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They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that’s certainly true when it comes to barn life in the winter. Being proactive about winter preparedness can prevent emergencies, reduce the risk of damage to property and equipment, and keep you and your horse comfortable and healthy through the long winter months. As we head into the coldest months of the year, here are some tips for getting ahead of the game and setting yourself up for a more chore-efficient winter.
Begin a manure management program
A horse creates 50 pounds of manure per day. When mixed with winter rains and melting snow, this quickly turns into 50 pounds of mud. If you don’t already pick up manure on a regular basis, now is the perfect time to start. Not only will this greatly decrease the amount of winter mud on your farm, it will also reduce your horse’s parasite load. All manure should be picked up at least every three days in stalls, paddocks, confinement areas, and high traffic areas to help break the parasite infestation cycle. Be sure to store manure as far away as possible from streams, ditches, or wetlands and keep your piles tarped to prevent runoff.
Looking for more tips on managing manure on your property? Check out our Manure Management resources here.
Check for leaks
Winter rains and melting snow can wreak havoc on a leaky roof. Now is a good time to check for leaks in your barn, arena, and shed roofs. It’s also a good time to check for leaky water fixtures and pipe connections. Fixing that leak now will make life more comfortable for your horse, protect your investment, and keep chores manageable by preventing muddy spots and ice.
Cover your hay
Wet hay can easily become moldy and throwing out bad hay means having to buy more mid-winter, when it’s harder to find and much more expensive. Even a simple tarp can shield your hay from wind, rain, and snow, keeping it safe and dry.
Eliminate potential rodent habitat
It is estimated that every rat you see equals $150 in feed loss and structural damage per year. Rodents can also cause health concerns for humans and livestock. Deter rodents by eliminating their access to food, water, and shelter. Piles of towels, rags, horse blankets, and old feed bags are exactly the sort of places rodents love to spend the winter, so keep your barn and tack room tidy to discourage nesting. Store all feed in aluminum garbage cans with secure lids. Pick up cat and dog food and water at night and sweep up any other feed or spilled grain. In addition, installing downspouts and improving drainage will remove potential water sources for rodents.
Make sure your barn and tack room are well ventilated
It can be tempting to close your barn to the elements in the name of comfort, but unventilated barns are a breeding ground for mold and germs. Keep doors to outside paddocks open in your stalls (or windows if they don’t have direct access to runs) to help prevent respiratory disease in your horses. Using a ceiling fan, dehumidifier, and/or barn-safe heater in your tack room can also help prevent moldy tack.
An exterior and interior view of the Sweet Pepper Ranch Guest Barn and the low-tech way we use a tarp to protect the hay storage from winter elements.
Protect your horse’s water supply from freezing
A horse drinks 8-12 gallons of water per day. Research also shows that horses prefer water temperatures of about 45-65 degrees and tend to drink less when water is cold. Studies also show equines increase water consumption by about 40% when water temperatures are above freezing in cold weather. Since a decrease in water consumption can lead to dehydration and colic, it’s important to ensure your horses are drinking an adequate amount. Break and remove ice from buckets and troughs at least twice a day or invest in stock tank heaters or heated stall buckets. Consider insulating pipes and faucets with heat tape or other insulation materials. Check with your local hardware store for recommendations, and plan ahead to have this equipment in place before the next polar vortex hits.
Also, older horses or those with dental problems may require additional warming of their water. In these cases, you can warm their stall buckets with some hot water from an electric teakettle.
Review equipment needs for daily chores
Having the right equipment makes a significant difference when it comes to chore efficiency, especially when it’s dark and cold. Consider getting a manure cart that’s easy to push and dump into the compost pile. Two-wheeled carts tend to be less prone to tipping, which is particularly helpful on uneven or muddy surfaces. Is your manure fork half broken? Now is a good time to replace it. Forks with metal handles can be slippery and cold in the winter, so look for a fork with a wooden handle or wrap your handle with tennis grip tape or vet wrap for comfort and ease of use.
