Looking After Ponies In Winter

The ponies are glad to come in when the weather is bad, they don’t need to be caught up – just open the gates and call them and their little legs go like clockwork as they dash for the stables.   Most of it is because they are hoping for an extra feed!   Still, a snowy field is no place for a tiny pony, if they couldn’t find shelter they would get very chilled.

When horses and ponies get pneumonia it is always serious, their lungs form a big part of their body and any inflammation in them can have dire consequences.  If you are at all anxious or they go off their food and their breathing is laboured, the vet must be called.

A horse that has become chilled needs to be rubbed down with a straw wisp (you can make this by plaiting straw together into a circle).   When the circulation has improved and the horse is warm again,  a rug helps to maintain body heat.  Putting wisps of hay underneath the rug helps to keep the horse  dry and lets air circulate.

A nice bran mash is usually well received and a handful or two of linseed flakes makes it better.   You can buy ready made linseed flakes from your corn merchant, they are a good coat conditioner and an excellent treat for any horse.

Never feed raw linseed as it is poisonous, if you want to make a real linseed mash the actual seeds need to be boiled first in a big pan full of water.   It’s then simmered until they go into a jelly-like constituency.   We make sure the linseeds are in a rolling boil for at least fifteen minutes and then keep it ticking over on a low heat for several hours.   When it’s done tip it into a bucket with plenty of bran and a spoonful of molasses.   Feed while it’s still slightly warm, horses and ponies love it and a proper linseed mash is a great restorative as well as a real treat – just the thing for a winter’s day and horses love it!