It's really cold in Illinois (in the negatives) and my horse (a 14 yr old gelding) is stocked up and stiff. Someone told me it was because of the weather, but I'm wondering if he's being overfed.
2007-02-05 12:01:42 · 4 answers · asked by Liadan 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Cold weather will make him stiff and in some horses gain weight. Because of the cold weather your horse is most likely not moving about very much. You may want to lunge him lightly to help keep his muscles moving and his joints from being stiff. This will also help keep his digestive tract moving. Some horses colic if they have been stationary to long, so exercise is a must. Also make sure that your horse is getting plenty of water. In colder weather a horse will drink more water to keep his body warm. If you're worried about him getting to cold I'd suggest putting a thick winter blanket on him along with a sleazy and winter hood. Your horse may be looking chunkier because the muscles he developed over the spring and summer aren't as tight as they were due to lack of movement- I wouldn't recommend lowering feed or hay ration unless by vet instruction because hay and feed are helping keep his body warm. Hope this helped.
2007-02-05 14:21:41 · answer #1 · answered by silvaspurranch 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be either or a combination of both. A horse gets stocked up primarily because they are not maintaining enough movement throughout the day. Being stalled for a lengthy period often results in a stocked up horse. Feed him in a couple different places (if he's in a paddock) and away from the water tank so he has to travel a little more.
2007-02-05 12:18:01 · answer #2 · answered by Horsetrainer89 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he is truly stocked up you need to call the vet. It can progress into muscle damage if not taken care of. If your horse is just a little stiff because the old joints are acting up. (As they are apt to do) Then just make sure to get him out at least for an hour of two a day. If you can even turn him out in an indoor and just ask him to walk and trot, nothing strenuous. Just to get the joints and blood moving. I feel your pain with the cold. We are trying to just fare it out too.
hope this helps:)
2007-02-05 12:41:10 · answer #3 · answered by xx_countercanter_xx 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At nighttime I make constructive they have grass hay to loose feed off of even as they have nutrition they stay hotter. notwithstanding the position I stay so some distance it receives about 5 stages at nighttime and it truly is foggy if that concerns! also my horses are skinny (when we offered them) and really one of them is a previous timer (19 nicely no longer that previous yet older) we've not positioned blankets on them because i favor there iciness coats to come back in. If it receives to chilly even with the actuality that below 0 i make constructive they have blankets on it hasn't gotten that chilly yet. also we are transferring them to a barn tomorrow so that they have got wind destroy. besides i can make constructive you provide your some allot of hay in the previous you go away also i heard graining a horse is nice yet i heard from different human beings it would not help any,
2016-11-02 10:29:25 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