A safer, healthier plan for horses, people and facilities

By Kathy Smith

Winter can transform a barn and property almost overnight. A little advance preparation will help keep horses comfortable, daily chores manageable, and everyone safer when severe weather arrives. Use the quieter days before winter to inspect your setup, complete necessary repairs, and make sure essential systems are ready for the season ahead.

Frozen water, deep snow, ice, mud and power failures can turn ordinary horse care into a winter emergency. Before the first hard freeze, concentrate on five essentials: reliable water, safe electrical equipment, adequate ventilation, secure footing, and a tested emergency plan.

A relaxed walk-through to make a checklist can reveal problems that are easy to miss during daily chores. It helps to note what needs attention, as well as who will handle it and when. Because climate, soil, and regulatory requirements vary across Canada, some decisions will also benefit from site-specific advice.

Start With the Barn and Surrounding Areas

A floor-to-roof inspection is a useful place to begin. Rotting boards, protruding fasteners, damaged latches, loose hinges, and broken windows are often straightforward fall projects. Check that every exit will remain visible and usable in snow, then extend the walk-through to fencing, gates, and run-in sheds.

From the ground, look for roof leaks, sagging, displaced roofing, and structural members that are cracked, twisted, or bowed. Clean gutters and downspouts that will carry water away from foundations, manure storage, lanes and high-traffic areas.

Locate design snow-load records if available. If capacity is unknown, loading appears significant, or distress is visible, arrange an assessment by a professional engineer. Ontario workplace guidance similarly recommends assessment when snow may be significant or a building shows twisting, bending, or cracking. In these situations, keep horses and people out until the appropriate professional or authority has cleared the building for occupancy. Do not casually climb onto a snowy or icy roof, as snow removal can involve a risk of falling and can redistribute loads or damage the structure.

Snow removal carries a fall risk and may redistribute loads or damage the structure. If snow accumulation is significant, the roof’s capacity is unknown, or twisting, bending or cracking is visible, keep horses and people out of the building and arrange an assessment by a professional engineer. Photo: iStock/Ryerson Clark

Frost heave, erosion, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles can shift foundations, posts, and slabs. New cracks, displacement, binding doors, or changes in the roofline are good reasons to seek a professional opinion. Permit and design requirements vary, and many farm-building projects require a licensed architect or professional engineer.

Related: Thoughtful Horse Blanketing: Myths, Facts, and Blanket Types

Keep the Water Flowing

Water is the most important thing to consider for horses during winter. Most 450-kilogram (1,000-pound) adult horses need at least 38 to 45 litres (10 to 12 US gallons) of water daily, and larger draft breeds require 55 to 75 litres (15 to 20 gallons); work, lactation, illness, and other conditions can increase that requirement. Winter hay and grain contain much less moisture than pasture, increasing reliance on drinking water. Inadequate intake can contribute to dehydration, reduced feed consumption, and impaction colic.

Horses need continuous access to clean water unless a veterinarian directs otherwise. Checking every bucket, trough, hydrant, and automatic waterer at least once daily — and more often during severe cold or power interruptions — can catch failures early. A waterer may look normal even when a frozen line, failed valve, or electrical fault prevents drinking. Where practical, tracking individual consumption makes an unexplained decline easier to spot.

Water between 7 and 18 degrees C (45 and 65 degrees F) can encourage horses to drink. Snow and ice are not reliable substitutes for liquid water.

An inline water heater that heats the water before it goes out to the waterers in the paddock can help keep water at a temperature that encourages horses to drink during cold weather while reducing the risk of frozen waterlines. The system should be properly sized, protected from freezing, installed by a qualified professional in accordance with local requirements, and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Waterers should be cleaned regularly to help keep water appealing. A veterinarian or equine nutrition professional can advise on substantial changes to dietary salt, particularly for a horse with a medical condition.

