With temperatures dropping into the teens throughout most of the country, now is the time be aware of some common issues that many horse owners overlook during the winter. From routine health care to mouth care there are things that must be addressed during the harsh days of winter.
Routine Health Care
Routine health care must be maintained through the winter. One common misconception during cold temperatures is that deworming is not required. Winter is actually an excellent time to deworm. The conditions may prevent the hatching of some eggs but there are still some internal parasite eggs that can survive cold temperatures. For this reason horses need to be dewormed throughout the winter. By deworming now, your horse will remain worm-free longer.
It’s also important to maintain a regular vaccination and health care schedule with your veterinarian.
No Hoof, No Horse
Hoof care is often overlooked during the winter as many horses are ridden less frequently. Horse’s hooves should be inspected daily for foreign objects and picked clean, especially during rainy periods when mud and manure can become packed in the hoof. It’s a common practice to remove shoes from horses during the winter, however regular farrier care is still required every six to eight weeks to keep your horse’s hooves in good condition. Some horses may require shoeing year round due to lameness or conformation issues, even if they are not ridden during this period.
It is also recommended to put your horses on a hoof supplement during the winter. The harsh conditions of winter can create cracks in the hooves so a good hoof supplement that consists of biotin, amino acids, zinc and copper will help keep the integrity of your horse’s hooves throughout winter.
Mouth Care Often Ignored
Cold temperatures can lead to mouth related problems for horses, especially older horses. Additional grain supplementation may be needed during the winter however horses will not be able to efficiently use the extra feed without sound teeth. Horses with poor teeth may be able to maintain good body condition in the summer but this becomes much more challenging in the winter. Horses should be examined every few days in the winter to be sure that they are maintaining adequate body condition.
Another issue during the winter is related to your tack and bit accessories. Riding during the winter is important but using a cold, frozen bit can cause mouth damage. A cold equine bit not only causes pain but it can create numbness, physical discomfort, lip and tongue injury and a head-shy horse. Consider using a bit warmer as it will bring the bit to a safe and comfortable temperature for your horse.
“Expecting your horse to accept a freezing cold bit on a winter day can cause pain, discomfort, and result in a head-shy horse that’s resistant to being bridled”, said Bit Blanket Owner Jamie Sturgess. “Our product (seen right) also preserves your horse’s mouth as a numb mouth caused by a cold bit will result in less sensitivity to bit pressure. Bit Blanket is a simple, convenient, and easy-to-use electric bit warmer designed to warm the temperature of a cold bit so it’s compatible with a horse’s normal body temperature.” To learn more about Bit Blanket visit www.bitblanket.com.
Also, don’t overlook dental care as it’s essential that your horse’s teeth are maintained so that horses are able to utilize feed optimally.
About Bit Blanket, Inc.
Jamie Sturgess, Inventor and President of Bit Blanket, Inc. has been an avid horse lover since she was a little girl growing up in New Hampshire. She has always loved everything about horses; the way they look, the way they smell, the whinny when they hear you coming, and the way they know and understand your personal touch. One thing she never liked, however, was feeling bad every time she had to put a cold bit in her horse’s mouth on those blustery winter days in New Hampshire. Over the years, after trying all the various approaches and other bit warmers, she came up with the concept of an easy and effective way to warm a cold bit. Bit Blanket is a horse bit warmer that you simply plug in and it begins warming your cold bit immediately. Jamie is proud to offer riders and horses a safe, effective, easy-to-use option for warming cold bits. To purchase or learn more visit www.bitblanket.com or contact Jamie Sturgess at 603.329.3044 or at sturgessj@bitblanket.com.
Tags: bit warmer, bit warmers, electric bit warmer, horse mouth care, winter horse care tips, winter horse feeding
