{"id":14342,"date":"2022-12-07T09:49:41","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T13:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=14342"},"modified":"2023-12-03T13:40:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T17:40:58","slug":"do-horses-get-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/do-horses-get-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Horses Get Cold? (A Guide to Winter Horse Care)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
You’ve probably seen pictures of horses grazing in a pasture full of snow and wearing a blanket of snow on their uncovered backs. In turn, your instinctive reaction is most likely to be one of “Brrrr! They have to be freezing!” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But do horses get cold like people do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a general rule, no. Horses are designed to handle cold weather and related conditions, but the ultimate answer is that it depends on the individual horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The physiology of a horse helps them handle the cold in such a way that it doesn’t bother them. There’s always a barn prince or princess who won’t go outside without a sheet when the temperatures dip, but they’re the exception to the rule. A horse that’s in good physical condition and has an adequate fat layer can readily handle cold weather, provided they’re of a mind to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a good idea to engage in hair coat management if you use your horse for performance or training on a year-round basis. The very effectiveness of a horse’s coat and physiology causes it to sweat harder in the winter after exertion. Clipping and blanketing helps your horse shed heat and sweat less during the winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read on to learn more about why horses don’t get cold in the winter and what you can do to help them stay comfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n