-12

gallons of water/d

• Dehydration is a

common cause of colic

– Fresh

– Free choice

– Comfortable temperature

• Care when traveling!

Water

• 45 F ideal water temp

for horses

• Will run into problems

more quickly without

water

• Owners should have

a generator if needed

OR at least a plan!

Winter Horseownership in

Michigan...

Water Options

• Insulated buckets ($$)

• Bucket or tank heaters ($$$$)

• Home made tank insulators

• A hammer and a teakettle

Facility Issues to Consider

• Shelter

• Feed to the barn/horses

• Manure removal

• Bedding to horses (as needed)

• Storage

Mechanical Details

• Functional equipment

– Tractor

– Snow blower

– Chainsaw for downed

trees etc.

• A functional

equipment operator

– Illness and injury

• Open access to horse

trailers etc.

Manure Storage and Removal

• 1000# horses

produce 50# of

manure a day

• When stored out of

sight neighbors would

typically suggest that

horses are well

managed

• Moving stockpiles in

the spring

Other issues to Consider

• Access to high traffic areas– Gravel?

– Ice

• Placing feed water and shelter in close proximity will conserve horse energy

• What about shelter?

Shelter

• Natural

• 3 sided sheds

• Barns and stalling

• Wet is the biggest

enemy

To blanket or not to blanket?

• Winter coat growth based primarily on day length

• Full winter coats are not ”in” until December

• Horses have amazing hair coats and except under certain circumstances, they probably don’t need blankets– Don’t have a hair coat

– Older or diseased horses

If Blankets are Used

• Check daily

• Make sure the

blankets fit

• Remove blankets

regularly and check

BCS

• Remove wet blankets

immediately

• Don’t blanket wet

horses

Year Around Planning Makes All the

Difference!