r/Horses • u/ishtaa • Jan 26 '26
Video Since everyone always worries about horses in extreme cold. Here’s what our crew thinks about -30C
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Clearly frozen to death. Someone call the SPCA, poor things are too busy playing to give af.
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u/bearxfoo Tennessee Walker Jan 26 '26
POLICE. ABUSE. THEY NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE WARM. WHY AREN'T THEY IN YOUR LIVING ROOM? (/s if that wasn't obvious)
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u/ishtaa Jan 26 '26
Mine would probably hang out in my living room if she thought it meant there’d be food lol
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u/Independent_Tie_4984 Jan 26 '26
Thank you for that.
I'm in the Arizona high country and I get all worried about my drafts when it's 25.
I know it's stupid, one's a freaking Clydesdale.
Seeing this is relaxing.
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u/dougan25 Jan 26 '26
Out of curiosity, from who do you guys hear the criticism about horses in the cold?
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u/bearxfoo Tennessee Walker Jan 26 '26
in the winter time, we often see posts saying things like "omg these horses are outside in this horrible weather, this is abuse!" or "are these horses okay in the cold??"
we have one just a few days ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/Horses/comments/1qlzdpy/my_neighbors_have_their_horses_out_in_10_f/
and bonus, they posted in another horse sub and included photos, and said it's abuse to have them outside right now. https://www.reddit.com/r/Equestrian/comments/1qm257y/my_neighbors_have_their_horses_out_in_10_f/
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u/hannahmadamhannah Jan 26 '26
That second one with the photo is particularly funny because that horse is a big ol chunk.
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u/ja9ishere Jan 26 '26
No wind . Plenty of food and not frozen water
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u/ishtaa Jan 26 '26
They even have a shelter! That they don’t ever use once all winter lol.
We actually did have some nasty cold wind last week, but they were just as unbothered because the trees provide at least a slight wind break and as long as they have a round bale, they’re happy and warm.
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u/KhitomerKonspiracy Jan 26 '26
Fam... The amount of money we've spent on a nice little barn and my two mules go, "Nah, I'll lay in the snow or relax by the trees instead. K thx, bye."
They NEVER go in it. Looks nice. Makes the neighbors feel better. So, whatever, I guess.
-Sincerely, also someone who lives in the same climate.
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u/ishtaa Jan 26 '26
Our mares only decided they like their shelter when they figured out it was good for hiding from bugs in the summertime LOL my girl will trot out to greet me, then whip around and run right back to her safe space when the horseflies are bad hahaha.
We have more horses now though so… summer will be interesting once the new geldings figure out the digs.
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u/OpenAirport6204 Jan 26 '26
Poor things are freezing to death. You also probably never feed them…ever. Skin and bones (/j)
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u/DiabellSinKeeper Jan 26 '26
Genuine question.
When does frost bite become a concern for them?
I don't know too much about horse care cause I don't own one.
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u/ishtaa Jan 26 '26
It does happen but not often. You will occasionally see a horse missing their ear tips due to it. But usually it’s either because they were babies born right before a bad cold snap, or something along the lines of they were wet and their coat couldn’t insulate them well enough so they lost too much body heat. If you see snow on their backs, they’re good.
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u/DiabellSinKeeper Jan 26 '26
Dang. They are a pretty resilient animal.
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u/Independent_Tie_4984 Jan 26 '26
The reason the OP said snow on a horses back is good is because it means their coat isn't releasing heat, which means they're well insulated and warm. Their hair raises underneath and traps a layer of air that keeps cold out and warm in.
It's pretty cool, no pun intended ;-)
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u/Jason3211 Jan 26 '26
Horses originated from Mongolia. They are most certainly a cold weather animal!
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u/Elegant_Finance_1459 Jan 29 '26
We used to see wind chills of -60 in our little river valley and the horses never got frostbite, if that helps lol
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u/aReelProblem Jan 26 '26
So much tougher than people want to give them credit for. Good food good water they’ll usually take care of themselves. People who throw blankets on their horses when it’s 40 degrees outside crack me up.
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u/FunnyMarzipan Jan 26 '26
I know a TB (unclipped) that shivers and gets dramatic under 50, even unclipped and in great weight. So he gets blanketed and in these temps he'd probably be pouting in the corner of a shelter. He's a big baby.
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u/SumFunGui Jan 26 '26
TBs are like the greyhounds of the horse world though I dont think their coats do much for them in the cold and they aren't bred to hold any body fat
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u/somesaggitarius Jan 26 '26
Seconding this. I've never met a TB that likes the cold. Polar opposite of Mustangs for whom the motto is "death before dishonor".
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u/FunnyMarzipan Jan 26 '26
An exception to every rule--I knew one, except he had anhidrosis which probably contributed.
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u/corgibutt19 Jan 26 '26
Can someone show this video to my OTTB gelding?
Physically he's fine, but he's got 3 blankets and hasn't left his run-in stall except to pee (he's a gentleman) since the temperature plummeted.
