Preparing my Senior Horse for Winter
It’s officially fall in Massachusetts, and winter is closer than we think. Like many fellow horse owners, I’ve been beginning to prepare for winter with my senior horse Nemo. Nemo is a 21-year-old Morgan gelding, who I’m very thankful to have had in my life since he was 7 years old. Admittedly, I’m still wrapping my head around calling him a senior, as I just don’t see his greys at times, and I want to set him up to have a comfortable, happy winter. To prepare, I have a few steps I like to follow.
Addressing Nutrition
First, I reviewed his supplement plan. Nemo tends to be an easy keeper, so I don’t have to worry too much about him losing weight in the cold. I like to put a strong focus on his joint support. Currently, he is doing very well on SmartStride™ Senior Pellets. I find the balance between traditional and more holistic, herbal ingredients really benefit him and keep him feeling his best during our rides 3-4 days a week. I also always like to make sure I have him on SmartSalt® Pellets, keeping in mind his hydration needs. Finally, he is prone to tight muscles in his SI joint area, so I use Smart & Simple® DMG to help support muscle health.
Product Support
Next, I look at how I can support him with SmartEquine products. Nemo and I ride year-round, and he grows a very thick coat, so I always make sure he has a trace clip every year. With that, where he spends most of his days outside, I always make sure he wears his SmartEquine Ultimate High Neck Turnout Blanket. I find this to be incredibly durable, and the high neck helps prevent shoulder rubs, which are a known issue for Nemo’s traditional line Morgan build. I also love that he can snuggle right into it, and should he damage it, it’s covered with a 10-year Durability Guarantee.
I also like to provide additional warmth for Nemo when we warm up on our rides. Lately, we’ve been focusing on lots of long, low key trail rides, with fun bursts of trotting and cantering, so I like to be sure to keep Nemo warm with a quarter sheet. I personally love the SmartPak Classic Fleece Quarter Sheet. It’s lightweight, super soft, moisture wicking, and very easy to clean. It also keeps Nemo’s back nice and toasty on chilly winter days. On trail rides, I keep it on him the whole time. When doing ring work, I like to keep it on for our 10-minute walk warm up and then take it off as we start our flatwork.
Winter Ready
I love knowing that, with SmartEquine’s help, I can keep Nemo active and happy throughout the cold New England winters. He enjoys staying active, and it puts my mind at ease knowing his supplement program helps him feel his best, and his SmartPak products help him stay warm and comfortable. I’m looking forward to many fun winter rides together.