What horses do in the winter - Nicola Markwell of Redwings gives some tips to cope with winter weather

MANY horses are kept outside all year round and need to be able to cope whatever the weather, says Redwings Horse Sanctuary. Even the seemingly hardiest pony with a thick coat such as the Shetland may have to have extra help depending on the equine itself and the circumstances in which they are kept.

There are a lot of factors to consider when assessing to what extent an equine can cope and how their winter might be made more comfortable. Here are some points to consider:

• How hardy is your horse or pony? Those that are native to Britain have evolved with a hardiness which makes them able to cope with quite severe winter weather without ill effect. Originally all equines in Britain were small ponies. They lived as wild animals and the amount of food available to them in winter limited how big the species could grow. Anything too big would have lost weight, become susceptible to the elements and would have been unlikely to survive a long or hard winter. When we started using them for work, we began breeding them to get bigger so we must take some responsibility for their comfort.

• The original rain coat! All equines grow an extra layer of hair in the autumn, which keeps the elements out and body heat in. The coat also helps to protect the horse from rain. The hair is coated with waterproof oils, which act as a barrier against even severe downpours and the direction of hair growth helps to channel water into tiny rivulets that then run off the body. Horses that are turned out on winter days are liable to end up looking muddy and dishevelled, but in fact too much grooming can be unhelpful as it removes some of the oils from the coat, making it much less effective at its job.

• To rug or not to rug! Age, health and living environment should be taken into account when an owner decides whether or not to rug their horse. Clipped horses will certainly need a rug but a horse that is able to cope well in cold temperatures may become uncomfortably hot if rugged unnecessarily and horses in general actually find it harder than humans to cool down once they have overheated, because their bodies are so efficient at keeping the heat in. Remove the rug once a day to check underneath for any rubbing or sores and to monitor your horse's weight.

• Water on tap.Water is as important in winter as it is summer. Watch out for freezing and in the mornings break ice on water troughs and buckets and check it regularly throughout the day if the temperature stays low. Horses can drink more in the winter if they are eating dry food like hay and concentrates, rather than grass which is around 80% water.

• Taking cover. Many people are surprised when we tell them that providing shelter is not a legal requirement. Shelter is always a strong recommendation for horses kept outside and can be as much of a benefit in summer as winter. A man-made shelter should be provided and erected by a professional to ensure that it is safe and able to withstand strong winds. It should be cleared of droppings each day and an area of clean bedding will make it more comfortable if the horse wants to lie down. In the wild, horses rely on natural shelter provided by trees and hollows in the ground, which is why many equines will choose to stand outside and use their shelter as a windbreak rather than go inside!

• Wrestling with mud! Many of the complaints Redwings receives through any wet period of weather is that horses are standing in mud or even water and that there is no grass for them to eat. Unfortunately horses are heavy animals with feet that quickly churn up soft ground and there is nothing that anyone can do about this fact. But horse owners can try and manage their land to minimise the damage in a number of ways, but these all need some input of money or space that many people do not have. Some options that owners can consider include rotating your fields or resting areas of grazing, putting in drainage, putting down a straw-pad or creating an all-weather turnout area.

• At the end of your tether? Frequent calls received by Redwings in the winter concern tethered equines. Lack of grazing and shelter are concerns that apply to some equines that are managed in this way. Tethering is far from ideal as a way of keeping horses, but it is not illegal. For more advice on tethering, please visit the Redwings website welfare section.

• A donkey's unhappy tale. Donkeys require a higher level of care in the winter than many horses and ponies. Coming from the African climate, donkeys are not naturally suited to our wet British weather and do not have waterproof oil in their coats like horses have, so shelter is much more important for them. Donkeys really don't like being wet and cold and they are sensitive - the unhappiness of their circumstances can actually be enough to make them ill. Redwings has a donkey care leaflet available.

• Feeling the winter more when old. Older horses, ponies and donkeys will often require extra care, even hardy native types that have sailed through every winter without a problem for most of their life. Consider a rug or extra feed. Winter can be tricky for old timers with conditions such as arthritis, tooth problems or breathing disorders.

Protecting veterans from the elements by tucking them up all day in a stable can seem kind but turning out can be more beneficial for stiff joints or sensitive lungs.

Placing hay in different corners of the stable may encourage the horse to keep moving around every so often to keep the joints moving. Redwings has a free leaflet on retiring gracefully which may help.

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