20/ JANUARY 2011 THE RIDER Pet Talk-Meeting Your Horse’s Needs in the Winter Months
your horse’s body will not function properly, notes Mays. As temperatures fall, horses tend to reduce their water intake and reduced water intake combined with increased forage intake may lead to a greater likelihood of impaction and colic. You may want to consider providing warmed water during the winter months since horses tend to increase water intake when there is access to 45-65 F degree water. Also, providing loose salt may encourage your horse to drink more.
With food and water needs met, now you can focus on protection from harsh winter weather.
Cold weather brings extra responsibilities for horse care- givers. Proper nutrition, access to water, adequate shelter, regular hoof care, and, depending on cir- cumstances, dental attention, vacci- nations, and parasite control are all winter concerns for the equine enthusiast.
“Preparing your horse for winter should begin before the first chilling winds hit,” notes Dr. Glen- non Mays, clinical associate profes- sor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “In late summer, horses living in temperate climates should be allowed to slightly increase body weight so that the extra flesh and fat will provide additional insu- lation and heat reserve for the win- ter.”
During the winter, feed and
hay ration should be adjusted to give your horse more energy for heat and warmth against the lower temperatures, explains Mays. Your horse may need extra forage and feed to develop more flesh and fat so that it does not shiver as easily because shivering burns fat and muscle tissue.
“Quality forage should be fed all year and especially during the winter months,” says Mays. “The best food heat source for your horse is extra hay because as your horse digests hay heat is produced internally by bacterial fermenta- tion. This warms your horse from the inside. Higher protein legume hays provide more energy and nutrients and make a good choice for winter feeding.”
Forage and water complement your horse’s diet. Without water,
“The horse’s winter coat is the first barrier from cold,” notes Mays. “The hair coat acts as an insulator and provides warmth. A layer of air is trapped in the hair coat when a horse fluffs its hair. An outside horse should be allowed to grow a long hair coat and additionally, the ear and fetlock hair should not be clipped during the winter months.”
It should be noted that once the hair coat becomes wet, the hair lies down and loses its insulating properties, for this reason your horse needs to be able to escape win- ter’s bitter winds, snow or rain. A small, three-sided run- in shed is helpful. Be sure that the back wall is to the pre- vailing wind and that water does not run under the shed. Shelter for you pastured horse will reduce feed bills and stress related illness, explains Mays.
“Horses housed in stalls also have special needs dur- ing the winter months,” says Mays. “Damp stalls, increased ammonia levels and inadequate ventilation can contribute to poor air quality. When the barn is closed during cold weather, ammonia, dust and stale air can be trapped in the barn, so good ventilation is crucial for your stall-housed horse. It is best to open barn doors and have good air flow to reduce the possibility of respiratory prob- lems. Cleaning stalls daily to remove manure and wet
bedding greatly improves air quality in the horse barn.” “Whether you are riding regularly or not, you should remove dirt from your horse’s hooves,” explains Mays. “Hooves are still growing in the winter months and appropriate maintenance is important.”
Teeth should be checked for wear and floated if
needed. Sharp teeth edges can cut the tongue as well as prevent proper chewing of forage and feed resulting in wasted or poorly utilized nutrients, notes Mays. “Horses may get undetected cuts during the winter so update any needed vaccinations and make sure your horse is immunized against tetanus,” states Mays. Even though nature may be dormant during the win- ter months, parasites are not, especially in moderate cli- mate environments, says Mays.
Internal and external parasites have a negative influ- ence on your horse’s health. Tick and lice numbers can increase in areas of confinement. Long, thick hair cover aids in hiding these parasites, so regular grooming is nec- essary. Shorter winter pastures may expose your horse to increased contact with nematode larvae and thus increased internal parasites.
Attention to your horse’s environment, as well as nutritional, physical and medical needs will help your horse weather this winter and be fit for riding come spring.
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Santa Sleigh Ride a Huge Success in Shallow Lake 1
true. Santa even made a special visit after the event to meet Tye and let him know his bike was on the way. Since then, Tye has received the customized bike and the smile in his photo says it all. Organiz- ers are still taking dona- tions and extra monies received will go towards specialized equipment which will make Tye’s home much more accessi- ble to him.
By Lindsey De Vries / Kelly Bowers
This year Santa and his elves granted one big Christmas wish via horse- drawn sleigh. He traded in his 8 tiny reindeer for six large Percherons, four Mules, three miniature horses, pairs of Clydes- dales, Belgians and Suf- folk-Punch, an Appaloosa and a Warmblood at Dual Acre Percherons in Shal-
low Lake, Ontario. More than 500 attended the annu- al sleigh ride fundraiser with Santa and like other years, their generosity made it a huge success. While horses, sleighs and elves were gearing up for the big day, Tye Everall was gearing up for surgery on both his legs. Tye is a 6- year old boy who lives with his mom, Tina, and two sisters in Wiarton, Ontario. He has Spastic
Diplegic Cerebal Palsy and his Christmas wish this year was for a bike that would allow him to ride around with other boys. Unfortunately, the custom made bike Tye needs has a price tag over $1,700., and that’s where Santa’s sleigh ride came in. Thanks to the help of many volun- teers and the generous donations of the sleigh-rid- ers, over $6,000 has been raised and Tye’s wish came
3 5
A trust fund for Tye has been set up through T.D. Bank (account 6263466 branch 3846), or cheques can be made to “Tina Rouse in Trust” and mailed to Dual Acre Percherons c/o Durk & Alma De Vries RR#2 Shal- low Lake, ON N0H2K0. Email
dual.acres@huron-
tel.on.ca or call 519-935- 3156 for more information.
Photo Captions
1/ Amy McCutcheon drives Percherons, Duke & Doc (full brother team owned by Durk DeVries)
2
2/ Suffolk Punch team driven by Don Roi in orange
3/ Ted Publuske as Santa, Elf, Ashlee De Vries (Left), Elf, Jessica Hummel (on right), Miniature Horse “Reindeer”, Mickey & Diesel.
4/ Santa, aka Ted Publuske 5/ Thrilled recipient, Tye Everall of Wiarton, ON with his custom made “Christmas Wish” bike
4
UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!!! NEW LOWER PRICING!
We Will Price Match Every Regular Priced Item! Over 85 New Product Lines Already In Store and Counting!!! Now accepting gently used leather goods and clothing for consignment. NEW WEBSITE WITH SHOPPING CART
www.dudleystack.com
55 Baldwin St. (Hwy #12), Brooklin, Ontario, L1M 1A2 905-655-7655
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