Winter can be rough on horses, especially those with arthritis. The cold, coupled with the reduced workload and frozen ground can leave your arthritic horse stiff and sore. Luckily there are a number of ways that you can keep your arthritic horse comfortable during the winter.

Provide Plenty of Bedding

With your horse spending more time in his stall during winter, it’s important to make sure that the bedding provides adequate cushion. Increasing the amount of bedding you provide can help your horse to be more comfortable. Additionally, consider installing the a stall mat system in his stall.

Maximize Turnout

Exercise and movement help to keep arthritis under control, so make sure that arthritic horses still have access to turnout during the winter. You will want to carefully monitor the footing available in your horse’s field, since ground that has frozen hard in divots can be difficult for an arthritic horse to navigate. If mud freezing jaggedly is an issue in your pastures, then installing Stable-ity Grids at pasture gates or in troublesome areas of the pasture can help to reduce mud and keep your horse more comfortable.

Hand Walk

If the conditions are just too bad to get your horse outside, then hand walking him or turning him out in an indoor arena can help to keep him moving, minimizing his arthritis. If you have a wide barn aisle, you can walk your horse up and down it for additional movement. Access to an indoor arena can also be beneficial, since light riding will help to keep him active.

Use Longer Ride Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs

When riding your horse, remember to provide him with longer warm-ups and cool-downs, especially during the winter weather. Cold weather is hard on joints, so your horse will need plenty of time to warm up and move freely before he is ready for more intense work. Pay attention to your horse’s movement, since he will likely let you know when he is ready to pick up the pace.

Use Joint Supplements

If joint supplements are part of your treatment plan for your horse’s arthritis, then make sure to continue with them throughout the winter, even if you aren’t actively riding your horse. Joint supplements can help your horse to move more easily, and may prevent his arthritis from progressing further.

Communicate With Your Vet

If your horse gets increasingly uncomfortable during the winter, then contact your vet for advice. Your vet may prescribe medication or a new plan of action to help keep your horse comfortable.

During the winter, your arthritic horse may need a little extra care to keep him moving well. What seems to help your horse during the winter?

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Original Source: Keeping Your Arthritic Horse Comfortable in the Winter