Winter can be a beautiful season at the barn, crisp air, quiet trails, and cozy turnout blankets, but it can also be one of the toughest seasons on your horse’s body. Cold temperatures, cutting wind, frozen ground, and shorter daylight hours all affect how horses eat, drink, move, and stay comfortable. The goal of great winter horse care is simple: support warmth, hydration, digestion, mobility, and immune function so your horse thrives until spring.
Our informative guide to winter horse care includes feeding strategies, hydration best practices, blanketing tips, hoof management, and smart supplementation. And because winter hydration is the #1 issue many barns struggle with, we’ll emphasize the most critical point: Horses must have free access to clean, unfrozen water at all times.
Not “most of the time.” All the time!
Why Winter Horse Care Matters
Horses are naturally built to handle cold weather better than heat, but winter introduces hidden stressors:
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Reduced water intake due to icy or very cold water
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Increased caloric needs to maintain body heat
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Limited movement because of decreased turnout, snow, ice, and mud
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Changes in digestion when forage types shift and hydration drops
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Hoof challenges including cracks, thrush, abscesses, and snow packing
Good winter equine management helps to prevent common cold weather issues like dehydration (often resulting in impaction colic), weight loss, stocking up, and minor injuries from slippery footing.
Winter Hydration: The Most Important Part of Cold-Weather Horse Care
Why horses drink less in the winter
It’s normal for horses to drink less when temperatures drop, especially if water is icy cold. Many horses simply don’t want to drink frigid water (would you on a cold winters day?), and some will avoid it altogether if the surface is frozen or the bucket tastes “stale” after repeated freezing and thawing. The result is a dangerous combination: less water + dry hay = higher colic risk.
The gold standard: free access to clean, unfrozen water
Your horse should have 24/7 access to water that is unfrozen, clean (no algae, hay slime or feed residue) and palatable (not overly icy or stagnate)
Practical winter hydration helpers include:
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Heated buckets or tank heaters
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Daily breaking of ice and refills
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Placing water where horses feel safe and are likely to drink (no ice on the ground surrounding water troughs)
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Monitoring consumption daily (especially in older horses)
M & M Tack Shop carries a wide selection of winter hydration essentials to help encourage steady water intake and support healthy hydration, especially when temperatures drop. From easy, everyday options that make drinking more appealing to electrolyte and treat choices that help maintain proper hydration, we make it simple to keep you horse well hydrated all season long.
Ready to stock your winter hydration kit? Start with these customer favorite essentials:
Gallagher's Water Products make hydration simple by transforming your horse's water into an irresistible treat with benefits.
A hydration routine is easier to maintain when it's consistent and appealing. Gallagher's Water all-natural equine hydration beverage can be a smart tool in your winter toolkit, especially for picky drinkers, hard-keepers, seniors and horses that travel or compete year round. Think you it as a "supportive habit builder" for better water intake when winter conditions make drinking less appealing. Simply mix with warm water for delicious treat.
Even simpler, Gallagher's Water Hydration Treats, heart-shaped, crunchy and tasty treats made with Gallagher's Water, are a simple add-on that fits well into winter barn routines. Whether you're encouraging drinking in the stall, after a ride, or anything you want to get more fluids in, simply feed as you would a regular horse treat.
Electrolytes aren't just for summer.
Many riders associate electrolytes with summer hear, but electrolytes are as essential in the cold of winter as they are in summer. When given in winter, electrolytes can boost thirst and rehydration of body cells, helping keep impaction colic at bay.
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Decreased water consumption, combined with increased hay, increases impaction risk; electrolytes encourage drinking to keep your horses digestive system moving smoothly.
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Even in winter, horses sweat during exercise or under blankets, losing sodium, potassium, and chloride, which electrolytes replenish.
- Proper hydration and mineral balance bolster the immune system, making your horse less susceptible to winter illness.
Apple-A-Day Electrolytes are a practical choice to support hydration and replenish salts, especially for horses in regular work, horses that travel, or horses that don't drink robustly in cold snaps.
For "need it immediately" situations, such as shipping, hard work, or a horse that not bouncing back quickly, Electrocharge Paste can be helpful for quick electrolyte support.
Winter hydration is a non-negotiable. If you implement only one thing this winter, make it water access. Always follow product label directions, and remember that electrolytes work best when fresh water is always available.
Salt & Minerals: Encourage Drinking and Support Balance
A year-round essential, salt helps regulate thirst while also supporting normal nerve and muscle function as well as healthy digestion. In winter months, salt becomes even more important as horses naturally drink less, and adequate salt intake can help encourage a healthy thirst response.
A few of our easy, barn friendly salt options to keep on hand at your barn this winter include:
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Himalayan Rock Salt: The purest form of salt available, Himalayan Rock Salt contains many of the valuable minerals your horse needs to promote a healthy balance in their body.