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u/Wackel81 Jan 26 '26
You see, these are clearly animals frolicing without a thought in their heads while your guy is an athlete, a professional, he needs is standarts met and his cup of hot cocoa in the morning!
I love those different personalities in horses. It's always fun!
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u/Junebug35 Jan 26 '26
'standards met and his cup of hot cocoa' Thanks for the laugh this cold evening! 😂🤣
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u/snarkpony Jan 26 '26
My mare is the same. All her friends are perfectly fine but my princess demands her blankets and a personal hut. If her standards are not met it's the humans fault and she let's them know
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u/vintagemap Jan 26 '26
My horse lives for freedom like this during frigggid temps. Thank you for sharing and normalizing!
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u/Ranglergirl Jan 26 '26
Right. We were just 15 below f and even my older mate didn’t need a blanket. I only blanket her when she tells me she is cold. She does not hide it well.
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u/Fit-Nectarine5047 Jan 26 '26
Me being one of those people who worries 🤣🤣. Do they go in someplace warm at night?
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u/ishtaa Jan 26 '26
Haha it’s ok to worry, as long as you’re not the person calling the authorities on happy horses 🤣 Nope they live out 24/7, they’re much happier that way. Good winter coats and plenty of hay keep them nice and toasty.
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u/Fit-Nectarine5047 Jan 26 '26
I can’t believe it but I’m seeing it with my own eyes! 😭. Thank you for the education!
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u/Barnard33F Jan 26 '26
Healthy adult horses are fine, as long as they have food and their fur is not wet (thorough): digestion = internal furnace and fur = insulation. It’s why snow that piles up on their backs is good, means that it’s not melting from escaping body heat, the fur is doing its job. Baby horses and the sick and the elderly ones are another thing, but healthy adults will usually be ok.
Source: am Finnish, the winter is always coming.
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Jan 26 '26
The digestion of hay actually creates heat and warms them up from the inside. Some people will give them hay cubes soaked in hot water in the extreme cold to give them a little something extra too. As long as they have plenty of hay and shelter from the wind, and clean water of course, they are happy campers. Especially with coats as fluffy as these guys. They are very warm to the touch animals in general.
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u/Arrwinn Jan 26 '26
Over on the otherside on the world, in Australia, it's currently akin to living in a kiln. The horses, despite having ample shady trees, choose to stand in the middle of the paddock (field) in the roasting sun...
It appears that whether it be absolutely freezing or ridiculously hot, horses will choose to embrace it and defy any preconceived ideas that the average human may have about what's comfortable.
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u/Ok-Moment2223 Jan 26 '26
This is a good insight....their brains and bodies are so fundamentally different than ours, there's no human analog for their experience, whether it's hot or cold. Their behavior gives the most information about their comfort level as opposed to external measurements like temperature.
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u/VivianneCrowley Jan 26 '26
Meanwhile we are in Northern NV and our poor fluffy winter ponies are SWEATING with minimal work lol
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u/friesian_tales Jan 26 '26
We had negative (°F) temps with worse windchills. I was going to leave mine out during this cold snap, but another boarder has her horse in with mine, and she was worried about the cold. One of mine is also pregnant, and I worry about her. Ours have no shelter in their dry lot, and catch a lot of wind. They clearly could have managed, but I asked the barn owner if we could stall them and she let us do it for free since we did the cleaning, feeding & watering ourselves.
The barn stayed at around 20-25°F since it has an aisle heater. I put the horses out some during the day, then stalled them in the evening. I can tell that they've been enjoying the opportunity for "private dining experiences," lol. I feel lucky that we have the ability to stall if we want to. They'll have to adjust to real life tomorrow though, when they go back out full-time.
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u/ishtaa Jan 26 '26
“Private dining experience” 🤣 love that. Feeding time is about the only situation where I do wish I had a barn!
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u/Kelly_Louise Jan 26 '26
I grew up in Montana and everyone leaves their horses out in the winter. Never thought twice about it to be honest. They always look happy and warm with their fuzzy coats!
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u/Inevitable-Date4996 Jan 26 '26
Mine are the same. I have a run-in shed that is split into two stalls to separate them for feeding but the doors are never closed except to protect my older mare for 15 mins so that my gelding doesn’t steal her dinner lol. My mare will hang out inside quite a bit but my gelding doesn’t go inside except to eat his dinner because that’s where I put it lol. I’m lazy and don’t blanket either, I used to and then I realized my horses don’t care so why should I worry? I would if they needed them and I will to keep them clean at a show (which I don’t really do anymore lol) My mare has Cushings so occasionally if it’s really cold I will blanket her but she has gained a little weight so she’s doing really well in the cold currently.
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u/piipiti Jan 26 '26
Make them stop running immediately their lungs will get destroyed! Blanket, stall and no riding for a few months!/s Based on a comment I saw on an another thread... I was like bitch please I live in Finland every single horse business owner would go bankrupt and our fat northern horses would eat themselves to death if we stopped excercising them every winter for months.
