Back to Basics
Keeping Horses in the Snow
By Paula Clements
CARING FOR HORSES IN THE SNOW
It takes twice as long, and is twice as hard to look
after horses in snow and icy conditions. If the horse is
fit and working, it can be quite stressful to keep him
enclosed in his stable. Included are ways to keep your
horse happy and in work even in the snow.
Ice:
Around the yard you need to take extra care in icy
conditions. Try not to spill any water on the ground
causing icy puddles which are dangerous for humans
and horses alike. Keep water spillage to a minimum.
Do no let buckets overflow or allow the hose to run
water on to the ground. When the temperature is
freezing, any water laying on the ground is bound to
ice over causing a hazard for you and for anyone else
on the yard. If the temperatures are not that cold, the
puddle of water might not freeze right away, but when
the sun goes down and overnight when the tempera-
ture drops, it most probably will. First thing next
morning it will be a skating rink for sure.
Water Containers:
It is a huge advantage to have a large water container
right next to the tap/hose. Fill or half fill the container
with water before you start your stable chores in the
morning. Keep one clean bucket next to it specifically
for dipping and filling your horses water buckets. If
that ‘dipping’ bucket is brightly coloured, it might even
stay put! If it has a tendency to get borrowed and go
missing, use a suitable length of bailing twice to tie it
to the container or tap.
You need another spare bucket or container in
which to empty the dirty swilled out water from your
feed bins and buckets. Wash all feed buckets at the
same time and once you have filled your spare bucket
with dirty swilled water, carefully tip it down the drain.
Be sure you don’t spill water around the drain. Tip
all water carefully so that you don’t spill any. Sprinkle a
little table salt around any area you spill water to stop
it icing over. Providing the pipes are not likely to freeze
you should empty the large container at night other-
wise it will just freeze over.
10 • Walking On
Haynets and hay:
Have you thought of steaming instead of soaking
your hay. If you usually soak your hay or damp it down
then think hard about whether you should do this in
the freezing weather. It could cause the haylage or hay
to become frozen. Instead of soaking it why not con-
sider steaming it. Place the hay in a plastic bin - pour
1 kettle of boiling water down the side of the bin so
that it doesn’t coat the hay. Cover tightly and leave for
15 minutes. This provides sufficient moisture to lay
the spores (dust) without making the hay actually wet.
Under normal circumstances, to steam hay you should
use 2 kettles of water and leave for 30 mins.
Walkways and paths for horses and
humans in the ice:
Buy some gritting salt if you can and sprinkle on
paths and walkways to keep them clear of ice. Com-
pacted snow will also melt using gritting salt but if the
snow is thick you need to clear the worst first. If you
cannot get hold of gritting salt, and the areas are not
too large, you could use ordinary table salt.
For larger, longer paths and walkways when gritting
salt is not available, you can use sand or fine gravel to
provide grip for both horse and human feet. Failing all
these you might consider using straw or other bedding
(used or new), to cover walkways. Be aware however,
that once it all thaws, there will be a mess to clear up.
Exercise & exercise areas in the snow:
Some are lucky enough to have the use of an indoor
school. Others have an outdoor school. Providing the
outdoor arena surface doesn’t freeze, the school can be
used to keep the horse working and will also provide
an area for some turnout time. If this is the only option
for exercise and turnout for several horses the owners
must work together to ensure all the horses get some
freedom as well as ridden or working time.
If your horse cannot be ridden, you must not leave
it standing in the stable for 24 hours every day. That is
just plain cruel. It causes a stressed horse and invari-
ably a stressed owner. As an equivalent comparison,
imagine yourself being trapped in a room a little larger
than the average toilet for 24 hours or more and you