Who's keeping their horses in shape in winter?

[miniapp]

I just keep them legged up during the winter... I also introduce new things over the winter months... (ie: halter obstacles, ground driving, etc...) just to keep their minds fresh and happy. But no strict conditioning.... I DO, however, maintain a modified feeding program for the horses that I know I will be hauling.

I don't have pasture, per se.... just a couple of large areas where they can run and play and be horses. The only concession I do make to the world of "continuous fitting" is that I will keep a fleece lined jowl wrap on anything that has a throatlatch issue... (usually the stallions in the barn...) to keep on top of it before it becomes a problem. (Just a hold over from my large horse halter fitting days....

) I start again about 60 days before the first show... Now, as far as MY "continuous feeding and fitting" program... I think that I have the continuous feeding part down pat!!! LOL

Suzy Hooper

Show Horses by Suzy

Fresno, CA

 

[Secret Hills Ranch]

I work mine in the winter. Not as hard as summer and spring, but they're still worked. I keep them just fit enough. They're obviously not ready to walk in the show ring, but they are definately not flabby or toooo overweight.

 

[Margo_C-T]

I do not have "pasture"per se, though my horses do get out to graze occasionally, when we've had the rain to grow the native grass a bit! I do turn them out together into the 250' X 125' arena to exercise, when feasible. Most of them are trained driving horses, which also helps. When there is snow on the ground, and it is cold enough that it isn't rapidly turning into mud, I turn them out on the (well-snow-covered)acreage during the day on occasion-they can move around, paw a bit for the grass, but without damaging the fragile growth of native grass too much.

As far as the heavy hair coats/exercise--I do my own version of a "trace clip", which helps! I have already clipped my B mare(who I've driven the most this year); she came here in March, and is just now really becoming fully acclimated to the altitude, I think(it's 6600 ft. here!)! She is showing more stamina, but still sweats fairly easily, so I clipped her chest, underside of neck, belly, and flanks. She still has plenty of protection, but the areas most prone to sweat, if they do, dry out much faster than if all that hair was still there!

I am going to start my last two(young mares)in driving training this winter(when I can!), and currently have a young mare here to start in driving training(30 days now, 30(or more)more in the spring), so I will be working horses at least through the next month or two; however, in the 'dead' of winter, things ususally HAVE to slow down considerably. My horses ALWAYS get ample hay-always have, always will,showing or not-with extra in the cold of winter. They sometimes come into spring pleasingly plump, but never grossly overweight. I AM going to try a bit of beet pulp this winter-see if they, and I, like how it works. I do have heated waterers for everyone here, so don't have big concerns about them drinking enough water then(one reason I've not done beet pulp so far. Will use it to replace a bit of their hay, not just add it to the usual amount.)