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When you care for your horse, it is important to make provision for the winter months. Horses must be able to tolerate the chilly weather and stay as healthy as possible. For the period of the winter horses will have particular requirements which you as the owner will have to deal with. It is imperative to plan for winter ahead of time.

Horses are naturally tolerant to cool conditions. In fact, horses cope with frosty weather a good deal better than warm weather. Despite this, there are some essential things horse owners will want to do to make sure their horses remain healthy. You will want to make sure the horse doesn't have any parasites, and has been vaccinated up to date. The expenses for doing these things will greatly pay off during the winter, as the costs of feeding your horse will be reduced.

You may also wish to consult your vet in arranging up a health plan to care for your horses. Preparing your horse for cold weather will help it lower the need to eat large amounts of food in order to maintain its weight. Your horse should never lose weight during the winter. Allowing your horse to gain a small amount of weight will aid them in the winter months, as the extra fat will operate as a guard to provide the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. Throughout the winter you will want to give your horse some additional calories.

The best protection for a horse throughout the winter is its natural winter coat. When it is allowed to grow, it will act as a warm blanket which will reduce the heat loss that the horse is subjected to in chilly environments. The coat is also slick and will help brush off off the frost and ice. If you keep your horses outside, you should make sure their coats grow long before the cold weather starts.

To monitor the condition of your horse, you will need to rub its ribs. Having a longer than usual coat may hide a slight loss in weight Your horse should weigh enough that you are not able to see the ribs but can feel them when touching the horse. Your also want to feel the ears of the horse. Do they feel cold? If so, this is a sign that the horse is cold.

Like all animals which are warm-blooded, your horse must maintain its body temperature to stay fit and well. It is vital that they preserve heat during the winter, so you should make sure they're equipped for the frost.

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