Horse Sense Winter Barn Wisdom

Horse Sense Winter Barn Wisdom

By Samantha Johnson

Winter is right around the corner, and that means now is the time to start preparing your barn for the snowy season to come. By tending to a quick checklist of pre-winter barn tasks, you ' ll help ensure that your equipment is ready, you ' re well stocked with supplies and taking all the steps to keep your horses healthy and comfortable all season long.

Prep Your Equipment

Fall is the perfect time to tend to your equipment before the snow flies. Performing seasonal maintenance on your snow blower or snowplow can help ensure that your equipment runs smoothly all season long.

Gather and ready your other snow removal tools such as snow shovels or roof rakes so they ' re handy and accessible whenever you need them. Also, be sure to remove snow as quickly as possible before foot traffic packs it down— fresh snow is easier to remove and helps prevent ice buildup.

Stock Up on Supplies

Stockpiling your winter hay is a top priority before winter. If you don ' t make your own hay you ' ll need to purchase it from other suppliers to ensure that you have sufficient supply on hand before winter arrives. You don ' t want to be looking for additional hay in the middle of winter or more importantly, an unexpected storm that wasn’ t forecast. Not only is it harder to find at that time of year, but it can be difficult to coordinate delivery during the winter.

It ' s also prudent to replenish other often-used barn supplies such as wood shavings, pelleted bedding or medicine that may be needed as well as any other essentials used daily or weekly.

Keep Your Barn Critter-free

A cozy barn is nice for your horses, but rodents such as squirrels, mice and voles know this as well.

As winter approaches, they may be more likely to try to find their way into your hay storage and feed rooms. Try to properly seal off entrances to tack and feed rooms( this is also helpful if the spaces are heated, as you ' ll seal out drafts, too) and set traps near hay storage areas.

Use the Right Tools for Winter Watering

It ' s essential that horses maintain around-the-clock access to fresh, clean water at a palatable temperature. This becomes more challenging in the winter, but no less important. When temperatures drop consistently below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water in buckets and troughs will start freezing.

In some warmer climates where the temperature only occasionally dips below freezing, it may be possible to keep your horse ' s water warm using some simple " passive " techniques such as placing water sources out of the wind, using insulated troughs or by placing a floating ball on the surface of the water to create surface ripples. But ultimately, these techniques may not be enough.

Safe, electrically heated water buckets and trough heaters are highly effective and don ' t use an inordinate amount of electricity. They keep the water not only thawed, but warmed to a temperature that horses prefer, which helps them stay hydrated. In addition, the heaters are controlled by a thermostat, so they operate only enough to keep the water warm, then turn off automatically in between. Be sure to keep the cords out of your horse ' s reach.

Think About Lighting

The short days of winter are easy to forget during the long days of summer. Think back to last winter— did you have enough light in the barn? Do you need new lights installed in stalls, aisles, tack rooms and hay storage areas?

Now might be the time to hire an electrician to install some outdoor-safe lighting in these areas. There are also modern battery-powered light fixtures that you can install without professional help. You might also consider a headlamp lamp for yourself. Modern LEDs make these types of lights bright but also lightweight, and make excellent tools for those post-sundown trips to the barn in the snow.

Prepare Blankets

There is a perennial debate among horse owners on whether or not blanketing horses is a good idea. And the answer is that there is no one right or wrong solution, it simply depends on the needs of the individual horse.

Healthy horses that grow thick coats may not need blanketing— in fact, the blanket may press down on the coat, eliminating air pockets in the hair that naturally keep the horse warm. But older horses sometimes need help regulating their body temperature, and certain breeds tend to grow only very short coats even in winter, so blanketing these individuals in chilly weather may be necessary.

Blanketing can also help in the case of cold rains. As an owner, it ' s a matter of judging the specific circumstances. But if you do decide to blanket your horse, autumn is the time to find the blankets, launder them, size them and have them ready for action.

Winter can be tough on your barn and your horses, but a little preparation goes a long way. From frost-free watering solutions to cozy blankets, proper lighting and rodent-proof storage, these steps ensure your equine friends stay safe, healthy and comfortable all season long. Take the time now to prep your barn, stock up on supplies and tackle winter challenges head-on— so you and your horses can enjoy a warm, worry-free season.

About the Author:

Samantha Johnson is a writer, farm girl, and the author of more than a dozen books on rural living. She lives on a farm in northern Wisconsin with a colorful herd of Welsh Mountain Ponies. You can find her online at https:// www. authory. com / SamanthaJohnson

38 AcreageLife November 2025 AcreageLife. com

AcreageLife. com November 2025 AcreageLife 39