Before freezing weather arrives, a water-system check should include:

• Tanks and plumbing checked for leaks, corrosion, and damaged insulation.
• Well and pump equipment serviced according to the manufacturer’s directions.
• Seasonal hoses disconnected, drained, and stored. Exterior taps shut off and drained unless they are designed for winter use.
• Buried lines confirmed below the locally prescribed frost depth; there is no reliable single depth for all of Canada.
• A test of frost-free hydrants to confirm that they shut off and drain properly. Because these hydrants release water underground when closed, the area around the buried drain must have suitable drainage and remain above the seasonal water table.
• Heating equipment certified for its location, with cords protected from horses, rodents, moisture, and mechanical damage.
• Permanent wiring and required ground-fault protection installed by an electrical contractor authorized in the jurisdiction.
• Heated buckets, tank heaters, and cords examined during routine water checks. Damaged equipment or suspected stray voltage calls for safe disconnection and professional help — never test the water by touch.

Keep the Air Fresh

Healthy, acclimated adult horses generally tolerate cold better than dampness, drafts at body level, and polluted air. A winter barn does not need to feel warm to a human to be suitable for horses. Naturally-ventilated barns often remain at or only slightly above outdoor temperature while providing a comfortable environment for mature, healthy horses when bedding is dry and drafts are controlled.

Closing every opening may keep in some heat, but it also traps moisture and contaminants. Horses and wet bedding add moisture; manure contributes ammonia; hay and bedding contribute dust and mould spores. Condensation, persistent ammonia odour, dampness, visible mould, or coughing are signs that source control or ventilation may need attention.

A sound natural system uses distributed inlets — commonly at the eaves or upper sidewalls — and high ridge or roof outlets. Inlets should mix fresh air without directing cold drafts onto horses. Mechanical systems use planned inlets and exhaust fans; circulation fans move indoor air but do not replace it.

Related: Winter Horse Nutrition: Managing Water, Fibre and Calories

As an engineering benchmark, the University of Minnesota recommends minimum cold-weather ventilation of about 12 litres per second (25 cubic feet per minute) per 450-kilogram horse, with much higher rates in mild and hot conditions. Actual design depends on barn volume, horse numbers, climate, insulation, inlet distribution, and fan performance.

An agricultural engineer can help design a system using exhaust fans and passive airflow options. Before changing inlets, fans or controls, it is helpful to understand how the entire system is meant to work.

Supplemental heat, such as an in-floor system, may make sense in a veterinary area, an occupied office or tack room, for a vulnerable horse, or to protect essential infrastructure. It is less helpful when the underlying problem is wet bedding, inadequate shelter, or poor ventilation.

Whatever system is chosen, it should be certified for the environment, professionally installed, and kept clear of combustibles. Fuel-fired equipment needs exterior venting, and unvented combustion heaters are unsuitable for animal areas. Because space heaters are a major fire hazard, they are a poor choice for routine barn heating.

There is no universal temperature target for the winter barn. Equine factors including haircoat, acclimation, body condition, age, and health, as well as wind, moisture, and shelter all affect cold tolerance. For most healthy horses, dryness and clean air matter more than making the building feel warm.

Keep Dust and Ammonia Down

Even a good ventilation system cannot compensate for mouldy hay, dusty bedding, or infrequent cleaning. Dry, absorbent, low-dust bedding and prompt removal of manure and saturated material make the greatest difference. Rubber mats may reduce bedding use, although they still need drainage and cleaning.

If practical, horses should be turned out during dusty cleaning. Low-dust sweeping or vacuuming is preferable, and light dampening may help with aisle dust if water will not freeze or raise humidity. Leaf blowers and high-pressure washing are best avoided around horses because they aerosolize organic material and may spread pathogens.

Ammonia-control powders are best viewed as a supplement, not a replacement for sanitation and ventilation. Loose powders can create inhalable dust, and calcined diatomaceous earth may contain crystalline silica. Any product used should be labelled for the intended application and handled in a way that keeps powder out of the air.

Take a Close Look at Fire Safety

Winter brings more heaters, heated buckets, tank de-icers, lighting, and generator use into an already combustible environment. An inspection of ageing or suspect wiring, panels, receptacles, and permanent equipment by an authorized electrical contractor can identify problems before demand increases. Barns are damp, dusty, and corrosive, so ordinary household components may not be suitable. Extension cords should be treated as temporary equipment rather than permanent barn wiring. 

