I think winter has definitely hit the UK properly this week! We’ve gone from wet and quite mild (for the time of year), to freezing and even snow for some parts. I haven’t seen any snow…yet but the cold and frost has turned up which is a lovely change from wet and mud especially when picking out horses hooves. I haven’t blogged on here for ages in fact I’ve not even been that into Instagram but the last few weeks I’ve got back into it and the cold weather has inspired me to do a Winter Tips blog for horses owners. These are all tips and tricks I have picked up from my own experiences and other people so I hope you also find them helpful this winter.

Tip #1 – Hand Care

Get a good hand wash and hand cream! This sounds so obvious but as horse owners we are all guilty of not looking after ourselves and splurging on our horses’ care rather than our own. My personal favourite hand wash and hand cream are by Hawkins Organics. I’ve been using it since summer and honestly no other hand wash has cleaned my hands so well! I usually have to scrub and wash my hands a few times to get the dirt that accumulates on my hands from doing the horses in the morning or evening but Muck Off gets it all of even if i do a quick wash in the outside sink with cold water, I sound like a Fairy washing powder advert! Combine this with the Stable Hands hand cream and you have a winning combo. My hands have been so soft and haven’t cracked so far this year. Just a few dry patches which have appeared this week due to the very cold weather and lack of gloves… oops. But a thick layer of Stable Hands hand cream quickly helps that. 

Another hand cream I like which is in a handy hand bag size is O.P.I Pro Spa hand cream. As it fits in my work bag I find it ideal for using while I’m at work or on the go. I usually pick this up from somewhere like Boots but you can also buy it direct from O.P.I.

For those that have kept up to date with me on socials you may already know that I am a qualified equine sports massage therapist so my hands get covered in all sorts of grease and dirt from horses coats and these are the products that work best for me and I am sure if you try them you will agree. 

Tip #2 – Frozen Water Troughs 

My next tip is how to deal with frozen water troughs. This is unavoidable, I don’t think we will ever get a winter where we don’t have to deal with frozen water troughs or frozen pipes. But if you want to make life a bit easier especially for outside water troughs these are a couple of tips you can use. 

• Use a football or any other suitably sized ball to prevent water troughs from freezing. The ball floating on the water helps to prevent it freezing over so your horse has access to water which is super important as we all know. This Is great for horses who live outside all winter and need access to water. In the case of a particularly hard freeze and the water trough freezes with the ball in it (it can happen), the ball will make it easier to break the ice as when the ball is removed where it was will not be frozen or just a thin layer of ice may have formed making it easier to crack.
• When cracking ice on water troughs make sure you remove the broken ice. This is a huge help the next day when it has frozen again overnight and there are almost two layers of thick ice as it hasn’t melted away. A shaving fork is ideal for this if your trough is large. Alternatively, get some good waterproof gloves or rubber gloves to fish the ice out. 
• Have a hammer handy! – we all know how difficult it can be to break ice and sometimes using our foot to break it isn’t going to cut it. A hammer will come in handy in times like this. 

Tip #3 – Invest in some good gloves

Back to our hands, a good pair of gloves will really help keep the winter elements from affecting them and keep them warm. I like to look for ones that fit well so I can still do daily yard jobs with out having to remove them and ones that are waterproof as there’s nothing worse than getting wet gloves and then cold fingers!

My favourites that I have used are Equetech Storm Waterproof Riding Gloves I have had my hand submerged in a water trough fishing ice out and my hands have still been dry wearing these gloves! I can not tell you enough how good they are. They are super warm, not bulky so are also great for riding in and not got a massive price tag.

I also love the Roeckl Winter Riding Gloves these are perfect for riding and competitions when you need a smart pair of gloves and don’t want bulky thick winter gloves. They keep your hands warm and you still have a great feel on the reins and they fit like a second skin. Roeckl gloves are my go to glove brand ever since i got tried them. I’ve had the pair that is linked for at least three years and they are still going strong with just a bit of wear between the fingers that you would expect. They are worth investing in so get them on the Christmas list!

Tip #4 – Prep as much as you can

Winter is tough when it is dark in the mornings when we sort our horses and then it’s dark again when we come to do them at night time. This is when prep is key. You can save time on an evening by doing most of your jobs in the morning like filling water buckets and putting hay in the stable if your horses are turned out during the day. If they have limited turn out in winter then having everything prepped for the evening is still a good idea to save time. Having everything ready will give you that bit of extra time and possibly light to do things like ride your horse in the evening or do some ground work. 

