01/18/2026
Great article to care for your horse especially during the winter months!
Take your gloves off.
Yep, I know it's winter, it's cold, snowy, windy, rainy, sometimes all in the same day here in Michigan. Horses are hairy, often wearing turnout sheets, sometimes wet and often muddy. It's easy to knock some mud off without ever removing our gloves. Frozen fingers are no fun.
But because of all these factors, it's easy to miss small things before they become big things.
Horses are prone to a wide array of skin issues. Pastern dermatitis, rain rot, cellulitis, seborrheic dermatitis, mange or lice, tick bites, hives, granulomas, melanomas, squamous cell carcinoma...and more.
When wearing gloves or mittens all the time, we may miss small things because we simply can't feel them under that yak-like winter coat most horses in the northern hemisphere sport at this time of year. These things are easy to spot and feel under a sleek summer coat on a bright day. Not so much in the gloom of winter.
So on a regular basis, take your gloves off and run your hands over your horse, taking a close look at the quality of your horse's hair coat. Any lumps, bumps or cuts under the hair? Feel up into the armpits and groin, run your hands down those legs. Check under the mane, tail and forelock. Dig deep into the feather on legs. Look to see if the turnout blanket is pulling across the chest, down on the withers or is creating unusually ruffled hair. If you find anything concerning, consult with your vet.
Whether ridden or not during winter, your horse deserves a little extra care against winter conditions.
So make a habit to take your gloves off.
