Draft Horse Training in the WINTER |Shoes and Food for Horses in Winter
This winter has been crazy, and the ice has been incredibly hard to deal with. Training for draft horses has been a bit challenging. In this video, we will show you some of the trials that we are facing, as well as how a draft horse responds to them.
Training horses in the winter is a very elaborate business. It requires you to understand what they need for the winter. There are some keynotes on why shoes and water are very important to horses, especially in icy situations.
No 1: Snow and ice in winter can cause leg problems for horses, especially horses that are called upon to do something other than loaf on pasture or grazing. Problems include snow and ice, which make it challenging to balance on slippery surfaces and can cause injury to horses and riders.
- An old standby for winter traction is a calk or stud that can either be attached as a permanent part of the shoe or as a temporary traction aid that can be removed as conditions warrant.
- Keep in mind that a horse with additional traction on his shoes can do things he couldn’t beforehand, but the rest of him might not be up to it. Even if your horse now has enough traction to climb the Empire State Building, he might not be in shape for it.
- Care must be taken when using horses with traction devices. Sudden spins or turns can produce tremendous torque as the traction device anchors the foot to the ground. Thus, if your horse has additional traction on his shoes, avoid making very tight turns with him either under saddle or in hand.
No 2: Without water, a horse can likely only survive for about three days.
- Horses expend water through the saliva needed to digest hay and feed and a well-hydrated horse can better fend off hypothermia. Horses prefer water that is around 40 degrees. Heated water troughs and/or automatic waterers are the least labor intensive method of providing an ample supply of drinking water.
- Check the tank daily to make sure the heater isn’t shorting out and shocking the horse.
- Though the current is not likely high enough voltage to physically harm the horse, an electric shock is going to deter the horse from drinking out of that tub.
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Source: https://thehorse.com/132567/winter-traction-devices-get-a-grip-before-you-slip/
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