Winter Hydration Tips for Horses: Keeping Your Horse Healthy in the Cold
- Balanced Bodyworks
- Nov 14
- 1 min read
Cold weather can make it easy to assume your horse doesn’t need as much water, but hydration is just as crucial in winter as in summer. Horses often drink less in freezing temperatures, which can increase the risk of dehydration, colic, and muscle stiffness. Being proactive about water intake is key to keeping your horse healthy and comfortable.
Why Horses Drink Less in Winter
Ice or snow covering water sources
Extremely cold water temperatures
Reduced activity levels, which can suppress natural thirst
Even mild dehydration can make feed harder to digest and increase the risk of digestive issues or discomfort.
Tips to Encourage Winter Hydration
Provide Warm Water: Horses are more likely to drink water that isn’t icy. Heated buckets or water heaters can help.
Offer Water Frequently: Multiple smaller water sources or regular bucket refills encourage consistent drinking.
Add Flavour: Adding different herbs for flavouring such as Peppermint, Chamomille and Ginger to name a few.
Monitor Intake: Keep track of how much your horse drinks daily. A sudden drop can be an early warning sign.
Feed Moisture-Rich Foods: Wetting hay, grain or offering soaked hay cubes can help increase overall water intake.
By following these simple tips, you can help ensure your horse stays hydrated, healthy, and comfortable all winter long.
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