Bundle Up! Riding Senior Horses in Cold Weather

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Here’s something you might or might not know about me. I’m not a cold weather person. Yes, I grew up in Massachusetts. Yes, I lived in Michigan for just shy of a decade. No, I do not like cold or snow or anything that comes with winter.

As it were, 18-year-old Dorado is not a cold weather fan either. And when it comes to snow, he quite enjoys taking a good roll if it’s deep enough, jumping up and running around his paddock (while I cringe in fear, waiting for him to fall on his face and hurt himself), and then running back to the gate, ready to go back in his box. In fact, when temperatures dip below about 40¡F is the only time he willingly meets me at the gate to come in, rather than standing at the far corner of his paddock taunting me.

Try to keep older horses in some kind of working condition throughout the winter, even if it’s several days per week of riding at a walk coupled with daily turnout

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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