Horse Winter Pasture Management and Welfare

How winter outdoor management affects horse welfare and what evidence-based practices protect horses in cold and wet conditions.

Key Facts

Horses can tolerate temperatures down to -15C with appropriate acclimatisation, body condition and shelter access
Mud fever (pastern dermatitis) caused by Dermatophilus congolensis and other organisms is a major winter welfare concern
Horses without shelter in exposed, wet conditions show elevated cortisol and reduced feeding time due to thermoregulatory effort
Rugging can cause overheating if applied inappropriately — horses regulate temperature through coat depth and feeding rate
Poaching of fields in wet weather removes grazing, forces reliance on supplementary forage and increases injury risk
Social groups maintained through winter show better welfare indicators than horses individually stabled for management convenience

Welfare Considerations

Winter management of horses requires balancing several competing welfare concerns: outdoor turnout maintains social and physical welfare but exposes horses to mud, cold and injury risk; stabling prevents environmental exposure but restricts movement and social contact. The welfare evidence strongly favours outdoor access in appropriate social groups with adequate forage, shelter and dry standing areas over prolonged stabling with limited turnout. Rugging decisions should be based on body condition score and shelter availability rather than owner comfort with the sight of a wet horse. Horses with appropriate body condition, quality forage access and shelter can winter well outdoors in most Northern European climates.

What You Can Do

Provide a field shelter or access to natural windbreaks for horses remaining outdoors through winter
Supplement forage generously in cold weather — horses burn significant calories maintaining body temperature
Rotate grazing areas to prevent poaching and reduce mud fever exposure at gateways and high-traffic areas
Check legs and pasterns daily for early mud fever signs — treat promptly before the condition becomes entrenched
Maintain social group stability through winter — mixing or separating established groups increases stress
Base rugging decisions on body condition score, shelter availability and ambient temperature — not on habit or appearance