I wondered how horses feel the cold. I see many in fields with coats on. What about the ones with no coats on and no trees to shelter from severe biting winds. Some are Arabian stalions surely they feel the cold ?
2007-11-24 23:09:02 · 20 answers · asked by Sally Anne 7 in Pets ➔ Horses
Nickosta: That is what I thought. I worries me when I see them. Poor things.
2007-11-24 23:34:20 · update #1
Nickosta: That is what I thought. I worries me when I see them. Poor things.
2007-11-24 23:34:31 · update #2
Sorry its in twice.
2007-11-24 23:35:21 · update #3
Alay B. Thanks your comments was interesting. I live in the UK. Our winter is already severe that is why I am so concerned.
2007-11-25 00:24:31 · update #4
Horses have a built in fur coat which under normal circumstances will keep them warm (think wild ponies in Wales, Exmoor, Dartmoor etc).
They find it very easy to keep warm when it is cold and dry, but tend to get cold when we have that lovely combination of wind, rain and cold.
Many people who ride horses will clip some of their coat off to stop them sweating when they are ridden. They then have to put rugs on to replace the coat they have removed. Many owners also choose to rug their horse to keep them clean and dry.
Contrary to popular belief, horses rarely shelter under cover from choice when living out in a field in winter. They do however turn their backsides into the wind and often shelter from the wind behind a hedge. Feeding lots of forage (hay) will also help keep a horse warm.
2007-11-24 23:38:05 · answer #1 · answered by Tigger B 4 · 9⤊ 0⤋
I can see where you'd be torn -- she'll be away from home, but she'll also be bunking with a bunch of other people which could make her more sick. Additionally, she could give other people her cold. Colds are very common. I'd give her some meds and send her on her way. I went to horseback camp when I was ten and it was a few days after my grandpa died. The skills I learned were very valuable for the rest of my life -- and not just with horses. It helped me to gain confidence and deal with my grief. I also became a bit more independent and responsible after spending a week away from home. The friendships I made lasted for years after camp and taught me a lot about how other people live (I was from the city and I met small town farm kids. We would make arrangements to stay at each other's homes for years to come!). If she's only an hour away and her cold gets a bit worse, the camp will definitely call you to let you know. If you send cold meds along with her (like dayquil or children's tylenol), you'll need to let someone know so they can keep an eye on her health and administer the meds to her so she doesn't do it herself. If this is something she wants so badly, try to do everything in your power to let her go. She'll definitely remember that the rest of her life. I know I remember what my parents did for me and I remember how I felt. It was like I was the luckiest kid at camp because my parents loved me...even though my best friend (grandpa) had died!
2016-05-25 07:33:27 · answer #2 · answered by madeleine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on several things. First of all there are several types of horses, for example, warm blooded horses like thoroughbreds have thinner coats than mountain and moorland ponies like The Highland. So a thoroughbred is going to feel colder and will need to wear a rug in cold weather. The other reason a horse would need rugging up is if his coat has been clipped. The reason he is clipped is because his coat is thick in the winter, he would sweat when working and this would cause him to loose condition and possibly catch a chill.
2007-11-25 00:56:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they feel the cold. BUT not as badly as you or I would. Not even the arabians.
The simple fact is that large organisms retain heat better than small organisms. At nearly 1000 pounds, horses are actually VERY large. Their muscles create a huge amount of heat and their coats trap it in. A horses favorite temps are from freezing to about 65. Hotter than 65 and a horse will sweat when worked even for a short time. Even my arab mare prefers these temps.
So before you get too upset consider what the temps are there.
2007-11-25 01:00:48 · answer #4 · answered by Jeff Sadler 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Yes they do - mine come in at nights during the winter but go out in the daytime. All except one (silly mare) wears a rug. They do grow thick coats but this makes them sweat more when they are ridden and it takes ages to dry them off again so I will get the boys clipped this week and switch to thicker full-necked rugs.
Not all horses need rugs - it's a human invention, and actually not that old. Having said that things like arabs weren't exactly designed for living rough in the English winter. Our stupid mare gets sprayed with a water repellent so at least she doesn't get soaked through.
Lots of high fibre feed ( eg Hay) also helps to generate heat.
2007-11-25 02:42:36 · answer #5 · answered by Debi 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If they have lived all their life without a rug on they would have adapted to the cold (thicker fur which comes earlier in the year than most horses) unfortunately some horse owners don't predict the weather and don't put rugs on their horses even when it's going to be a cold night.
2007-11-25 01:56:15 · answer #6 · answered by Gracie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a neighbor who has about 30 horses. They are used for ranch work. In the winter, he turns most of them out into fenced in cornfields with just a small row of trees for protection if the wind is out of the right direction. I think last year he finally started putting out a water tank with a heater in it for them. He says they come in in the spring fatter than when he turned them out! I always felt sorry for them though...
My horses are wintered in a small pasture, with a big bedded barn they can go in. I don't put a blanket on them, nature gives them a thick heavy coat and as long as they have plenty to eat, they do just fine.
2007-11-25 00:22:10 · answer #7 · answered by Ayla B 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes they feel cold and heat and pain, just like you. Their coats will stand up similar to when you have goose bumps and they will shiver - this creates muscle activity and increases body heat.
Doubt there are Arabian stallions in the same pasture together. Very stupid people allow stallions close contact with eachother. Stallions fight
2007-11-24 23:45:30 · answer #8 · answered by reynwater 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes they do. Each horse is different. My friends horses both have coats. My pony is a welsh mountain. She has a lovely thick coat of her own. She also has a lovely warm shelter that she refuses to use unless theres food in there!
2007-11-24 23:19:39 · answer #9 · answered by hiddenmyname 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes horse can feel the cold they grow winter coats. horses are also used to their enviroments. if you put a coat on them they might not grow a thick enough coat for the winter. but remember they are only animals, survival of the fittest
2007-11-25 03:06:35 · answer #10 · answered by christopher p 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