Horses Need Extra Attention During Winter UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Horse owners should pay careful attention to their animals to make sure they say healthy and comfortable during winter, according to an equine specialist in Penn Sale’s College of Agricul tural Sciences. “Healthy hones are tough crea tures and can withstand cold temp eratures, but there are many ways horse owners can make winter easier on their animals,” said Pat Comerford, instructor in dairy and animal science. When horses are kept in stables during the winter, ventilation and proper stable management and hygiene are critical. “Stabled horses are more prone to contagious diseases such as strangles, influenza, and rhinop neumonitis,” Comerford said. “Make sure that vaccinations are kept up-to-date and isolate sick horses if possible. “People tend to shut the bam up tight to keep it wanner, but many bams don’t have adequate ventila tion," Comerford said. “When you go into the bam and smell a strong odor of ammonia, the air quality 4s poor. This increases the risk of ser ious respiratory ailments. Ventilat ing the bam will help reduce that risk.” If you keep your horse blank eted during the winter, be careful “Blankets and hoods help keep a show horse’s coat in good condi tion, and obviously help with warmth,” Copnerford said. “But if the temperature rises during the day and the horse sweats, the blanket will get wet. If it’s not dried before the temperature falls at night, a wet blanket can really chill the horse. It can make the ani mal colder than if it had been left unblanketed.” Making sure your horse has adequate feed and water will help the horse stay warm and in good condition. “In winter, your horse’s energy requirements rise, so feed intake should also increase,” Comerford said. “Feeding roughages like hay will generate body heat due to the digestive process,” she said. “So make sure your horse has access to high quality hay, and supplement grain as necessary to add energy. Also make sure your horse gets enough water. If a horse’s water intake is restricted, feed intake may decrease and digestive prob- lems such as colic may occur.” Owners should check their horses regularly during winter to be sure they are in good condition. “Long winter haircoats can easi ly mask excessive thinness and other problems,” Comerford said. “Be sure to run your hands over the ribs at least weekly to make sure the horse has adequate fat cover.” If your horse is kept outside, make sure it has a good haircoat, shelter from the wind and a dry place to rest and eat “Once the haircoat gets wet and matted, it loses its insulating value, so a dry place must be provided during extended cold, wet condi tions," she said. Hoof and leg problems also can become more prevalent during winter. “Thrush, a common hoof dis ease, often occurs during wet weather, particularly if the horse is standing in mud and manure,” Comerford said. “The best way to prevent thrush is to keep the hoof dry and clean. 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