Tips for Getting Your Stables Ready for Winter
Winter will be here before we know it, and you’ll want your stables in line before the cold and snow set in. Preparing your stables for winter will improve your stables and equipment’s longevity, as well as the health and safety of your horses. Here are a few tips for getting your stables ready for winter.
Start With a Deep Clean
As the weather gets colder and nights start to get longer, your horse will be spending a lot more time in the stables than usual. For horses, spending more time inside can lead to an increased risk of infections and respiratory problems. To keep them healthy, strip the stable completely, disinfect the floors, walls, and matting, and replace old bedding with more absorbent bedding to keep the area dry throughout the winter.
Though you want your horse to stay warm, ample ventilation is imperative to fight off respiratory infections. Give the windows a good cleaning and make sure you can still open them when needed to provide adequate airflow.
Protect Your Pipes and Water
Frozen or burst pipes are a significant pain to deal with in the winter. They can also make your stables a dangerous place if the water were to freeze over. Use heat tape and foam lagging to insulate stable pipes.
Your horses can’t get the necessary amount of water they need from the snow on the ground, either. Install a water trough heater to make sure their water trough doesn’t freeze and ensure they can still stay adequately hydrated.
Stock Up on Supplies
You’ll need to do a lot of maintenance throughout the winter months to keep your stables and pastures from icing over and to clear away piles of snow. Stock up on plenty of salt and shovels before the snow hits, as you may have a hard time finding them in stores later on. It’s also smart to purchase some WD40 in case any stable doors freeze shut.
As for your horse, they’ll need to eat more in the winter because their bodies will be working harder to keep them warm. Be prepared to purchase and provide your horse with more hay than usual during daily feedings.
Get Your Blankets and Sheets Ready
The last tip for getting your stables ready for winter is to make sure your blankets and sheets are clean and well-fitted for your horse. After being stored away for the spring, these blankets are most likely dirty. Likewise, they may have sustained damage from rodents, or your horse may have outgrown them. Clean and fit your blankets and sheets before the cold sets in to keep your horses warm when the temperatures do eventually drop.
