Winter Horseshows - How do you prepare?

KatyM · Well Schooled

Winter Horseshows - How do you prepare?

Michelle Synnot · Yearling

Usually we do some kind of a clip job, I like the chase clip personally.. I have some show shirts that are a bit heavier in weight to help keep me warm. The horses can be a bit fresh in the cold weather so I make sure I have lots of time to lunge and school before my classes... oooh and thermos full of hot coffee!! (0:

KatyM · Well Schooled

Yes, I would agree, if you're going to be working hard enough to show, you'd need to clip. Time is always a good plan if you're showing. There's nothing worse than rushing - and it usually is apparent when you do your round! (any warm beverage is good and the coffee can help you to keep going!)

Anyone else have any wise words?

Kairen Jamieson · Yearling

LOL...I do not clip my horses as they live outside...they are very fit and rarely sweat in heavy work.
I rarely do anything different except bring winter ware for the horse and I to stay warmer with.

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Salt my hay the night before and the day of the show, regardless of season (but more vital in the winter I find). Horse's lose salt and water equally when they sweat (unlike humans, our salt level rises and makes up thirsty), so salting the hay (or adding it to the grain) helps to up the water intake which may not be prompt as quickly in cold weather -- lots of coffee and water for myself as well biggrin

deb · Well Schooled

Hi I double blanket so clipping has never been an issue, even tripple blanket if it is cold enough (I live in Canada). So just lots of blankets (coolers- wool and heavy) a kidney cover for the warm up and lots of tea and warm clothing for me as I am ALWAYS cold... though I need to live in a warmer climate!!!! hmm

The two I have now are light haired, Che won't grow a coat even if we don't blanket him... he looks like other horses in the dead of summer, in the dead of winter!!! I don't even have to shave or trim his fetlocks! And Tattoo just would need a sprucing up... in the past double blankets do the trick...

KatyM · Well Schooled

I agree, Nikki, about extra salt before the shows - and I do usually put some electrolytes in the grain (which I dampen a bit so the salt doesn't just go through to the bottom of the bucket). How do you get it to stick on the hay - do you spray some water on it?

Deb - Where I live, we do get pretty cold, but it doesn't get nearly as cold as Canada (in general) can get, and fortunately for us, it doesn't usually last so long. How early do you start with the blankets to keep the coat lighter? So funny, and nice, that one of yours doesn't grow winter coat. The only horse I knew like that was a Thoroughbred stallion. My current horse had so much hair this year, he looked like a Shetland pony!

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Hi Katy, I usually feed soaked hay all summer (if the horse is indoors), but if I know it will freeze in the winter, I'll only soak one flake and add the salt to that. Horses will eat frozen hay, but it makes me cringe a bit because I have sensitive teeth myself and I can just imagine chewing on something really cold!