A practical fire-safety routine should include:

• Electrical systems, exits, and aisles kept free of hay, bedding, dust, and clutter.
• Fans, heaters, and appliances certified for the intended location.
• Fuels, flammable liquids, and combustion-powered equipment stored away from animal housing.
• Bulk hay and bedding stored separately when feasible, with newly baled hay monitored for abnormal heating.
• Appropriate fire extinguishers inspected, serviced, and mounted where they can be reached without entering a fire.
• Suitable detection and alarm equipment maintained in accordance with local requirements.
• The property address, emergency numbers, utility shutoffs, and a site plan posted for responders.
• All-season emergency access kept clear, with a practised horse-evacuation plan and safe assembly area.

Where the service is available, a visit from the local fire department can help identify access or water-supply issues. Equine Guelph can provide barn-fire assessment resources. 

Make Room for Snow and Spring Melt

Plan snow-storage areas before winter, keeping piles away from buildings, gates, drainage routes, septic systems, manure storage, and emergency access. Thoughtful placement preserves sightlines and leaves room for spring runoff, helping prevent melting snow from flooding the barn or creating additional ice and mud in spring.

Related: Watering Horses in Winter

Plan snow-storage areas before winter, keeping piles clear of buildings, gates, drainage routes, septic systems, manure storage, and emergency access. Thoughtful placement maintains sightlines and helps prevent spring runoff from flooding the barn or creating ice and mud. Photo: Pam Mackenzie

Prompt clearing and good lighting make pedestrian routes easier to navigate. Sand or grit can improve traction. If a de-icer is needed, the label should suit the location, concentrated material should remain out of reach, and possible effects on animals, plants, structures, and water are worth considering. 

Refrozen meltwater can create a new slipping hazard.

Driving machinery over an icy paddock simply to break the surface can leave hazardous chunks, while bedding may conceal holes rather than fix them. When footing cannot be made safe, a secure alternate turnout area — or waiting for conditions to improve — is usually the better option.

Help Drainage Work

Persistent wet footing can contribute to thrush, pastern dermatitis, cellulitis, lost shoes, and unsafe handling conditions. Mud control starts with directing water away from high-traffic areas such as gates, feeders, waterers, and shelters.

Gutters, downspouts, swales, and ditches can work together with healthy vegetation, appropriate number of horses, and frequent manure removal. Site work should keep clean runoff out of manure piles and prevent contaminated water from reaching neighbouring property or surface water, in keeping with applicable requirements.

For durable high-traffic areas, use a site-specific design with a firm, well-drained base, permeable geotextile (drainage fabric), and appropriately graded aggregate (properly sized gravel or crushed stone). Layers and materials depend on soil, slope, drainage outlet, and climate. Current guidance recommends this type of construction and warns that straw, hay, and wood chips break down readily and can become part of the mud.

Concrete may be practical in some service areas, but in places where horses travel it can be hard and slippery and requires proper drainage, a textured surface, and regular maintenance. Local agricultural-engineering or footing advice can help match the design to the site. Underground utilities also need to be located before digging.

Make the Barn Less Inviting to Rodents

When temperatures drop and natural food sources dwindle, rats actively seek the warmth, dryness, and steady supply of livestock feed and grain found in barns. 

Rodents contaminate feed, damage wiring, and may help spread disease. The most effective starting point is usually exclusion, sanitation, and monitoring, including closed rodent-resistant feed containers, prompt spill cleanup, stock rotation, fewer nesting places, durable repairs to gaps, regular wiring checks, and appropriately placed traps.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recommends reducing habitat and attractants before turning to pesticides and cautions that traps and bait stations can threaten pets, wildlife, and children. If rodenticide becomes necessary, a Health Canada-registered product used exactly as labelled is appropriate. Commercial-class products are restricted to specified users, and tamper-resistant station requirements depend on who or what can reach them. A licensed pest-management professional can help with a significant infestation.

