As the holidays approach, you may find yourself horse sitting for friends or even for horse owners you don’t know. Caring for horses during winter is very different than caring for them in the summer, especially when you are the sole caretaker for a barn. When you’re horse sitting in the winter, there is some very important information that you should make sure you know before the owner leaves.

Colic History

Ask the owner if any of the horses in your care have a history of colic, especially during winter weather. If a horse has colicked before, ask about the specific symptoms that he displayed, as well as the owner’s treatment procedure. Make sure you know what he or she would like you to do if a case of colic arises, and at what point you should call the vet.

Location of Snow Shovels and Sand

If you will be in charge of the barn while the owners are away, make sure that you know where important tools like snow shovels and sand are located. If there is a snow blower, make sure that you know how to use it.

Methods for Keeping Water from Freezing

There are various ways to keep unfrozen water in front of horses during the winter, including trough heaters, heated water buckets, and simply bringing heated water to the barn. Familiarize yourself with the methods for preventing water from freezing, and be sure that you know where extra heaters or extension cords are located in the case of a malfunction.

Turnout Procedure in Inclement Weather

Ask the horse owner when they want their horses to be turned out and when the horses should stay in their stalls due to inclement weather. Be sure that you know which blankets should be used and when. Additionally, ask the owner to specify if there are footing conditions, such as the presence of heavy ice, where they are not comfortable having their horses turned out.

Who Is Responsible for Plowing the Property

You will need to access the property regularly, and if a storm occurs it’s important to know who will be plowing the property. Ask the horse owner to provide you with the contact information for the person plowing in case you need to contact them directly.

Nearest Accessible Horse Trailer

When winter weather strikes, many horse trailers may be snowed in. Ask the horse owner where you can find the nearest accessible horse trailer during an emergency if you should need to transport their horse.

Horse sitting in the winter is full of unique challenges. If you get the information you need to know ahead of time, the experience will go more smoothly.

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Original Source: Winter Horse Sitting Tips