As winter approaches, ensuring fences are ready for winter can prevent costly repairs and reduce stress when storms arrive. A little preparation now pays off through the season.

Climate change is increasingly affecting horses, horse properties, and their owners across Canada. In recent surveys, nearly 90 percent of Canadians reported noticing the impacts of climate change in their communities. Horses are facing rising health risks, including respiratory diseases from wildfire smoke and dust, skin conditions and hoof damage caused by unpredictable weather, and new parasites and diseases. Horse owners are also dealing with higher hay costs, unexpected veterinary expenses, and challenges related to weather disruptions, such as riding limitations. Meanwhile, owners of horse properties are working to repair damage from severe storms, flooding, droughts, and high winds.

If there’s one word that strikes fear into the hearts and minds of horse owners, it’s “colic.” Used to describe any form of abdominal pain, colic can affect horses for many reasons and in any season, although cold weather months are a particularly challenging time with increased risk of impaction-related colic.

A proper horseback ride on a cold winter's day can offer an exhilarating experience, with the fluffy snow energizing your horse and the sunshine taking your mind off of the chilly air. But now, as the sun sets and winter’s cold returns, your horse is steaming with sweat, and it’s time to think about cooling down.