Winter weather brings cold rain, ice, and snow to many areas of horse country. Minnesota University Extension services provide important information about readying horse properties for winter conditions. Icy paddocks cause slips and falls that can lead to serious injury. The best solution is to remove the horse from the paddock until the ice melts, but few horse owners have that option.
Two bedraggled horses in a rain-soaked paddock needing better drainage and upkeep
In areas with rainy or snowy winters, horse paddocks can pose health and safety problems, now is the time to make winter paddock and facilities upkeep a priority.
© 2017 by Elliot Moore New window.
Sand and salt
Use sand to increase traction on ice. Don’t feed horses near spread sand as the may accidentally eat it.
Straight salt can speed the melting of the ice if temperatures aren’t too cold. No research documents the effect of salt on horse hooves, but to be safe, use pure salt in moderation. If using pure salt to melt ice, make sure your horse has an alternative source of salt to reduce eating off the ground.
Don’t use a mixture of sand and salt in horse paddocks. Horses may accidentally eat sand via their interest in the salt.
Alternative options
Spreading a thin layer of wood ash or fresh manure can help. Other options like shavings, hay, and straw tend to slide over ice and provide little traction. Small rocks can provide traction, but can become lodged in the hooves or accidentally eaten.
Reduce future water and ice problems
- Improve the paddock’s grade.
- Install gutters on the barn.
- Reduce the amount of manure in the paddock.
During heavy snowfalls, remove snow from paddocks to allow horses easy access to feed, water, and shelter. Avoid piling snow in low areas, drainage ways, septic tank areas, wellheads, and other drinking sources. Snow with manure, bedding, and soil can pollute streams and wetlands. Moving snow is expensive, so keep distances and travel time to a minimum. Removing snow helps the paddock drain and dry faster in the spring.
Building strength and stability
Barns and shelters should have truss certificates of at least 30 pounds per square foot of snow load. Most buildings fail at the joints. If concerns arise about a barn structure under a snow load, examine the trusses and joints to see if there is movement, cracking, or dry rot.
In enclosed barns, snow blowing into attics and wall spaces can melt and cause wet conditions suitable for mold and rotting. Wood will generally give warning sounds before complete failure.
Ventilation
Ventilation helps control temperature and humidity levels and improve air quality. Poor ventilation can affect a horse's respiratory health. Ceiling fans can help with air exchange. You should remove wet bedding and manure daily from barns.
Press release by University of Minnesota Extension - See complete article HERE .
Authors: Chuck Clanton and Marcia Hathaway, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; Krishona Martinson, Extension equine specialist; and Carey Williams, Rutgers University