8 Holiday Hacks

Esme shares her top tips for caring for your horse all winter long.

- BY ESME HIGGS

The holiday season is here! While you're sipping hot cocoa, decorating the tree, and maybe sneaking an extra cookie or two, your horse is outside dealing with frosty mornings, chilly winds, and maybe even snowflakes on his whiskers.

Winter can be magical, but it also means your horse needs a little extra love and care. Luckily, the holidays give you plenty of down time to spend at the barn making sure your best friend is cozy and healthy. Here are some fun and practical hacks to keep both you and your horse happy all winter long.

1. Cozy Up with Rugs and Blankets
When the weather gets colder, horses grow fluffy winter coats that keep them snug. But sometimes they need an extra layer, especially if they've been clipped, are older, or live in windy, wet places. Think of a rug like your horse's winter jacket!

Hack: Keep a “rug station” at your barn—a spot where you hang clean, dry rugs so they’re easy to grab when the weather changes. Use fun, festive labels so you don’t mix up your horse’s raincoat with his snow parka.

Holiday twist: Pick a rug in a cheerful winter color (like deep red or forest green) to make your horse look extra festive. I have Joey in an emerald green rug and Casper in a ruby red one (of course, they usually end up mud brown quite quickly).

2. Keep the Water Ice-Free

Horses need water just as much in winter as in summer, but freezing buckets can make it tricky. If your horse doesn’t drink enough, he could get dehydrated or even colic, which is very serious.