Fall Maintenance for Healthy Winter Horses

With ice and snow only a few months away, now’s the time for horse owners in many parts of the world to perform seasonal maintenance around the farm to ensure their horses remain healthy and snug throughout the colder months.

Here are some steps to take around the barn:

• Stock up on quality hay and store it in a dry place
• Outdoor hoses and water lines need to be drained or winterized
• Water tank heaters should be installed and checked
• Fences and gates should be repaired, and high-traffic areas might need to be rebuilt or topped off to help manage mud in the coming months
• Move all medications, chemicals, and other liquids to a frost-proof area
• Give all barn areas a thorough cleaning
• Check over winter blankets and make any needed repairs or replacements
• Clean and store any sheets, flymasks, or tack that won’t be used
• Have your horse trailer serviced and park it out of the way

For more on winter horse care, see the following:

• Providing Dinner Through Winter
• Winter Water Requirements for Horses
• Q&A: Winter Care for Senior Horses
• Cold-Weather Horse Diets
• Winter Horse Management and Riding Consideration