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Going into a very cold winter, suggestions please

2K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  MyBoyPuck 
#1 ·
Hi I live in NW Washington and its already been in the upers 30's at night, my lil TB maer hasnt got much winter coat yet but when we put a winter blanket (medium waight really) on her I come out in the late morning to find her just coverd in sweat! I am not able to keep switching off and on blankets cause I work, commute and cant rely on someto do it for me.

That is one thing thats going on for me, doesnt help that she just shreded her good medium waight blanket and her light waight rambo (cost $325.00) started leaking! I have deiced to clip her (high trace clip) to help with that. I have a Rider International med. waight waterproof blanket that she now has on, thank god for back ups!

Second thing is, if you have fallowed my threads, you know I havea young TB mare with joint problems, so she gets joint suppliments through smartpak. She has been getting the suppliments since June of this summer and done well with just being fed that without any grain, or extra feed. But with this cold weather should I go ahead and add a complete feed to just help keep her at a good waight? Id hate to go into the winter and not do so and have her loose tons of waight cause its so hard to get in on her. It will be the first winter without her getting a scoop of Beetpulp and cob...any suggestions in that area?

She gets 4 flakes of hay a day right now and is in a outdoor large paddock witha huge run in shed, This week she will be brought in with all the the other horses at night till early spring.

It is sopposed to start snowing in the next 8 weeks where we are and I want to be prepared for the worst.

Any suppestions would be great. Klassy is at a great waight now, also keeep in mind she is young and still in her growing phases (4 years old, 15.1 hands)

Thanks
Sam
 

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#2 ·
instead of adding beet pulp and COB why not add just the Beet pulp but increase the amount if needed??

might also add a good vitamin/mineral supplement
 
#3 ·
The best thing to keep a horse warm and keep their weight up during the winter is more hay. Free choice hay is best if possible. If not, three meals a day of grass hay, with the evening meal the largest. Spread the hay around in multiple piles so it takes longer to eat it. Feed at least 30 lbs a day, more on very cold days/nights.

Hay fermenting in the hind gut will help keep the horse warm from the inside out.

For a TB she looks a bit fat, which is good going in to winter. I wouldn't want to see any more weight on her though, especially if that's the one with the joint issues.
 
#4 ·
I read somewhere (Equus maybe) that TB's actually develop thicker skin in the cooler months along with winter coats. That might be why your seemingly thin coated mare was sweating under her blanket. Like others said, forage is the key. As long as there's something in the tummy to burn, they're fine.
 
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