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•   Is it ever TOO cold for my horse to be outside? Or, TOO cold to ride / train with them?
 
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•   I noticed my mare’s left teat is enlarged. I felt the udder and a dark watery liquid came out. She is 27 yrs old, but has always been healthy. She always grows a thick winter coat, but sheds out well.
 
•   What are the normal vital signs for an adult horse?
 
•   A friend got a TB mare with a swayback that she wants to breed to my stallion. I was wondering if it is genetic, or from being ridden too young. How well will she handle carrying a foal and foaling?
 
•   I'm wondering if you can comment on the safety of cimetidine during pregnancy? My 15 year-old grey mare has been on low-dose cimetidine for management of melanomas.

 

 

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Is it ever TOO cold for my horse to be outside? Or, TOO cold to ride / train with them?

In general, if your horse is used to being outside and they have access to a shelter and/or are blanketed, they should be okay.  However, it is important to keep in mind that they need to have access to water at all times.  Keeping water from freezing this time of year in Wisconsin is often a challenge.  If heated water tanks are not an option, then you must be dedicated to changing out frozen water several times a day. 

Use caution when riding / training on the bitter cold days.  Light work (walking with a few minutes of trot work) is usually safe, however, excessive exercise once the temperature and wind-chill dip below freezing is not recommended.