DISCLAIMER: These posts contain hints, tips and ideas from folks that have had some experiences dealing with this. It is NOT meant to be professional advice here - just related experiences. Please consult with a reputable professional if necessary. From: EAshtonB@aol.com Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 17:18:36 EST To: equinerescue@MyList.net Subject: EQ-ResQ: Keeping thin horse warm My poor old Blue was out in her stall this afternoon just shivering. I fed her and blanketed her, and she wasnt doing it when I left. But she is thin and 28 yrs old. The thought behind her coming to me was getting her out of the harsh Missouri winters, and into a warmer climate here in the deep south(Alabama) . It looks as if this winter may be rough on her. Christina http://www.angelfire.com/mo/winstonshowdogs/Photocontest.html ============================================================ From: LordRebeau@aol.com Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 17:54:28 EST To: equinerescue@MyList.net, EAshtonB@aol.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Keeping thin horse warm Christina, What are you feeding her? You might want to consider doing one of two things.. if she is eating a senior type feed.. add warm water to it.. If she is eating sweet feed or something.. then cook it.. yep.. old race track trick.. I use crimped oats to do it, but crimped oats are the basis of my feeding program.. you cook the oats for their feed.. and feed them while still warm..also you can add hot water to her water to keep it a nice luke warm temperature.. Keep plenty of hay available Blanket in layers... i.e. sheet, then light blanket, then medium blanket.. this way you can add or take away as needed.. try to keep wool next to her skin.. this way if she were to break a sweat it would wick the moisture away Nicole ============================================================ From: LordRebeau@aol.com Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 20:04:17 EST To: equinerescue@MyList.net Subject: EQ-ResQ: Keeping them warm Well since this seems to be the question of the day.. here are some ideas that I have.. 1. offer them free choice grass hay.. as this helps them generate heat. 2. Blanket in layers.. I mean lots of layers.. start light and get heavier.. this allows for a lot of leeway.. and ability to deal with changing weather.. 3. Use a hood if need be.. use a sleezy type thing under a hood.. this will help hold in some body heat 4. for the horses that are eating senior soak the senior in hot water.. let it cool until it is good and warm 5. increase the fat intake.. to try to build up the body stores.. to give them something to rely on 6. make sure that they have access to shelter that will protect them from the wind.. 7 try to keep them dry 8. if it is bitterly cold and the horse is being housed indoors.. ( i.e. cold and wet and windy etc) then you may want to consider wrapping legs with sheet cottons and flannel wraps.. 9.. if the horse is stabled bed in straw.. it is much warmer than shavings.. put straw down in the run in sheds.. 10.. wathc for ice/snow build up in hooves especially if they are in shoes.. That is about all my little brain can think of... long day yesterday and today ( stitched up my own horses last night when I could nto get a vet out.. they were either out on other calls or on vacation.. and then to find out a horse that I sold in FL is in deperate need of a new home.. or be lost to the boarding stable on a board bill.. which we all know what will happen.. she will go to auction in south fl) Nicole ============================================================ Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 02:20:56 -0500 From: gafarm To: "equinerescue@mylist.net" Subject: EQ-ResQ: Keeping them warm It's always cold in the winter here. We put a hand full of bran in a bucket of warm water and they LOVE it!! Also keeps the water buckets from freezing up and when it's really cold and the water does freeze up a bit it makes it easier to remove the ice. Really important to make sure they drink enough water when it's cold. Especially when they are on a pelleted feed! Betti Goddard NE Ohio ============================================================