The festive season brings increased levels of ‘busyness’, celebrations, and break from routine. For us horse owners, it can be extra challenging juggling yard responsibilities with holiday celebrations combined with winter weather. Here are our Aloga Insider tips to ensure your horses stay happy and healthy during the Christmas period.
Keep it Consistent
Horses thrive on routine. The holiday period might tempt you to adjust feeding times or shorten turnout hours, but abrupt changes can stress your horse and even lead to health issues like colic. Plan your celebrations around their regular schedule. If a festive commitment causes a clash try and delegate care to someone reliable who can stick to your established routine. Opting to pre-prepare feeds, leaving out change of blankets or stocking up on tack room essentials can help avoid last-minute scrambling.
Treat with Care
While we might be indulging in a variety of treats throughout the holiday season, try to avoid sharing with your horse. Stick to horse-safe snacks that are familiar to your horse, not over processed or sugary. Fail safe carrots, apples and peppermints are always the best options for sharing Christmas cheer but keeping your horse healthy and well. Avoid chocolate, bread, or anything you wouldn’t typically include in their diet on a regular basis.
Winter Weather
Holiday season often means colder, stormy or snowy weather. Ensure your horse is adequately protected from the elements, especially if festivities keep you away for extended periods and that their winter wardrobe is up to date and ready to wear.
Winter Care Checklist:
- Inspect and repair blankets to ensure they are warm and waterproof. If it is time to upgrade the Aloga Pro Turnout is our hard wearing blanket ideal for indoor and outdoor use.
- Invest in an Aloga Liner. This allows you to easily adjust the weight & warmth of compatible blankets.
- If you plan on turning your horse out ensure they have access to fresh, clean water and is possible a sheltered area in the field.
- Ensure water supplies don’t freeze by using insulated buckets or adding a float ball to help keep the water moving.
Keep Calm & Carry On
Loud music, fireworks, increased traffic or holiday wanders are unsettling for horses. Plan ahead to minimize their exposure to potential stressors. Consider moving your horse to a quieter area during expected times of high noise or activity. Leave a radio, calming music or white noise in the stable to mask sudden sounds. If things get particularly busy or stressful consider calming supplements if your horse is particularly anxious, but consult your vet first.
Reliable Backup
If you plan to host large gatherings or to away from the yard for long periods of time, arrange for trustworthy backup care for your horse. Whether it’s a fellow horse owner or a family member, ensure they are well-versed in your horse’s routine and needs. Stocking up on feed, fodder and first aid essentials helps minimise stress in the case of unexpected situations.
Create a detailed care list with feeding, blanketing and turnout instructions as well as emergency contact information. Arrange a run through of the yard, where you show the person you are leaving in charge gets a chance to see where everything is kept and how the yard works.
Take Time
While the holidays are busy, they’re also a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your horse. Whether it’s a peaceful hack, grooming session, or simply sitting in the stable enjoying their company, these moments are what the holidays are really about. It is also a good time to reflect on the past year and consider what worked well or not so well. This can help you create a your new season goals, organise your tack room or order the blankets you have been planning on getting.
With a little planning and preparation, you can enjoy the festive season while ensuring your horses stay relaxed, healthy and comfortable.
Wishing you and your horses a wonderful holiday season!