08/07/2026
❄️ Looking After Your Older Horses This Winter ❄️
As horses age, maintaining body condition becomes more difficult, meaning they often need a little extra help to stay warm and comfortable through winter. With less muscle and fat to insulate them, our senior horses can benefit from a few simple management changes.
Here are our top winter tips:
🧥 Rug appropriately
While horses are remarkably good at keeping themselves warm, older horses shouldn't have to burn valuable calories just to maintain their body temperature. A well fitted rug can help conserve energy and maintain condition.
🏠 Provide shelter
Ensure your older horses have access to shelter from wind, rain and cold weather. Staying dry is just as important as staying warm.
🌾 Feed plenty of hay
Hay is your senior horse's best friend during winter! As horses slowly ferment fiber in their hindgut, they generate heat, helping to keep themselves warm from the inside out.
Older horses often benefit from increased access to quality hay during the colder months. While grains and concentrates provide calories, they don't produce the same warming effect during digestion. Oils can also be a great way to safely increase calorie intake and help maintain body condition.
An added bonus! A high fiber diet encourages water intake, helping reduce the risk of impaction colic.
🐴 Keep an eye on mobility
Cold weather can make arthritis more noticeable. Watch for stiffness, reluctance to move, or slowing down. If you've noticed your horse isn't moving as freely as they used to, give us a call. We can assess the cause and discuss management options to help keep them comfortable throughout winter.
💙 A little extra care goes a long way in keeping our golden oldies happy, healthy and comfortable this winter.
