News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

Jane Folka has loved horses all her life, and incorporates two four-legged ‘teachers’ in her Horse-M-Powered Equine Learning Assistance program in the Cariboo.

She said that in extreme cold weather there are things she does to make sure that her horses stay comfortable and warm.

(One of Jane’s horses, ‘Harley’ is pictured here decked out in a warm blanket and enjoying a bite to eat in the sunshine.)

She said that in the cold weather her horses get their water changed every two or three hours. “My horses, Harley and Turbo Trouble, are kept at the Trail Riders Arena. We also ‘up’ their feed in this weather. If they’re eating constantly, it helps keep them warm: I make sure they have food in front of them 24/7.”

Jane explained that when horses have a big drink of water they use body energy to warm it up. “If they’re just eating, and don’t have enough water they can get an impaction, which causes colic,” she said. “Winter can be a dangerous time for horses if they’re no cared for properly. When it’s windy, if they don’t have shelter, they can get chilled and become seriously sick.” 

Some people believe that if horses eat enough snow they can get enough hydration, according to Jane. “It takes a lot of snow to get enough to drink, and it really drops the body core temperature. When it’s really cold like this we sometimes bring the horses warm water,” she said.

“Another important aspect of care in cold temperatures is exercise. You can’t just leave horses in their stalls when it’s this cold. They need to move around and keep warm. If you’re increasing their feed but they’re not moving, you can also have impaction problems,” she continued.

“My horses love to run and buck and have a roll in the snow. Horses love fresh snow. My horses will be outside from about 9am to 5pm as long as it isn’t windy.”

She stated that if the wind picks up she will bring the horses in. “You can tell that horses are miserable when it’s cold and windy: they huddle together with their tails to the wind, their heads down and their legs bunched up,” she noted. “Nature provided horses with long hairs on their bellies called ‘guard hairs’ and when the move around it makes their hair stand up and keep them warm.

“Today my horses have frozen whiskers and frozen eyelashes, but they’re enjoying running, bucking and standing in the sun. They have blankets on outside today because there is no shelter. If horses have a lean-to or trees for shelter they don’t need blankets.

“We used to have a piece of property with a natural hollow and our horses used to go down in it when it was windy, and the wind couldn’t reach them,” she explained. “Horses are extremely smart and resourceful, and when we have them in a domestic setting we need to keep in mind what they would do in the wild.’ 

She said that they also sand the paddocks so the horses aren’t worried about slipping on the ice and are comfortable moving around. “We create this domestic environment for them—we need to make it safe and comfortable.  

“Our horses have a warm stall to go into at night, but I also think moving around freely in the sunshine is important. Horses are athletes: they’re full of muscles and need to move around,” she said.

“If we give them the right environment and the right tools they get along just fine in even extreme cold weather.”

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