Shorter days, morning frost and fallen leaves to sweep off the path are telltale signs of fall. Similar to the way the spring sunshine starts the grass and flowers growing, our horse takes his cue from the decreasing daylight hours to start growing a warm winter coat, and starts “hairing up” up even while the weather is still warm. When the fuzzies start to grow, it’s time to consider your horse’s winter care and wardrobe options. With adequate shelter from wind and precipitation, proper feed, access to fresh water, and room to move and maintain body heat, most horses will be comfortable spending the winter outdoors wearing only their natural thick coats, and in general, they’ll be healthier than their stabled counterparts.
