Document type: article published in Cheval Mag
Author: Cheval Mag
Preview: During the winter season, it's important to keep your older horses in good health. Depending on your region and climate, you'll need to adjust your horse's living conditions. Doctors Jérôme Transetti, Fanny Puech and Jean-Marie Laudat provide advice on how to take good care of older horses.
Whether they live indoors or on pasture, older horses need special attention in winter. A cold, dry climate is better for them as it allows them to go outside more often. But watch out: older horses are more sensitive to draughts. Slippery ground is dangerous, so opt for level terrain and keep an eye on the ground around shelters, which is often muddy. In the field, make sure the water in the troughs doesn't freeze. As a precaution, you should turn off automatic drinkers and use buckets instead. Older horses can be provided with a blanket that is not just thick, waterproof but is above all properly fitted so that they do not injure themselves. If your horse lives in a box or shelter, be sure to check the insulation of the accommodation. Older horses spend longer lying down in winter. Their bedding must therefore be thick. Leave a good layer of dry, urine-free manure before adding clean straw. Check their feet regularly. Hoof horn softens with age, and can cause abscesses if neglected.
Feeding your horse
Feeding equines in winter is very important. It's advisable to increase the hay ration and supplement older horses' diets to give them extra energy and help them withstand the cold. For example, you can give them carrots or chopped apples. Older horses who are losing their teeth will appreciate sugar, which they'll allow to melt in their mouths. Don't forget to worm your horse at the start of each season. If your horse is showing signs of weakness, ask your vet for a blood test.
