Planning ahead for Winter in OK

[crysann]

Hello,

I've lived in OK a little over a year, so I made it through winter once, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a crash course on how to care for a horse in the snow....
I'm born and bred in south Texas (down by houston) and to us "winter" is 55 degrees. We all look like eskimos anywhere near that temp. So, living in OK with actual SNOW was a real shock for me. Last winter I kept my horses blanketed when it got below freezing, but because I had never ridden in those kinds of temps before i put the girls out to pasture for 2 months and didn't work with them. I was afraid that if i over heated them or worked them to hard i would cause respritory problems or cause them to get sick.
This year I can't stop working I still have Cocoa Jet (the APHA mare y'all helped me with a while back) and her training is coming along beautifully and I don't want to quit. So, how do i continue to work with her and keep her healthy at the same time? What is the proper way to cool a horse down when the temp is down around freezing? I'm a believer in walking a horse out until he's dry and calm. Is that the course of action I need to continue to take?
For me last year, I tried to keep my morning jogs up, but when I would jog on cold mornings I would feel like my lungs were freezing, it was a horrible feeling and eventually I quit jogging. Is it the same for the horses (I'm Sure)? And if so how do I keep it from happening?
Anyway, I'm sure some of you guys that live in places like Illinois or Nebraska are laughing at me. It's OK I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I don't know the answers to all these questions, but the way i look at it... It makes me a better owner to admit I don't know.
I'd really appreciate the help and information.
Crystal
_________________
"I don't help people with horse problems, I help horses with people problems"

My life is not measured by the people I've known, but by the horses I have LOVED.

[nrhareiner]

Well being in Ohio we get a lot of snow and cold weather.

First I do not blanket any of the horses until THEY tell me they need their blankies. The younger ones 5-6 yo never get blankest as they grow a nice coat. If you start blanketing them too early then they will not get a good hair coat. The onder ones do end up with blankies on unusally at night.

Now if I am riding a lot then I do blanket them to keep the hair from grownign. Some around here even body clip the their leason horses so they will not over heat. However these horses do not spend alot of time outside and always have a blanket or 2 on with hoods.

Keep in mind that once it gets into the lower 20's on down riding is not really good for the horse outside of perhaps a walk as they longs will get too cold. The big think I keep track of is ears. They are the most voldrable part of the horse.

Heidi
_________________
Double Eagle Performance Horses
"Where Performance Begins With Breeding"
Reining Prospects to finished horses for sale

[crysann]

Thanks Heidi, I appreciate the help
_________________
"I don't help people with horse problems, I help horses with people problems"

My life is not measured by the people I've known, but by the horses I have LOVED.

[nrhareiner]

Not a problem. Let me know if I can help any more.

Heidi
_________________
Double Eagle Performance Horses
"Where Performance Begins With Breeding"
Reining Prospects to finished horses for sale

[crysann]

Hi Heidi,
I have another question for you..... Please bear with me, I think of the cold as HORRIBLE becuase i just can't stand weather below 70 degrees. Anyway, I am fostering 3 horses through the winter. They are from Galveston and have been displaced because of Hurricane ike. Their owner lost everything, fences, barn, house, etc. So, I will have the horses with me until about the first of the year maybe longer.
Anyway, here's my question one of the horses that I'm getting, Pokey, is a 25+ year old quarter that is the family pet. You can still ride him, but he's getting arthritic and having a hard time keeping weight, I know he's going to need a blanket, but is there anything else I can do to help him through the winter with out over doing it. I'll try to get him to grow as much of a winter coat as he can, but I was wondering if their was anything for his joints that would make him more comfortable. I don't like to keep a horse locked in a barn and he's not used to being confined, so i plan to keep him out in the pasture at least during the day.
Anyway, thanks I appreciate the help in advance.
Crystal
_________________
"I don't help people with horse problems, I help horses with people problems"

My life is not measured by the people I've known, but by the horses I have LOVED.

[nrhareiner]

The past few years with my old poco mare who is now 28 I have been feeding her Equine Sr soaked Alfalfa Cubs Alfalfa Hay and free choise Buckeye Alfalfa Plus minerals. She did really really well last winter on this combination. Came out with more weaght then she went into winter with.

She too get a blanket when it gets cold and comes in at night now even though the other do not as the dou is geting bad at tight and I do not want to let her get chiled. Although last night she stayed out only got into the 50's Has been getting down into the 40's at night.

Also if you blanket him I use a slenkie under her blanket. It helps with blanket rubs. Even with a very good fiteing blanket I have found that the older horses who have a problem with weight seem to get bad rubs from the blankets and although the shoulder sleezings do not 100% take care of the problem they do help.

I also try to leave her out as much as posible tooo. I think that reallly helps with the sore joints. I also at times get Injectable Gluecosamine which helps but I have found that there is a bid differance in just the Alfalfa Plus.

Hope that helps.

Also if you want you can e mail me dirrectly at nrhareiner@hotmail.com

Heidi
_________________
Double Eagle Performance Horses
"Where Performance Begins With Breeding"
Reining Prospects to finished horses for sale

[crysann]

Thanks Heidi, I appreciate it once again. Also thanks for your patience.
_________________
"I don't help people with horse problems, I help horses with people problems"

My life is not measured by the people I've known, but by the horses I have LOVED.

[nrhareiner]

Not a problem. Have to take good care of the old ones.

Heidi
_________________
Double Eagle Performance Horses
"Where Performance Begins With Breeding"
Reining Prospects to finished horses for sale