ARTICLE
Winter Care for the Geriatric Horse
By Anne Miskovsky
I still have my first horse. I bought her as a four year old, but now, like me my mare has become part of the geriatric generation. Even at a spry 27, this queen of the barn can still strut her stuff and makes sure her other horsy compadres know that she rules the roost. She is however (like me), showing her age.
The older horse, regardless of how fit and healthy they may be needs special attention once fall’s warm days turn into winter’s wind, snow, cold and ice. Late fall is the perfect time to have your vet out to assess your horse’s overall condition. Older horses often have difficulty maintaining weight and just staying warm in the winter requires them to burn more calories. Your vet or feed merchant may suggest an increase in roughage to boost caloric intake. Remember to do this gradually and use hay from reliable sources that is free of dust and mould. Have your vet check for tooth problems and float teeth if necessary. No point spending good money on grain and hay if your horse is dropping it all over or chewing it incompletely. Get those booster shots done too.
Your horse should be on an effective and regular worming schedule. After the first frost is the ideal time to worm for bots so pick a wormer that destroys these critters as well as other parasites.
Older horse’s can experience loss of joint flexibility and winter can add to the stiffness. If you still work your horse, be sure to warm up gradually, and cool out slowing and completely. A good rub down stimulates the skin and helps reduce stress on the muscles...your horse will enjoy it too! I can remember in the “olden days” grabbing
handfuls of straw and rubbing the horses down with it. The straw absorbs sweat and the roughness of the chaff contributes to a good massage. Using a moisture absorbing cooler is not a bad idea after a work out either as it keeps the horse from chilling. Don’t let a wet cooler dry out on your horse though as this not only defeats the purpose but can actually cause your horse’s muscles to become even sorer.
Some people swear by joint supplements and there are a number of excellent products on the market. Use them if you think they are right for your horse, but keep in mind it takes a number of weeks to see an affect.
All horses are more prone to dehydration in the winter. Just because there’s snow on the ground doesn’t mean your horse can stay sufficiently hydrated by eating it. Keep water pails clean and free of ice (use a rubber mallet to break through the ice covering and then scoop out chunks with a spaghetti strainer). If it’s so cold that pails freeze solid you may consider investing in a heater. Dehydration can result in colic or fecal impaction so keep that water running. It is important to have free access to salt as well as this will increase water consumption.
A horse’s hair coat will naturally thicken as the temperature gets colder and the days shorten. If you decide to blanket remember that this will reduce the hair mass, which for the older horse is a natural insulator. Blankets are more of a convenience to the owner than a help to the horse. Horses that receive minimal work are probably best left unblanketed to be protected by their natural hair growth. One suggestion for those who do like to blanket is to remove the rug during the warmest part of the day. This will encourage hair growth so your horse will have the benefit of a longer winter coat, and you will feel good about using a blanket. An older horse may be more comfortable with a blanket especially if they lack body fat. Remember that a long winter coat or being covered for extended periods of time with a blanket can disguise a variety of conditions you would normally catch during the summer. Watch for weight loss, coat changes, parasites, cuts and abrasions.
As the ground freezes and becomes lumpy and uneven it is necessary to pay more attention to foot care. Regular trims by the farrier are still important even if hoof growth seems slower in the winter. Use a hoof dressing to maintain moisture and keep an eye out for thrush and other foot diseases. Lysol disinfectant spray is good for controlling thrush...it works faster than the old standby of bleach and water and doesn’t dry out the hoof. Horses are designed to tolerate the cold and many of our good intentioned interventions such as closing up the barn tightly or even heating the barn are more for human comfort than horse comfort. In fact, a barn that lacks ventilation or is too warm can cause more harm than good, contributing to respiratory problems and the spread of air borne illness. Your horse is actually happier outside so turn them out, even the old ones, as much as possible.
I’m sure my old mare will tolerate the winter far better than I will, but none the less, I will make sure she continues to have the best of care, even in her geriatric years.
Ah, the Canadian winter. You’ve got to love it! One consolation...Spring is just around the corner!
By: Anne Miskovsky
Source: Right Rein is a complimentary newsletter published by WriteUR, your professional freelance writing service. Turn to WriteUR for newsletters, articles, annual reports, copywriting and promotional pieces. Contact Anne Miskovsky, 3280 Concession 3, Harrow, Ontario N0R 1G0 (519) 738-4866, email: miskovsk@sympatico.ca.
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