22/07/2025
Winter Horse Care Tips from Kohnke's Own
Cold weather brings extra challenges for our horses, especially the older ones and the young stock. As the temperature drops, make sure your horses stay warm, healthy, and happy with these essential winter management tips:
🌾 Feed Plenty of Roughage
Good-quality, leafy hay is key! Hay fuels hindgut fermentation, which helps keep horses warm from the inside out. Aim for 1.75 – 2kg per100 kg body weight daily, split between morning and evening feeds. Lucerne hay is especially beneficial in winter as it provides extra protein in addition to fibre which produces 6 x times more fermentation heat when compared with carbohydrates and common fibre sources.
🧥 Rug Right
Not all rugs are equal. A lined, insulated and waterproof rug is best—especially in windy or wet conditions. Avoid unlined rugs in cold climates which can flatten the hair and make horses feel colder! Horses normally stand with their hindquarters facing the prevailing wind, sleet or rain. Ensure that the rug has a long tail flap that hangs down to just above the hocks to prevent cold air and draughts from drawing heat from the under-belly area where body heat is produced by fermentation of fibrous food.
💧 Stay Dry, Stay Sound
Wet conditions can lead to hoof abscesses, rain scald, mud fever and sore feet. If horses are stuck in paddocks which are constantly wet and muddy, try to bring them into a dry stable or yard occasionally to allow their skin and hooves to dry out.
💊 Support from the Inside Out A trace mineral and vitamin supplement with organic zinc, organic copper, organic selenium with natural vitamin A and E, such as in Kohnke’s Own Cell-Vital or Cell-Provide may help maintain immunity, health and vitality under very cold conditions. Some horses may need additional support for their hooves during these times by providing a comprehensive hoof supplement such as Reboot HOOF+.
🔥 Warm Up Before Work
Always allow a warm up of at least 10 minutes at the trot before fast work to reduce the risk of airway issues in cold morning air and to ensure muscles are adequately warm before performing any strenuous exercise. It is also beneficial to work horses in the mornings where possible as to avoid having horses that are wet and sweaty as the cool evening air settles in. If you must work them in the afternoon, try to dry them as thoroughly as possible before rugging and putting them away.
🏡 Provide Shelter
Windbreaks, sheds or north-facing shelters help protect horses from chilling wind and rain. Feed bins should be located on the leeward side of a hill, sheltered from prevailing winds by a windbreak or warm comfortable shelter shed. Horses often stand at feeders for several hours to consume their feeds, and windy exposed sites can significantly increase the chill factor in wet weather. Don’t forget—horses will often move to warm themselves up, so space to exercise is important too!
Let's keep our horses healthy, happy and comfortable this winter. For more handy hints and full winter care advice, contact us at info@kohnkesown.com or Freecall 1800 112 227. Visit our website www.kohnkesown.com for information on products such as Cell-Vital, Cell-Provide and Reboot HOOF+.
