|
|
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Southern California | I’m moving my horses from California to North Dakota this summer and they’ve never been in winters like they have up there. I’m currently looking for places to board and wondering if anyone’s made a move like that before with their horses. How did they handle it? Did you keep them outside, stalled? I know they’re pretty tough and meant to be outside but still worried about this first winter. Also, how did YOU handle the first winter? |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 933
 
Location: north dakota | Where are you moving to in ND and what time of the year. If it’s later fall/ winter you most likely will have to blanket. I’ve brought horses up from the south and it just depends on the horse and time of year. The big thing is keeping hay in front of them all the time and wind break.
If you bring them during the summer you may not have to do anything but it’s a good idea to have a heavyweight blanket on hand if they get cold. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Southern California | Fargo area and I’m moving them in August. Yeah, the plan is to bring them before the cold so they can acclimate. |
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | Reebarmoon - 2018-06-20 7:09 PM I’m moving my horses from California to North Dakota this summer and they’ve never been in winters like they have up there. I’m currently looking for places to board and wondering if anyone’s made a move like that before with their horses. How did they handle it? Did you keep them outside, stalled? I know they’re pretty tough and meant to be outside but still worried about this first winter. Also, how did YOU handle the first winter?
You'll just have to watch them and see how they do. Some might need a blanket that first winter ; others are fine. Just kind of depends on the horse. (And depends the type of winter we have!)
For the record, my horses live outside 24/7 year round. They don't get to go inside at all in the winter. But they have good windbreak and free access to a roundbale and water. And they are healthy. They do just fine!
|
|
| |
|
 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | Fargo is a really neat town. Love to head over there to shop a few times a year. On the downside it gets REALLY REALLY COLD! It's totally flat on the east side of the state, so the wind whips through their like crazy. I'd say if you can find boarding that provides some sort of shelter to take it. I usually don't blanket mine, but they will get stalled if its super cold, snowy, and windy. Mine have access to a lean to, which blocks the cold NW wind that we get in the south central part of the state, and they use it. We make sure they have good forage, including alfalfa, to help keep their body heat up. Also, make sure where you board has tank heaters, horses don't like to drink really cold water and will dehydrate and colic. You may want to invest in blankets, however you are coming up early enough that they should have time to get accustomed to the cold. I blanket them if I haul and coolers are a must during winter in our neck of the woods.
If you can get through winter you'll love our summers. they may be short, but I think they are some of the best around!!
|
|
| |
|
I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | They must have something to break the wind and get out of the snow but my horses transitioned just fine! Do not blanket them, let them grow the coat they need here!! Mine have a walk in shed that I keep clean and put shavings in. My mare will lay down in the shavings when it’s below zero so I just make sure she has a dry place to stand and a heated water tank!! Always have hay in front of them because that’s how they keep they keep warm by eating!! Hay is hard to get here in the winter and boarding facilities are few and far between!! I have seen the horses out playing in the snow daily so they aren’t as cold as humans get! Don’t blanket, all the hay they can eat, and a heated water source!! |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Southern California | Thanks for the input! Do you guys ride through the winter? Or typically give it off? All the places I’m looking at have a covered arena but not all heated and I’m not sure for myself if I’ll even want to ride During the cold months lol but what I’m wondering too is if you guys make do without a heated arena and how? |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | I manage a small private boarding barn near Fargo. We currently don't have any openings unless for maybe just one horse but if you want to PM me I can fill you in on some places around Fargo. The good and the bads.
As for your last question. I usually ride in the winter because I like mine to stay in shape because by the time it warms up you are in April or May. A soild 30-60 days of conditioning will put you mid summer and you have lost out on a lot of runs. Some of our big races are in spring, so better to keep them ready to go. When it is below -5 actual temp I let them sit or just do some walking because that isn't good for their lungs. Luckily that type of cold doesn't come till Jan or Feb usually so you have good riding into early December usually.
My barn owner has brought many horses up from Texas during all times of the year. She always blankets once it gets colder than the temp they are used to and brings them in on the extra cold nights their first winter because they just aren't used to this type of cold and wind. They usually don't grow the coat they need either the first year. I wouldn't blanket to start off with. Let them tell you when they need it but on our -20 actual temp with -50 windchill, blanket no matter what on their first winter. The last thing you need is them to get stressed and stop drinking. They may not be shivering but that doesn't mean they aren't stressed out by it. Play it safe your first winter. It can get brutal even for our horses who grew up here. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | I'll add one more thing that some people like to tell you that once you blanket that you have to blanket all winter because it pushes the hair down. Yes it will lay the hair down while the blanket is on but it doesn't damage it in any way. We have people at my boarding barn who blanket their full winter coated horses on the terribly cold windy nights and take them off a few days later and their horses hair stands right back up. They need alittle help up here now and again but not all the time because when it gets to 25 degrees and sunny in the middle of Febuary, it will feel like a heatwave and the horses will be loving it and will want their clothes off. |
|
| |
|
 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I brought a mare up from texas..mid fall and she was already cold..lol..took her a couple of winters but she hairs up better..i keep a blanket on her all winter still....she loves it right now as we are +30....m |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | I made a move from middle Georgia to Northern MN about 5 years ago. My horse adjusted very well but I did make sure he had a heavy weight blanket at all times when it was super cold (spend good money on a nice blanket, its worth it). If it gets above 10 degrees and the wind is light, his blanket comes off. He's outside 24/7 during the winters. I know he'd be just fine without a blanket but it makes me feel better knowing he has a windproof blanket when its approaching -40 below out. Shelter is a must out in the pasture for them to get out of the brutal wind.
As far as myself handling my first winter- it didnt bother me at all. But as the years go on, I look forward to the dang cold winters less and less lol.
|
|
| |
Cold weather peeps