According to University of Minnesota Extension Horses acclimated to cold temperatures often prefer and are better off outdoors. With this in mind, the Minnesota Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act delineates important considerations to take in areas where cold winters are the norm.
Pinto horse in a winter blanket
Since horses acclimated to cold temperatures often prefer and are better off outdoors, the Minnesota Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act has suggestions for horse owners where cold winters are the norm.
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Providing shelter for your horse
Proper shelters can increase your horse’s temperature tolerance. Shelter access is very important in certain weather conditions. Researchers examined daytime shelter-seeking behavior in domestic horses housed outdoors. They studied the relationship of temperature, precipitation, and wind speed with shelter-seeking behavior.
Shelter usage ranged from a low of less than 10 percent in mild weather conditions, to a high of 62 percent when snowing and wind speed were greater than 11 miles per hour. More horses used shelters in breezy conditions during snow or rain making it important that horses should have access to shelter from wind, sleet and storms.
Free access to a stable or an open-sided shed works well, as do trees if a building is not available. In the absence of wind and moisture, horses tolerate temperatures at or slightly below 0° F.
If horses have access to a shelter, they can tolerate temperatures as low as -40° F. But horses are most comfortable at temperatures between 18° and 59° F, depending on their hair coat.
A 240-square-foot run-in or open-front shed (i.e. 12 x 20 feet) is ideal for two horses. You should add 60 square feet (i.e. an additional 10 x 6 feet) for each additional horse. These sizes are ideal only if the horses housed together get along.
Blanketing considerations for your horse
In most areas with cold winters, horses will continue to develop a natural winter coat until around December 22 (winter solstice), as the days become shorter. Horses begin to lose their winter coat (and start forming their summer coat) as the days become longer (starting around December 23). Don’t blanket before December 22 or you will decrease your horse's natural winter coat.
The hair coat insulates the horse by trapping and warming air. Wet or muddy hair can reduce its insulating value and increase heat loss. It is important to keep the horse dry and sheltered from moisture. As little as 0.1 inch of rain can cause cold stress by matting the hair and reducing its insulating value. As expected, a horse with a thicker hair coat can retain more heat.
Researchers analyzed the benefits of blanketing a horse to reduce the effects of cold weather. Most horse owners blanket their horse because of personal beliefs.
Blanketing a horse is necessary to reduce the effects of cold or inclement weather when:
• No shelter is available during turnout periods and the temperatures or wind chill drop below 5° F.
• There is a chance the horse will become wet (e.g. rain, ice, and/or freezing rain -- usually not a problem with snow).
• The horse has had its winter coat clipped.
• The horse is very young or very old.
• The horse isn’t acclimated to the cold.
• The horse has a body condition score of three or less.
Blanketing tips
• Make sure the blanket fits. Poorly fitted blankets can cause sores and rub marks along the straps.
• Remove the blanket daily, inspect it for damage, and reposition it.
• Make sure the blanket stays dry.
• Don’t put a blanket on a wet horse. Wait until the horse is dry before blanketing.
Press release by Minnesota Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act - Minimal editing by EquiMed editor