Are horses really that different in winter to summer?

rainni_day

rainni_day

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2019
Messages
119
Visit site
As a returning horse owner, I am being told all the time how different horses are winter to summer and that this time of year is the worst, and where they are the most lively, grumpy and hard work. My mare is quite lively atm and have now put her on exercise livery so she can be ridden daily while I can't due to light restrictions. When summer comes, will I notice a huge difference?
 
You will if she has a good amount of turnout. I think the weather affects them the same as it does us. We are all fed up of the constant rain/wind etc so I think most of them are too. Then there’s the lack of grass so they are hungrier than normal, or just plain bored of standing eating hay. That coupled with reduced turnout makes for grumpy horses.

Last week we had some sun. My horses left their hay and went looking for some shoots of grass. They spent the afternoon browsing and doing what horses do and were much happier.
 
Mine aren’t much different, TBH, but I think that’s because they live out 24/7, so they never spend time feeling cooped up, bored, and miserable. Spring is when they’re most challenging - they definitely get a dose of spring fever!
 
My two (mares, one youngster) are really struggling with their regime at the moment.

Normally they'd be out 24/7 and thriving on that, but at the moment they're having to spend nights stabled, and daytime over these last few days they've been on a hard-standing area with a tiny bit of grass, and hay. They're really hating it!

We rode them on Saturday morning (in the rain/gales!!) and during about 90 mins ride they really only decided to settle down in the last 30 mins before home.

Can't wait to get my "real" horses back!
 
The-Bookworm said:
I think it depends how they live and how they adapt.
Click to expand...
this
I have 3 that live out and they're the same all year round.
the other 2 are mainly stabled over winter and it does make them pretty lively. in the summer they are out overnight from about 4pm to 8am and they are def more relaxed.
 
I think it depends on the individual horse, the grazing and the weather but generally I do find mine are more lively in the winter months when it's cold and windy and more relaxed in the summer if it's warm. A good flush of grass in the Spring often gives them a bit of a lift too.
 
It really depends on the weather and their routine.

Mine are out 24/7 - I find them hardest in spring (grass) or if its particularly windy.

Generally after really bad weather, like the last couple of weekends they are quite docile as they seem tired from the storm. New livery tends to lay down when the weather drops calm after/between storms.
 
Mine doesn't really get much affected by winter, despite limited turnout in comparison to summer. Summer she definitely becomes more lethargic, but winter she's pretty normal.

Spring is when I tend to reach for the sticky bum jods and a neck strap!
 
Depends on the horse, and how it is managed.

My cob used to be a lot livelier in the winter - fitter from hunting, fed more and kept in more as on a livery yard with poor turnout. However he is a lot calmer now as lives out predominately 24/7, although is still hunting fit and fed.

In the summer he becomes a dope - too chilled out from the warm weather and a bellyful of grass. The only way to energise him is to keep in for a couple of days!!!!

However my partners horse (managed the same as my cob), seems to be the same, whatever time of year - has consistent energy levels and settled however managed.

On balance I much prefer my cob in the winter as like the little bit of sparkle!
 
Bonnie goes from being ridden 4-6 times a week to once or twice in the winter, this as well as increased hard feed could attribute to her being a little hot.

First season of the year can be interesting too.
 
Mine is much sharper in winter. He doesn't like being out for long in the bad weather which doesn't help - in the summer he is fine. Being clipped also seems to put the sharpness into him, though he won't tolerate a quarter sheet.
I would put my sister who rarely rides on him in the summer without a thought about it, whereas in the winter I sometimes have to get up my own nerve for him. He doesn't do anything really terrible but he is much more on edge and noticing other horses / distractions and will skite off quickly with a bit of a hump given half a chance. His previous owner did warn me about it, and she had him 6 years so she knew. Said Feb / March was the worst
 
As mentioned above for me it is normally related to how much energy a horse builds up without an outlet. In the winter we tend to ride less, turnout less etc. And also you know how much more chilled you feel when it's a bit warmer and you get to mooch about :)
 
Mine are definitely sharper in winter (well the two who have any concept of "sharpness" anyway). In spring / summer they have more work, more fast work and are less likely to tense or brace against the wind / rain. They live out year round so it really is just how much they get to canter and the state of the weather.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top