Tip #5 – Access your horse regularly

Winter can be harsh on our horses especially if they are elderly or struggle with keeping condition on. It’s important to access them every couple of weeks to make sure they are not losing weight and condition so you can spot the sins early and make changes accordingly.

Although this does not only apply to those that struggle with condition, this can also be applied to horses who are good doers and the lack of exercise and increase in feed/forage due to lack of turn out can often be the cause of those extra kg to build up before spring. Condition scoring and weight tapes are good for keeping an eye on how your horse is doing through winter.

Tip #6 – Revaluate your horses feed

Winter time can be a change for a number of horses due to different factors. It’s definitely worth looking at your horse’s feed and asking if they still need to be fed this, do they do something more to support them through winter?

Things to think about regarding feeding in winter:

• Has your horse’s exercise level or routine changed?
• Do they struggle to keep condition and or weight on?
• Are they competing as much?
• Are they being roughed off for winter?
• Are they spending more time in the stable?
• What is their turnout like?
• Has their behaviour changed and could this be related to their feed, e.g. fizzy due to being fed high energy feed when they are standing in a stable most of the day. 
• Are they getting enough fibre?

Tip #7 – Rugs

Rugs are always a hot topic this time of year. You are probably constantly thinking is my horse warm enough or are they too warm, sound familiar? 

Good rugs are important so it’s worth investing in the best you can afford. Some brands I like include Weatherbeeta, Swish (these ones fit every horse so well), and Shires.

Having a spare winter turnout rug is also a good idea in case it is needed. 

If your horse is stable then having liners or under rugs for stable rugs are good as you can add a rug if the temperature starts to drop. This is also often a cheaper and space saving option as it saves buying rugs in different weights.

 

Tip #8 – Take the pressure off

Winter riding is difficult! If it’s not the dark nights it’s the weather that is against us and if you’re not lucky enough to have a floodlit arena to exercise your horse in it can lead to a lot of pressure put on trying to exercise your horse or keep them competing during the winter months. My advice to anyone is to take the pressure off. If you miss a day of riding your horse won’t mind, if you can’t do that competition at the weekend your horse won’t mind. At the end of the day your horse won’t mind is the answer to all the reasons you can think of for not riding them. 

Use what time you have to work on the basics, groundwork is a fantastic training tool for during the winter when time is limited and you can even do it in the stable if you don’t have a well lit area like an arena or yard. This will improve your bond and your horse’s ridden work. 

Tip #9 – Stock up

This one is pretty self explanatory, stock up on all your essentials like hay/haylage, feed, shavings, winter groom products, check the first aid kit has plenty of supplies in there. With some products if possible it is good to buy in bulk that way you have plenty to keep you going and can usually get a discounted rate by buying a pallet of shavings for example. 

Tip #10 – Boredom breaking 

If your horse is spending more time in their stable it is a good idea to think about keeping them occupied while they are in to avoid boredom and some of the habits that can develop from this such as box walking and cribbing. 

There are a number of different stable toys now available from many equestrian brands to suit all budgets and horses. These are some that I have used or think are good ones. 

Likit – we all know Likits and we can all say that we have tried at least one once in our life. I really like the Likit range as they have different options of toys to suit different types of horse and so many flavours of licks to choose from.

 

Horslyx – these are great because they not only keep your horse occupied but provide vitamins and minerals that your horse could be lacking in due to reduced turnout. They also come in a range of sizes and flavours to suit all.

 

Stable toys – this type of toy is good for those who can’t have too many high sugar treats like licks. They usually have something like a bottle in the middle that makes a noise when touched and string arms/legs that they can chew/play with. Dino has one form Kentucky Equine which he loves to play with but the likes of Kramer Equestrian and QHP also make them now which are a bit cheaper in comparison. 

Make your own – there are a number of different toys you can make yourself as well which are cost effective and work just as well. For example hanging a turnip up is the same principle as the Likits but costs much less and is a healthier option for the likes of laminitic horses and ponies. You can also do something similar with carrots. 

Treat balls – I have found this really good for my own horse and they really enjoy playing with them. They can be filled with any treat you like and you can control how many treats you put in them. I like them as they encourage the horse to move around. I have found carrots and any brand of treats work well in these so you can tailor them to your horse. 

I hope you enjoyed treading this blog and have hopefully found these tips helpful, let me know in the comments if you have.

Why not share your top winter tips in the comments below, I would love to hear them!

Thanks for reading,

Kay x