Horse Winter Pasture and Cold Weather Welfare

Horses have remarkable cold tolerance when their natural adaptive mechanisms are supported, but management systems that compromise thermoregulation create unnecessary welfare problems.

Key Facts

Horses can tolerate temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius when provided appropriate shelter and feed
The critical temperature at which horses need supplemental energy increases as the thermoneutral zone is breached
Wet conditions rather than cold alone most compromise horse thermoregulation
Shelter design that blocks wind and rain is more important for welfare than heating
Forage fermentation in the hindgut generates significant heat that supports cold weather maintenance

Welfare Considerations

Winter horse welfare is frequently compromised by both under-management - insufficient shelter and forage - and over-management, including rugging horses that retain adequate natural coat. The most impactful winter welfare interventions are adequate high-quality forage provision to support hindgut heat generation and access to wind and rain shelter. Clipped or thin-coated horses and elderly animals have higher support needs, requiring individual assessment rather than blanket management approaches.

What You Can Do

Provide horses with access to wind and rain shelter as a minimum winter welfare requirement
Increase forage provision during cold weather to support thermoregulation
Assess individual horses for winter welfare needs rather than applying uniform management
Monitor body condition regularly through winter to detect inadequate nutritional support