The 4 biggest challenges during the cold winter months
Winter is a wonderful but challenging time for both horses and their owners. The cold, the lack of fresh grass, and less movement can have a major impact on your horse's health. In this blog, we discuss the most important winter challenges and how best to help your horse through them.
CHALLENGE 1: How do I ensure my horse keeps moving smoothly?
When temperatures drop, your horse may not move as smoothly. This is because joints become stiffer due to the cold. Older horses or those in intensive work, in particular, may need extra support. How do you ensure your horse stays flexible? There are several measures you can take:
Take plenty of time for warm-up & cool-down
Firstly, it is important to take enough time for warming up and cooling down. Colder temperatures slow down the blood flow in your horse's muscles and joints, meaning they need more time to warm up. This can lead to stiffness, especially if the horse is not given enough time to cool down and recover after exercise.
Ensure your horse gets enough exercise
In addition, many horses move less in winter because they are in the stable more often or have less access to a pasture. This limited movement can lead to stiffness in joints and a loss of elasticity. To keep your horse flexible, it is important to continue providing enough exercise, even during the winter months.
Provide support with joint supplements
Furthermore, joint supplements such as Arti-Sport or Top-Joint can provide support for sport horses that deliver high physical performance. For horses that are more sensitive to stiffness, such as older horses or those with chronic discomfort, products like Arti-Gold or Pro-Motion are ideal. These supplements contribute to maintaining healthy mobility and optimal joint elasticity.
CHALLENGE 2: How do I maintain strong resistance during the winter months?
In winter, a well-functioning immune system is essential to keep your horse healthy. Several factors can contribute to reduced resistance:
- Cold and wet weather conditions
- Less access to fresh air
- Lower levels of natural nutrients
How can you best support their resistance? Everything starts with good management. Ensure your horse always has access to clean and dry bedding, plenty of fresh air, and high-quality roughage. Additionally, supplements like Immunotop can help strengthen the immune system. Immunotop contains ingredients that contribute to a healthy immune defense, which is essential in challenging weather conditions. For horses sensitive to respiratory problems, Respitop can be a valuable addition. This supplement supports healthy airways and helps your horse breathe comfortably.
CHALLENGE 3: How can I maintain a balanced vitamin level?
One of the biggest changes for horses in winter is reduced access to fresh grass. Fresh grass is an important source of natural vitamins, such as Vitamin E, which are crucial for muscle health and the immune system. Because horses can only obtain this vitamin from their diet, deficiencies often arise during the winter months. It is therefore important to administer a Vitamin E supplement during these months. A lack of Vitamin E can have serious consequences; read more about this in our blog.
Supplementing specific vitamins
To avoid specific deficiencies, you can choose supplements like Vitamine E or Vit. E Liquid. These products are specifically designed to provide horses with sufficient Vitamin E, even in periods when fresh grass is unavailable.
General supplement support
For broader support of vitamins and minerals, Vital+ is an excellent choice. This supplement is extremely suitable for older horses or those that benefit from a complete addition to their diet.
CHALLENGE 4: How do I maintain healthy tendons & supple muscles?
Winter can have a major impact on your horse's tendons and muscles. Due to the cold, muscles need more time to warm up, while tendons can become more prone to injury due to reduced elasticity. This is especially important for sport horses or those that perform regular intensive exercise. A proper warm-up and cool-down are therefore essential during the winter.
Preventive support
To provide extra support for your horse's muscles and tendons, you can use supplements such as Tendon-Care and Muscle Relax. Tendon-Care helps maintain healthy tendons and ligaments, which is especially important for horses in intensive training. Muscle Relax promotes muscle relaxation and helps with recovery after exercise, keeping your horse supple and comfortable, even during cold periods.
Overcome the challenges of winter
By providing the right care and support, you can ensure your horse keeps moving smoothly, maintains strong resistance, and receives enough essential nutrients.
