Below freezing temperatures can make hibernation look tempting but inactivity in horses can lead to many issues including lameness. Even though the weather outside may be frightful, your horse's need for mobility has not changed. As a grazing animal, horses naturally move and eat for the better part of a day but this can prove challenging when a winter storm hits.
Horses getting much needed cold-weather exercise
Below freezing temperatures can make hibernation look tempting but inactivity in horses can lead to many issues including lameness.
Many horses will stay put by the hay feeder and you will see no evidence of tracks elsewhere in your snowy fields. Feeding hay in several different locations throughout the paddock can encourage travel which not only encourages healthy limbs but also aids in digestion. Be sure the paddock is free of dangerous footing and clean up any decaying forage before spring.
What is your winter plan? When the yard freezes, your horse may not be able to go outside if the risk of slipping makes conditions dangerous. Those with indoor riding rings have an area to help maintain movement. If you do not have this luxury, hand walking horses where it is safe may be one of your limited options.
Winter presents more problems than just storms. Hard ground in the winter can be the perfect storm for bruised feet. It is good practice to keep your horse on a regular schedule with the farrier. If bruising is a recurring problem, seek their advice on options for your horse's feet. Bruising leading to abscess formation is another common winter foe.
Immobility can have negative effects including joint stiffness and losing range of motion in horses suffering from arthritis. To learn more about lameness detection, check out Equine Guelph's online healthcare tool 'Lameness Lab' sponsored by Zoetis.
The Lameness Lab will allow horse owners to discover the causes and factors contributing to increased risk. You will learn about the body tissues involved and how to tell if your horse is lame. Plus, see videos of lame horses; test your knowledge and find out how a veterinarian detects lameness.
Manager of Equine Veterinary Services at Zoetis, Cathy Rae says, "We hope that by visiting the Lameness Lab, horse owners can develop or sharpen their skills in early lameness detection, and work with their veterinarians to ensure that their horses are "road ready" when winter is FINALLY over."
Learn something new about lameness. Go to Equine Guelph's 'Toolbox' and click on Lameness Lab. Zoetis also sponsors 'Journey through the Joints,' another tool to help horse owners understand inflammation and how it affects the health of their horses joints.
Please note: This information provides guidelines only and should never replace information from your veterinarian.
About Equine Guelph
Equine Guelph is the horse owners' and care givers' Centre at the University of Guelph. It is a unique partnership dedicated to the health and well-being of horses, supported and overseen by equine industry groups. Equine Guelph is the epicentre for academia, industry and government - for the good of the equine industry as a whole.
Story by: Jackie Bellamy