Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Coping with cold weather

From: Jan

I just found out that Texas is going to be in the teens (low) for several days, and my barn is not built. I have three pastures with mares, gelding and stallion and geldings in another. My foals are ok, but I am really worried about these guys as my husband is not horsey and to ask him to make sure they are taken care of is like asking the government to get rid of IRS.

Also, I don't have enough blankets for everyone either, so, does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to help keep them warm? I am just sick because of their watering situation and me not being there to make sure it is taken care of.

Thanks Jan

Hi Jan! Don't panic, temperatures in the teens aren't going to kill your horses or even make them sick. As long as your horses are dry and have plenty of hay to eat and water to drink, they won't be bothered by those temperatures. In fact, your horses will be better off than the horses that are smothered in thick blankets and kept in heated barns. ;-)

Be sure that your husband understands that he MUST see to it that the horses have enough water and hay -- it won't matter whether he is horsey or not, as long as he can follow instructions and do the things on a simple list of two items:

1) Keep the water tanks filled and clean (if they are dirty, scrub with baking soda only) 2) Put X number of bales of hay out for each horse (remove baling twine or wire, and dispose of it away from the horses' fields).

Other precautions that you can take in future:

If you put 50-pound salt blocks in your horses' fields, they'll have access to salt for months at a time, and you won't have to count on anyone else giving them daily salt.

There are bale-feeders that will accomodate large round haybales, and some horse-owners find that these make their lives easier at this time of year.

A heated watering tank will continue to provide water even when the temperature drops well below freezing.

If you aren't going to be around for a few days or even a week, ask a horsey friend or neighbor to drop in and have a look at the horses. And if you are really worried that your husband won't do the necessary, HIRE someone to come in and look after the horses for you. A week of really cold weather isn't a problem. A few days without water or hay, on the other hand, could be an enormous problem. Don't take the chance. And have a serious talk with your husband -- he doesn't have to be horsey to understand why your wishes should be respected. ;-)

Jessica

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