Getting Your Horse Ready for Winter: Essential Autumn Steps

As the clocks go back and the warmer days of summer fade, autumn arrives with its rich colours and shorter daylight hours. This season marks the start of thoughtful preparation for your horse’s health and comfort during the challenging winter months. Proper care in autumn helps ensure your horse stays healthy, warm, and well-protected as the cold sets in.

One essential autumn task is addressing worming. Small encysted strongyle larvae can cause serious harm over winter if not treated properly. The best licensed products for this particular parasite are Panacur Guard and Equest. Due to emerging resistance concerns with Panacur, Equest might deliver better results for your autumn worming routine, helping to safeguard your horse's digestive health.

Optimal Timing for Castrating Colts in Autumn

Autumn provides the ideal window for castrating colts. The cooler temperatures mean fewer flies around, reducing infection risk and making recovery easier. Castration is a straightforward procedure usually performed standing under sedation. For colts, the recommended age for gelding is around six months. Early castration benefits both the colt and the owner by reducing undesirable behaviour and making handling simpler.

While older stallions can also be castrated, this usually requires general anaesthetic and carries higher risks and costs. Whether performed on the farm or at the yard, ensure your vet follows best practices for a safe and humane procedure.

Monitoring and Managing Winter Respiratory Issues

Cold weather often brings on respiratory problems in horses and ponies, so early observation is critical. Common causes include viral infections and other infectious agents that affect the upper and sometimes lower respiratory tracts. Symptoms to watch for include:

• Nasal discharge
• Coughing
• Fever
• Swollen submandibular lymph nodes (glands under the jaw)

Equine herpes viruses are prevalent culprits. If untreated, they can cause severe complications such as neurological disease, hind limb paralysis, and reproductive issues like aborted foals. Horses transmit these viruses through nasal secretions, which can remain contagious for up to three weeks. Quarantining affected horses protects others on your yard or stable from infection.

Veterinary diagnosis typically involves nasal swabs and blood tests to identify viral strains and antibody levels, guiding effective treatment and management.

Importance of Vaccinations for Winter Health

Prevention is always better than cure, particularly with potentially serious diseases circulating in winter. Vaccination every two to three months is advised to maintain immunity against common viruses such as equine herpes and influenza. Mares can be vaccinated during pregnancy to pass on protection to their foals, which can begin vaccination at three months old.

Equine influenza is another significant winter ailment known for its rapid spread between horses via airborne droplets. Younger horses are particularly vulnerable to flu, often showing high fevers, coughing, and a watery nasal discharge. The combined flu and tetanus vaccine is recommended routinely to prevent infection and halt outbreaks.

Recognising and Addressing Equine Viral Arteritis

This viral infection is spread through nasal secretions and can cause serious respiratory issues, especially dangerous for young foals, where it can be fatal. Signs include leg and underbelly swelling, coughing, and conjunctivitis. Prompt veterinary diagnosis and treatment are critical. Vaccination is the primary defence, so ensuring your horse’s vaccines are up to date contributes significantly to disease control.

Keeping Your Horse Healthy Through Winter

Horses are naturally hardy but winter brings added challenges. Respiratory illnesses and other health issues should never be underestimated. Prompt attention and treatment prevent escalation and complications. Responsible ownership means keeping vaccinations current, maintaining good worming schedules, providing adequate shelter, and monitoring your horse’s health closely through cold spells.

By following these autumn and winter care guidelines, you’re giving your horse the best chance to remain comfortable, healthy, and happy during the colder months. Your dedication to their welfare truly makes a difference in how well they cope with winter’s demands.