Like most animals, horses need special care in winter in order to stay war and healthy. As the temperatures drop, your four-legged gracious friend needs proper treatments and equipment that will get him through the colder weather more comfortably and without any health hazards. There is a preventative strategy can help make this process less stressful for both the owner and the horse as well. Here is what you can do.
First and foremost, you should provide a protective horse rug. Regardless of the size of your horse, there are rugs available on the market to perfectly suit your horse’s needs. The right rugging solutions will provide optimal protection from the elements. Luckily, the choice of standard and miniature horse winter rugs is versatile, which means you can easily find the one that can perfectly fit your horse. For maximum protection and safety, it is important that you regularly check the condition of the rugs so that you can be sure that they are doing their job properly and optimally. For harsher days, take into consideration rugs that also provide additional protection for the animal’s neck and in some instances the entire head.
Another thing you should be careful about is the material of the rug. In most cases, standard and miniature horse winter rugs come in waterproof resistant materials because if the horse gets wet underneath the rug, he can feel worse than if left un-rugged.
If you notice that the rug has been slipping very regularly, that means that the horse is warm enough, and contrary to that, if the horse’s coat is standing up (much like goosebumps) then that is a good indicator that the horse is feeling chilly and has a natural reaction to the cold.
Another way you can find out whether your horse feels cold is if you tuck your hand into the horse’s rug and put it behind the wither. If it feels chilly – the horse is probably a bit cold and may need an additional layer, and if it feels damp – the animal may be too hot. You should never use the warmth of the horse’s ears or legs as an indicator when determining if the animal is warm enough.
Also, you shouldn’t assume that because you may feel hot or cold, that the horse has the same notion. And lastly, be advised that you should react quickly if you notice that the horse is looking uncomfortable or unwell. For instance, if the horse is sweating or shivering, it is a sign that something is not right and you should try your best to help the animal restore his balance.