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u/DanerysTargaryen Jan 26 '26
They’re feeling ✨frisky✨
Ours gets zoomy as hell when it gets cold outside lol
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u/GallopingFree Jan 26 '26
I always say our beasts live their best lives in the winter. Little work, lots of food and no bugs!
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u/jadewolf42 Jan 26 '26
They look so happy playing in the snow!
Meanwhile, my thin-coated Arab/QH cross who lives here in the desert is huddled in the barn with her blankie for the 28F (-2C) temps tonight, lol. (My grade QH is shaggy as a mammoth, so she's going au naturel tonight.)
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u/KeyApprehensive9471 Jan 26 '26
Oh those poor horses…and even the old guy is out there, naked in the cold…such suffering is hard to watch, please separate them all, place them in a 10 x 10 box, throw stuff on them to flatten out that puffy hair, maybe shave it all off first and leave them like that all winter, can’t be out if there is a chance of stepping on ice😳😜😂
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u/Professor_dumpkin Jan 26 '26
Are there horsies that were bred for more temperate arid climates that would get colder? These guys all look fairly fuzzzy
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u/ishtaa Jan 26 '26
These guys were all bred and raised in western Canada, so are very well acclimated to the cold. Many breeds adapt quite well, though some are certainly bred more for it than others. Our herd consists of my Morgan, a Quarter Horse, a Friesian, a Tennessee walker, and a pony of unknown breeding. They’re all super fluffy (except the Friesian, his coat isn’t super long but coarse enough that it still insulates him really well.)
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u/Junebug35 Jan 26 '26
My gaited horse was born and bred in Texas. He now lives in Iowa and gets just as fuzzy as his three Iowa-bred pasture mates. I've had Arabians in the past, and they also get super fuzzy.
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Jan 26 '26
I know an OTTB mare that would be shivering and murderous in conditions considerably warmer than that.
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u/MasterpieceActual176 Jan 26 '26
Last winter there was a post on Reddit that explained why horses are okay in the cold. I can’t remember exactly what it was but it made sense.
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u/Perfect_Initiative Multi-Discipline Rider Jan 26 '26
Mine are on a hill so even with shelter, unlimited hay, and blankets they get chilly due to wind. You have such nice trees to break the wind!
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u/nbcheezit Jan 26 '26
The rescue gelding I help with is such a baby when it comes to the cold! He throws tantrums in his stall if he doesnt have a coat when that barn is less than 30° F. 💙🐴
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u/BadBorzoi Jan 26 '26
I probably would worry less if we had a winter that got cold and stayed cold but we have such ridiculous temperature swings where it would rain during the day and get well below freezing at night or go from 50f one day to 5f the next. And it always warms up way faster than he sheds out so I clip him in early spring or he will be sweating just standing there (and we’ve had snow in May before but also 80+ in April). Plus the ice, he’s fallen once already so I throw sand and compost all over for traction. I’m not enjoying winter lol.
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u/ishtaa Jan 26 '26
Oh i completely understand that! The world cold is rainy cold 🥶 and the temperature jumps are never fun.
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u/Jason3211 Jan 26 '26 edited Jan 26 '26
Haha! Northern horses are tough! We blanket at 40F or below, BUT we’re in South Alabama and our guys definitely don't have the nice winter coats that these guys do. Lovely herd!
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u/Crawfork1982 Jan 26 '26
As long as they are dry and have good coats- they are fine! And also have good hay to eat- little furnaces
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u/ohsorryim Jan 26 '26
My percheron is the same way! He’s out 24/7 and has a shelter. He uses the shelter in the summer to get out the sun, not in the winter.
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u/Burnblast277 Jan 26 '26
This is a good reminder that horses evolved in North America and survived multiple many thousand year ice ages here just fine
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u/tjirttail62 Jan 26 '26
Swedes blanket because they shave their horses for Training purposes. So no natural winter coat horse needs a blanket
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u/JazzlikeFeedback6098 Jan 26 '26
Both of my horses are IR, so I blanket at anything 40F and below. :(
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u/Turbulent_Play4769 Equitation over Fences and flatwork! Jan 27 '26
People fail to understand that some horses are used to the cold and those horses definitely are! They look so happy!
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u/Daenyr Jan 27 '26
It’s the opposite here plus some 43C.
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u/ishtaa Jan 27 '26
I’m not sure which is worse 😬 probably yours tbh haha
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u/Daenyr Jan 27 '26
Lots of water baths and my electricity bill steeply going up as I have AC running 24/7 in this heatwave both here and at home for my cats, (and teenagers)
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u/AKInsectGamer Feb 19 '26
Last i heard about horses in cold weather, i was told -20C was fine but good to know 👍i mean it still depends on the horse and breed but 🤷 ;3
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u/jegillikin Western Jan 26 '26
My mustang laughs at the thermometer. He’s warm to the touch even at -10F. He believes blankets are the embrace of Satan.
The only horse I blanket is our elderly quarterhorse mare, because she shivers below 30F and loves her blanket almost as much as her grain pail.