Looking after horses in the winter

schneeko

schneeko

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This is the first year my pony will of been in a stables for 3 years so it's going to be a bit strange for us both. He'll have all day turnout 4 times a week but he will have to be in the rest of the time. I'm worried about two things mainly:

1. He is prone to mud fever but is a lot better when he is kept out. Would turnout boots be a good option?

2. He will probably get very stiff as he's getting on a bit. I'll ride most days but I was thinking about bandaging his legs overnight if it's very cold and try to keep him rugged up a bit more than i normally would.

Any comments or other suggestions would be greatly appreciated :D

p.s. I know it's a bit early but if I need to get anything i'd like to have time to save the money
 
see how you get on before you go buying loads of stuff,boredom breakers are good like a ball with nuts in and a lick to take ages to get at and a hay net with small holes. Keeping him entertained will be half the battle won.
 
I always used to turn my old horse out everyday because he got stiff etc but last winter that wasn't an option and he could only go out once a week. In fact he was better like that and didn't mind being in at all. I did make sure he was ridden everyday and I did bandage his hind legs at night because they are inclined to fill when he is in. I kept him very well rugged, with a hood on his top rug and fed him mix, beet and oats because he was hunting. He lives on Cortavet HA but otherwise I didn't do or give him anything different than normal and he looked great all winter and went really well.
 
Yeah, not rushing into anything, just looking for things in advance so it's not a mad rush when he suddenly comes in. I think i've still got his ball somewhere so that'll probably help to keep him moving a bit as well.
 
cantieflower said:
I always used to turn my old horse out everyday because he got stiff etc but last winter that wasn't an option and he could only go out once a week. In fact he was better like that and didn't mind being in at all. I did make sure he was ridden everyday and I did bandage his hind legs at night because they are inclined to fill when he is in. I kept him very well rugged, with a hood on his top rug and fed him mix, beet and oats because he was hunting. He lives on Cortavet HA but otherwise I didn't do or give him anything different than normal and he looked great all winter and went really well.
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Thanks
:D that makes me feel better.
 
Not quite sure why your pony gets mud fever when stabled. Maybe it is the wet and then dry, then wet etc. I think Keratex mudshield powder might be an option or udder cream/barrier cream before you turn out. The trouble i find with barrier creams is they get so messy! I have had a lot of success with the keratex. But it isnt for everyone.

You can get a cheap stable rug for about £20-£30 if you want but you can leave them in with their turnout rugs if breathable, but you may get bitchy comments! It is worth looking on ebay for stable rugs.

I dont think it ever harms to have some stable bandages available anyway so save up for two sets so if one set is in the wash you have another set. They are not expensive. You may not need them but at least you have them ready if he gets stiff.
 
cinammontoast said:
I bloody hope so cos it was dire last year. I'm going to start mine on it soon.
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:) same, hopefuly won't be so bad this year.

Dozzie:
I think he is worse stabled because he's warm in the stable and it makes the bacteria grow even worse. And no matter how hard I try to get his legs dry it doesn't seem to work but I haven't got time in the morning to brush them off so it has to be done in the evening :(
 
Pig oil and sulphur is brilliant at preventing mud fever. When he comes in the mud will just slip off overnight.

Otherwise use Thermatex leg wraps each night. They will dry the legs for you. Don't wash any mud or anything off though, have a spare set or two of these, plonk them on muddy legs and all will be fine in the morning.
 
my pony LOVES his grass and when i got him he hadnt been in the stable for at least a year and i had to keep him in at night in the winter due to hardly any grass and loads of mud but anyway what i did was every day put him in the stable for a little while just strt off with 10 mins and then make it longer and longer and make sure he cant seeyou give him a net of hay and a lick to keep him happy and to show him that the stable is nice and a good place to go and then he will get used to it an like it my pony loves his stable and even asks to come in sometimes :P i couldnt belive it i thought he would hate it!
 
Ditto the leg wraps, an absolute god send! If at all poss I would just put them on over the mud, let it dry over night and then brush off in the morning if necessary (wouldn't brush unless needed as loads of brushing on skin that is wet/dry/wet etc can damage the skin), wash leg wraps and repeat! If not possible or your horse is just too hippo like then I rinse gently, a v gentle wipe downwards with a towel to get the worst drips off, then leg wraps on. They also have helped oh mare with her filled legs. Not tight enough to offer support, but being warmer seems to help her legs.
If ours can't have daily turnout, then they get led out at least once a day, twice is better though if you can, even just 10 mins walking to get things moving again really helps against stiffness and filled legs.
 
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