A printable checklist to keep your senior horse safe and comfortable through winter
Horse's Name:
Breed:
Age:
Weight / Height:
Known Conditions:
Date:
1. Water & Hydration
Cold weather reduces drinking, raising impaction colic risk. Aim for 5 to 10 gallons per day.
Check and break ice on troughs at least twice daily
Use a tank or bucket heater (inspect cord for safety)
Offer water near 45–65°F to encourage drinking
Add loose salt or a salt block to promote intake
Consider soaked feeds or warm mashes for extra water
2. Forage & Feed
Digesting hay generates body heat. Increase forage before adding blankets.
Increase hay during cold snaps (heat comes from fiber, not grain)
Provide free-choice or extra hay overnight
Use a slow-feed net for hard keepers and dental cases
Offer soaked hay or hay replacer for poor teeth
Monitor that senior gets its share away from the herd
3. Blanketing
Seniors and clipped, thin, or PPID horses often need blankets; healthy unclipped horses may not.
Blanket if clipped, thin (BCS under 4), or compromised
Use a waterproof, properly fitted turnout blanket
Check daily for rubs, slipping, and dampness underneath
Remove and dry blankets that get wet to prevent chills
Feel under the blanket for warmth, not just outside temperature
4. Shelter & Footing
Protection from wind and wet matters more than cold alone.
Provide a run-in shed or windbreak from prevailing wind
Keep bedding deep and dry for lying down
Sand or grit icy gateways and high-traffic paths
Watch for ice balling in hooves; pick out regularly
Ensure footing is safe for stiff, arthritic seniors
5. Body Condition & Health Checks
Winter coats hide weight loss, so check by hand often.
Hands-on body condition check weekly (coat hides ribs)
Watch for shivering, tucked posture, or huddling
Monitor for reduced manure (impaction warning sign)
Keep up farrier visits even if unshod in winter
Maintain PPID / pergolide medication through winter
6. Winter Notes
Record cold-snap plans, blanket weights, and any weather-related concerns.
Senior horses regulate temperature less efficiently and are more prone to impaction colic in winter. Adjust care to your climate and individual horse, and consult your veterinarian about any horse losing condition or refusing water in cold weather.