By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS
As we head into January, the first real cold snap of the year has arrived, bringing frost and snow across much of the UK and Ireland. While winter weather can look beautiful, it presents specific challenges for horse owners.
The good news is that horses generally cope very well in cold conditions, many even seem to enjoy it. As severe winter weather in the UK is often short-lived, focusing on a few key management areas can help ensure your horse remains safe, comfortable and healthy throughout frosty and snowy conditions.
Cold temperatures can quickly lead to frozen water troughs and burst pipes, particularly in fields. Ensuring a constant supply of fresh water should always be a top priority during winter.
Inspect water troughs several times a day
Break ice promptly and ensure clean, fresh water is always available
Adding tennis balls to troughs can help reduce freezing, but they are not a substitute for regular checks
Dehydration is a genuine risk in winter, even when horses do not appear thirsty. Monitor your horse’s droppings closely, droppings that are too firm or reduced in number can be an early sign of insufficient water intake.
When snow covers grazing, horses still require constant access to forage to maintain both body condition and warmth.
Provide hay or haylage if turnout continues
Haynets are particularly useful in snowy weather, as they are less likely to become buried or contaminated
Forage is essential not only for nutrition but also for thermoregulation, as fibre digestion generates internal heat that helps keep horses warm.
Snow often conceals dangerous ice beneath it, making yards, gateways and tracks especially hazardous during winter.
Assess ground conditions carefully before turning horses out
Consider keeping horses in for a day or two if footing is unsafe
Remember that frozen yards are just as dangerous for people as they are for horses
Safety should always come first, even if it means temporarily changing your routine.
Snow itself is rarely the main issue - melting snow can be far more problematic.
When horses come in, rugs can become soaked as snow melts
Check rugs carefully and change wet rugs promptly
Ensure rugs fit correctly and are appropriate for the horse’s workload and clipping level
A wet rug can chill a horse far more quickly than no rug at all. Many horses living out 24/7 without rugs grow thick winter coats that provide excellent natural protection from cold, snow and ice.
Understanding your horse’s thermoneutral zone (TNZ) helps you feed appropriately during cold spells.
The TNZ is the temperature range in which a horse can maintain normal body temperature without expending extra energy. Below this range lies the lower critical temperature (LCT) - once temperatures fall below this point, a horse must burn additional energy to stay warm.
A fully clipped, fit horse may have an LCT as high as 15.5°C if not rugged
A horse with a full winter coat, well adapted to cold conditions, may cope with temperatures as low as -15.5°C
For every 1°C below a horse’s LCT, it requires approximately 2 MJ of additional energy, which equates to roughly:
0.25 kg of extra hay or increasing their normal ration, for example;
160 g of Sensi-Care extra, per degree
Increasing forage intake is usually the most effective way to meet these additional energy requirements. Fibre digestion produces long-lasting internal warmth as well as essential nutrition. Continue to monitor your horse’s weight and body condition throughout cold weather to ensure they remain in optimal condition.
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