I don’t know about you, but here in Colorado we went from hot weather to chilly evenings and changing leaves in the blink of an eye. You can tell it is now fall, and honestly I’m not ready for summer to be over!
It’s time to prepare ourselves for cooler weather, mud, frisky horses, and the impending winter.
So what’re some things that you should do now to prepare for Fall and Winter weather? Here are the top 9 things to get done now before the freezing weather hits:
Make sure you have enough hay for winter
If you can only store a few bales at a time then make sure you have your hay supplier lined up to get you enough hay to last through the winter. If you have the storage space, stock up now before the colder weather and higher hay prices hit.
Prepare stalls and paddocks for wetter weather
Soon it’ll be raining and snowing (shhhh, let’s not talk about it) and you’ll wish you had done some paddock maintenance before the bad weather comes. Do you have a huge mud problem? Consider scraping out dirt and filling with rock and small crushed rock on top to add drainage.
Do you have an area where water pools and creates a mess? Dig some drainage trenches now, or install and french drain or sub-pump if it’s the right fit for the area.
Wash your horse’s clothes
Once the first real freeze happens and the flies die off, you should wash your horses fly mask, sheet and/or boots and put them away for next year. It’s much nicer to pull out clean stuff in the Spring then having to get it washed when your horse needs to wear it.
Also make sure that your winter blankets are clean and ready to be used. If they need washing or repairs, do it now! You never know when the first cold wet day will come and your horse will need their blanket.
Now is also a good time to get all your saddle pads, wraps and horse boots washed so they are ready for the winter. Depending on how many saddle pads you have (here’s looking at you saddle pad hoarder), you may not need to wash your saddle pads until the Spring!
Related Post: How to Wash your Saddle Pads (With or Without a Washing Machine)
Clip your horse
If your horse gets clipped for the winter, the chances are that you will need to get them clipped beginning now and then a few more times throughout winter if their coat grows back in. It’s also a good time to tidy up manes, tails and bridle paths.
Make sure you have enough feed and bedding for the colder weather
This can be especially important if you live somewhere that the cold weather can keep you trapped at home for an extended period of time (either with or away from your horse). Make sure your horse has enough bedding and feed to make it through any storms that may come through.
Related Post: The Most Common Types of Hay for Horses
Be prepared for bad weather
It’s the time of year where you may be experiencing the first snow of the season, a large damaging rain storm, or a hurricane. So be prepared for mother nature!
For a snow storm, you’ll want to make sure you and your horse can have access to water at all times (a generator may be necessary if you tend to lose power). Your horse needs some access to shelter of some kind so they can get out of the weather.
A large rain storm can bring flooding and loss of access to your horse. Make sure the barn has a plan in place for floods so you can be comforted knowing your horse has somewhere to go. Don’t forget that the increased moisture can bring issues to your horse such as thrush or rain rot.
If you are in an area that can be hit by hurricanes, have a plan for your horses. Make sure you label them with an identifying tag so you can be re-united in case they escape. It’s also important to make sure you have your horse’s papers with you, because if your horse needs to be claimed, you’ll want proof that he’s yours!
Rake up leaves and pine needles
This is also a whole-yard maintenance thing to do, but don’t forget to rake up any leaves, debris or pine needles that fall. Not only will it improve the health of your soil and grass, but a bunch of loose leaves or needles can easily create a slipping hazard for horses or humans. It also just looks better when you bother to clean up loose stuff.
Make sure your first aid kit is stocked
Horses tend to get hurt fairly often, so make sure your first aid kit is fully stocked. If there are liquids in there, take them out and keep them in the house or garage so they don’t freeze.
Need a first aid kit? Here’s a good complete equine first aid kit.
Prepare your horse waterers or troughs for winter
Most automatic waterers as well as water troughs have removable heaters. Clean out the area where the heater goes so it is free of cobwebs, dirt and dust. Get your tank heaters or de-icers installed as well. The first big freeze of the year will be here sooner than you think. *Also disconnect all hoses and put them somewhere that they won’t freeze before your first real freeze hits. I like to store them in my garage where it doesn’t get below freezing. If you have a heated tack room – that’ll work too.
Are you ready for Fall and Winter yet? If not, start preparing because the temperatures are just going to keep dropping.
Is there anything else you do to prepare for Fall and Winter around the barn?
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