Fall Tips for your senior horse

Warm summer weather is slowly ending, and autumn chills are coming. It’s time for you and your horse to prepare for the weather change! Undoubtedly, fall is a beautiful time of the year; however, it can bring challenges for your senior horse. Adequate care and monitoring of your senior horse are necessary during the upcoming fall months to ensure peak health. Keep reading for tips on how to help your senior horse get the most out of this fall season!

1. Arthritis Check

Colder months can mean a possible increase in arthritis for your senior horse. Your horse’s activity may slow down due to more time spent in the barn, but staying on top of your horse’s mobility and joint health is crucial. Supplements may be needed to help decrease arthritis worsening in the fall months, so make sure to consult with your veterinarian and devise a plan for your horse’s arthritis to prepare for the cold weather.

2. Routine Hoof Care

Prepare for the rain and slippery conditions with particular attention to hoof care! Your senior horse deserves comfortability. To ensure this, consider adding snow pads or pulling the shoes to help with slippery conditions like ice and dew. Avoid the accumulation of mud or ice by cleaning your horse’s feet daily. Set up a schedule and make it a routine to reduce the chances of buildup and infection.

3. Can’t get enough of it, Water!

Water for your horse is essential year-round but is especially critical in the cooler months. During this time, your horse’s water should be checked more than once daily. Make sure it is not frozen or dirty. To prevent freezing of water, consider heated water sources or electrolytes. Electrolytes prevent water from freezing! If you decide to provide a heated water source for your horse, check the electrical wires and make sure it is safe for your horse to drink out of. Poor water intake can result in failing organs, colic, and poor performance overall. Don’t skip out on this tip! Water is key.

4. Adequate Shelter

Nothing is better than being wrapped in warm blankets on a chilly fall night. Your horse wants to feel that way as well! Don’t forget about their comfort. Your senior horse can also feel the wind chills and coldness in the air, so make sure to purchase blankets for your horse to help with this. Make sure not to get too heavy of a blanket for your horse. Sweating and constant moisture under the blanket can cause excess shivering and have the reverse effect of warmth.

If your senior horse lives out in the pasture, provide shelter to block winds when they need warmth. In your shelter, maintain cleanliness. Avoid mud and wet surfaces that can be breeding grounds for bacteria and infection. All these tips can create an adequate shelter for your senior horse and provide them with the thing we all love during the fall, warmth!

5. Exercise

It is vital to keep your senior horse active year-round to prevent joint pains and depression. However, as the weather cools down, this can sometimes become more difficult. Make sure to walk your horse so they can stretch out their legs and joints. Of course, know the limits for your horse and what is too demanding for them. Don’t push your horse too far, but still practice forms of exercise to keep them moving. The cold weather can cause your horse to become stiff and tense, so relieve the pressure by following this tip!

The fall months can be an adjustment for your senior horse. Make sure to take care of them and provide the best comfort you can. Here at Ryerss Farm, we care for aged, abused, or injured horses. The horses at Ryerss are never worked, go to auction, or are used for experiments. They simply spend their days grazing and enjoying life with their friends, as part of the herd. Check out our origin story and how we became who we are today by clicking here, and don’t forget to visit the farm! We are open 365 days a year!