Cheval Health & First Aid

Let's talk about winter hydration.
Winter hydration is JUST as important as hydration during the hot seasons! Over the years of being in the horse industry, I have found that more horse owners and professionals don't think it's important or a big deal and in which result that more horses have had colic during winter than in the summer. It is easy to overlook hydration in the winter with everything else we are concerned about like, keeping them warm, clearing snow, blanketing, winter chores, ect. Or just simply thinking it’s not as important.
Did you know❓️
Horses typically consume 5-10 gallons (18 – 36 L) of water per day. However, research shows that horses drink up to 14% less water in winter than they do during the warmer months of the year. During the winter months horses require more water to avoid dehydration & colic. In summer horses who has access to pastures have 60 to 80% moisture which contributes to their water intake. Horses on dry feed like hay and grain has less than 15% moisture.
What happens when they don't drink enough❓️
-Dehydration
-Colic
- Poor organ functions
-Poor performance
- Reduced feed intake, which can lead to weight loss and unable to provide the necessary energy to tolerate the cold.
These are just a few things that can happen.
Every horse is vulnerable to this, but senior horses, foals, and sick/injured horses are more prone to be in danger of this.
What can you do❓️
Luckily, there are a few things we can do!
🐴Give electrolytes! When there is insufficient water in the gut, the electrolytes in the blood drive the thirst response and cause the horse to seek out water. Electrolytes are as essential in winter's cold as they are in summer's heat. The best way is to offer it in water, but it can be added to feed.
🐴Offer your horse different levels of temperature of water in buckets. Alot of horses prefer warm water in winter. Kind of like how we like our coffee haha. According to research the best temperature is 8-18oC ( 46.4 – 64.4F) which will increase their water intake by roughly 40% when the outside temperatures are above freezing.
🐴If you give a bucket of water with electrolytes in it, also offer a second bucket with plain water.
🐴 You can add water to their feed.
🐴If feeding feed that requires soaking, for example beetpulp, alfalfa cubs, ect, add extra water.
🐴 Bring them in (barn or sheltered place) and offer them water. Sometimes, horses will want to get out of the cold element. Especially with those picky horses.
🐴 For those picky horses, you can try putting some non sugar apple sauce in the water to entice them to drink.
Help your horse stay hydrated this winter!

We are almost to the weekend. I thought what better way to distract our minds and take a moment to challenge your brain.

This is an easy one.
What is this and where on the horses body does it come from❓️ 🐴🤔
I will post the picture tomorrow at noon to give people time to answer.

Good luck! 🐎