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Redmond Rock on a Rope: A convenient hanging option that's easy to place in stalls, run-ins or paddocks, reducing waste while providing 60+ trace minerals to nourish and naturally balance your horse.
- Jolly Stall Snack Himalayan Salt Refill: Does your horse have a Jolly Stall Snack Holder to reduce boredom and stress? Simply replace your existing treat with the Himalayan Salt refill and provide enjoyment and valuable minerals all at once.
No matter what form of salt your salt prefers, the goal is the same: consistent access. Some horses prefer loose salt, while others happily lick a mineral block. When possible, provide sale in a format that your horse will actually use.
Helpful Tip: If your horse ignores your first attempt at providing salt, try:
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Offer a different type of salt; block vs. hanging vs. loose
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Placing it near water or in your horses favorite spot
- Checking dental comfort; senior horses may struggle with some blocks
Winter Feeding: Forage First, Adjust Calories Smartly
Hay is your horse's internal "heater"
Forage digestion produces heat; hay is a built-in warming tool. Most horses need more hay in winter, especially if your pasture is dormant, frozen, or snow-covered.
To support winter weight and warmth:
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Increase hay amounts gradually as temperatures drop
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Feed frequent small hay meals or provide slow feeders
- Monitor your horses body condition score (BCS) every 2-3 weeks
Concentrates and fats: when you need extra calories
If your horse is dropping weight despite adequate hay intake, you may need:
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A higher calorie ration balancer + forage
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An added fat source like stabilized rice bran or oil
- A performance feed for horses in regular winter work
Always remember to make diet changes slowly to allow your horses digestive system to adjust.
Digestive Support: Keeping Your Horses Gut Moving
Dehydration combined with dry hay are a major colic risk, especially impaction colic. Supporting your horses hindgut through the winter means focusing on water, forage and a stable routine.
Signs that your horse may benefit from extra digestive support include:
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Loose manure or inconsistent manure texture
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Poor appetite on cold days
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Stress during winter storms, travel or schedule changes
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Senior horses with changing digestion
For extra digestive support, Probios products make everyday gut support easy.
Stress (temperature fluctuations, travel, blanketing changes, and even herd dynamics during bad weather) can affect digestion. Probios Soft Chews are an easy-to-feed option that protect your horses fragile digestive system while giving then a tasty treat.
For daily use, Probios Dispersible Powder probiotic supplement supports your horses digestive system by helping to restore the natural microbial balance in the gut. Daily use of Probios provides lactic acid-production bacteria that aids in digestion and supports your horses overall health.
Blanketing: Comfort, Not Confusion
Blanketing can be beneficial, but it's not mandatory for every horse. Horses with good body condition and shelter often do just fine without blankets. Others absolutely benefit, especially seniors, horses in regular work, clipped horses, hard-keepers, and horses with limited shelter.
Blanketing best practices:
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Blanket based on temperature + wind + wetness, not temperature alone
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Avoid overheating (sweat under a blanket results in chills later)
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Check your horses shoulders, withers, and chest often for signs of rubbing
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Keep blankets clean and dry
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Use breathable, waterproof blankest in wet conditions
A good rule: When it's wet and windy, horses cool faster, even if the temperature isn't extreme.
Hoof Care: Ice, Snow, and Mud Change Everything
Winter hooves face a revolving door of footing:
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Frozen ground (concussion)
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Ice patches (slips and strains)
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Mud cycles (thrush, soft hooves, pulling shoes)
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Snow packed into soles (bruising)
Winter hoof care tips:
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Maintain your regular farrier schedule
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Pick your horses feet daily, watching for thrush (especially after turnout)
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Keep pastures and paddocks as ice free as possible
Exercise & Movement: Keep Your Horse Moving Safely
Even in winter, horses need movement for joint health, circulation, digestion, and mental well-being. Limited turnout due to inclement winter weather can cause stocking up, stiffness, and fresh behavior once turnout resumes.
Safe winter movement ideas:
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More frequent turnout when footing allows
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Hand walking on safe surfaces
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Light arena work focused on stretching and balance
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Keep blankets clean and dry
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Groundwork sessions that encourage calm, controlled movements
Warm up longer in cold weather, your horses muscles and tendons need more time to loosen. Cool down thoroughly after work to prevent chills under blankets.
Winter care doesn't have to be complicated
Focus on the fundamentals and your horse will stay comfortable and thriving all season long. Prioritize free access to clean, unfrozen water, keep quality forage available, support healthy salt and electrolyte balance, and stay consistent with blanketing, hoof care, and daily checks. With a few smart habits (and the right hydration and wellness essentials on hand), you'll help your horse navigate every cold snap safely, and will head into spring feeling strong, healthy, and ready to ride.
And as always, M & M Tack Shop is here to answer all your winter horse care questions and provide everything to help your horse stay safe, healthy, and comfortable through the cold.
