Winter weather can be responsible for stress that compromises a horse’s health. The good news is that we, as caretakers, can alleviate that stress or even prevent it from occurring in the first place. Of course for some animals, such as show horses, one season is pretty much like another. They are housed in heated barns and are kept under blankets except when they are performing. The same isn’t true of trail horses which are "put up" for the winter or for racehorses in certain parts of the country which are expected to perform as well in the cold of winter as they do in the heat of summer, or for horses which show, then are put outside. Those horses merit special concern and attention.

The prime source of winter stress for many horses is neglect–intentional or otherwise. It is easy to provide loving care for the horse, for example, when we are riding every day and want to make certain that he is fit and remains in good health so that we can participate full measure in our chosen recreational pursuit.

However, when the season ends, all too often horses are turned out to pasture and forgotten.

One of the first aspects of care that often is neglected involves the feet. Farriers around the country can tell horror stories of shod horses being turned out to pasture in early winter and shedding their shoes only when the hooves become so long that they break off. Unfortunately for the horse, this breaking off frequently involves more than just excess growth. It can involve the sensitive inner part of the hoof to the point where the horse is lame and his ability to be ready for spring riding is compromised