Horse welfare does not arise from just one single factor, but from a whole, where everyday choices play a major role. In addition to the usual monitoring of feeding, stable environment and hygiene, the winter season is generally a more demanding time in terms of horse keeping.
The daily well-being of horses is built on many everyday factors, such as care routines. Here we offer three concrete tips, by taking care of which it is easy to start the new year by investing in the well-being of horses.
The government decree on horse welfare that came into force at the beginning of January has certainly made every stable owner review and reflect on their own operating models.
In the new horse welfare decree the points that cause the most discussion and in practice also require the most changes are related to matters concerning structures, space use and everyday practices.
Especially the hard frosts of mid-winter pose their own challenges to horse welfare, even though the horse is naturally an animal that tolerates cold relatively well. In winter, the horse's body uses more energy to maintain heat, which affects both the need for feeding and general endurance.
Particularly long periods of frost require attention to stable conditions and daily care.
1. The right bedding choices support health
The bedding used in the stall has a great significance in the horse's daily life. It directly affects the cleanliness, dryness, air quality of the stall and the horse's resting comfort. Biohansa's selection includes several different types of bedding for different needs, such as straw pellets, peat litter, hemp, flax bedding and wood fiber.
By optimizing bedding choices for different conditions, the best properties of each material can be utilized. For example, an outdoor paddock requires different thermal insulation than a regular indoor stable. A highly absorbent bedding helps keep the stall dry and at the same time reduces the formation of ammonia.
This in turn supports respiratory health and prevents hoof problems as well as skin irritation. In addition, the right kind of bedding encourages the horse to rest, which is important for both physical and mental recovery.
2. Feeding planning as support for digestion
The horse's digestive system has evolved for continuous, small-portion eating. For this reason, roughage is the basis of horse feeding and plays a central role in maintaining well-being. Sufficient and high-quality roughage supports intestinal function and thus reduces the risk of digestive problems.
When digestion remains healthy, the risk of colic and other stomach problems decreases, energy levels remain even and the horse copes better in everyday life and work. When planning feeding, it is therefore worth taking into account the individual needs of the horse, such as age, purpose of use and activity level, as well as ensuring a regular feeding rhythm.
Especially in freezing weather, the horse's energy requirement increases because the body constantly produces heat. Insufficient energy intake can be seen as weight loss, feeling cold and weakened resistance. Sufficient roughage intake is particularly important, as its digestion produces heat and helps the horse stay warm.
At the same time, water drinking may decrease if the water is too cold or partially frozen. Low drinking also increases the risk of constipation and colic. Therefore, keeping drinking water unfrozen, sufficient watering of the horse and suitable water temperature are important in winter.
3. Stable environment hygiene and bedding consumption
A thriving horse needs a clean and healthy stable environment. For this reason, it is worth paying attention to stable hygiene and bedding use throughout the year. It is good to make a survey at the stable to see which beddings work best in the current use and how different seasons affect consumption?
By monitoring the amounts of bedding used and the dust and odor concentrations in the indoor air, consumption-based decisions can be made. Less dust and ammonia means better respiratory health for both horses and people.
Cold and dry frosty air stresses the horse's respiratory tract, especially if the air quality in the stable environment is otherwise poor. Dusty bedding and high ammonia concentrations can worsen respiratory symptoms such as coughing and mucus. For this reason, sufficient ventilation is important even during frosts.
By trying different bedding materials according to the horse's stall behavior, it is often possible to reduce the overall consumption of bedding without compromising well-being. Some horses are simply cleaner than others.
Although frosty weather is part of the horse's natural living environment, extreme cold periods still require special attention. Sufficient roughage, unfrozen water, good stable hygiene and taking into account the individual needs of the horse help the horse to survive the winter healthy and well.