Consider Each Horse Individually

Heavy winter coats can hide weight loss, so regular body-condition scoring using the Henneke Body Condition Scoring system is more reliable than appearance alone. Forage can then be adjusted with veterinary or nutrition advice. In cold weather, forage is generally the preferred source of additional dietary energy because fermentation produces heat. It is also worth confirming that every horse, including a subordinate herd member, can reach the feed, water and shelter.

Heavy winter coats and blankets can hide weight loss and skin problems, so assess each horse’s body condition regularly. Ensure every horse can reach feed, water and shelter. Photo: Pam Mackenzie

Blanketing decisions are individual. Clipped, old, young, thin, ill, or unacclimated horses and those exposed to cold rain or freezing rain may need additional protection. Removing blankets regularly makes it possible to check fit, skin, and body condition. Routine hoof care also matters; snow packing, ice, thrush, and changing footing may call for a plan with the farrier and veterinarian. Canadian welfare guidance addresses water, shelter, indoor air quality, emergencies, thermal energy needs, and hoof care. Refer to the National Farm Animal Care Council’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines, released in 2013 and currently under revision with projected completion date of January 2027. 

Daily observation makes changes in drinking, manure, appetite, weight, breathing, movement, skin, or behaviour easier to notice. A cough, nasal discharge, laboured breathing, swollen limb, lameness, or other concerning change is a reason to contact the veterinarian promptly.

A practical biosecurity plan covers new, returning, and sick horses. Depending on the situation, it may include separation, dedicated buckets and equipment, cleaning before disinfection, and a veterinarian-directed vaccination and disease-response plan.

Be Ready for a Difficult Week or Two

A major winter storm can interrupt electricity, freeze water systems, block roads, and delay deliveries of hay, feed, fuel, or medication. In rural areas, repairs and snow clearing may take several days. Preparing to care for the horses without outside assistance for up to two weeks provides a useful planning horizon for water, supplies, backup power, and alternative caregiving arrangements.

Related: Cooling Down Your Horse After Winter Exercise

A major winter storm can disrupt power and water, block roads and delay essential deliveries. Be prepared to care for horses without outside assistance for up to two weeks. Photo: iStock/Risman Photography

A realistic plan starts with the numbers. One 450-kilogram horse drinking 38 to 45 litres daily may require approximately 530 to 635 litres (140 to 168 US gallons) over two weeks. That covers drinking only, so the plan also needs room for spillage, cleaning, and higher individual needs. For several horses, a combination of safe storage, an alternate source, transport containers, and a tested pumping plan is usually more practical than stored water alone. Stored potable water should be rotated and protected from freezing.

An appropriate reserve of hay, feed, bedding, essential medication, and safely stored generator fuel can buy valuable time. First-aid kits, headlamps, batteries, charged communication devices, and written contacts are also useful. Backup care matters if the primary caregiver cannot reach the barn.

A generator must be sized for its loads and connected through approved equipment. Have an authorized electrical contractor install or verify the system and transfer switch. Never use makeshift connections or energize building wiring through an improvised connection. Health Canada advises operating a portable generator outdoors at least six metres (20 feet) from buildings, with exhaust directed away from openings. Keep horses and people away, store fuel safely, inspect cords and plugs, and test-run and service the generator according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule.

A planned outage drill can reveal weak points while the weather is forgiving. Using procedures approved by the equipment manufacturer and a qualified electrician, the drill can show which water, lighting, and communication systems will stop working during an outage and which will remain available through backup power. It can also confirm access to emergency water and reveal how long essential chores will take. If the drill includes operating a generator, follow the approved connection and operating procedures.

Winter will always bring challenges, but thoughtful preparation can prevent small problems from becoming emergencies. Reliable water, fresh air, safe equipment, sound footing, and a well-rehearsed response plan support horses’ health while making daily care safer and more manageable for everyone at the barn.

Resources: University of Minnesota Extension; Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Health Canada; Canadian Food Inspection Agency; Equine Guelph; National Farm Animal Care Council.

This article provides general educational information. It is not a substitute for veterinary, engineering, electrical, fire-safety, pest-control, or legal advice. Requirements may vary by province, territory, and municipality.

Related: Winterising Horse Fencing

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Main Photo: iStock/Ballycroy