Caring for Horses in Freezing Temperatures
Most horses in freezing temperatures will try their hardest to find ways to get warm. They will seek out shelter, even if it is only the overhanging boughs of a tree, and they will huddle together if turned out in groups. However, it is up to people to learn and remember cold weather horse care.
The Horse’s Response to Freezing Temperatures
Like most other animals, horses possess built-in responses to freezing temperatures that help them to survive in the wild. They grow longer, thicker coats that insulate them against the cold, and their nostrils contain spirals of bone and cartilage that help warm air as they inhale.
A horse’s metabolism also slows down in cold weather, allowing him to store fatty tissue just under the skin. He has a long mane and a forelock that provide protection for his neck, and his eyes are shaped to block out damaging light that might cause snowblindness in humans.
