- Horses of less hardy breeding, such as Thoroughbreds, may need a stable or extra shelter from cold and damp.
- Breeds with finer coats are more likely to need a rug in cold, wet weather, especially if they are clipped, old or underweight.
- Forage keeps horses warm: digesting fibre produces heat. Give plenty, especially in cold weather.
- Fat-score and weigh-tape about every two weeks in winter, and talk to your vet if the fat score drops below 2 (on a 0–5 scale).
- Take rugs off every day to check the horse, and don't over-rug.
Which horses this covers
This guide is for breeds with naturally finer coats that are less hardy than native ponies and cobs. The British Horse Society and Bransby Horses name Thoroughbreds, Arabs and warmbloods. Everything in the daily care guide applies too. This page covers what is different for these horses. The same points apply to any horse that is clipped, very young, elderly or unwell, whatever its breed.
Shelter and stabling
The code of practice notes that while many native breeds can live out all year with shelter, horses of less hardy breeding, such as Thoroughbreds, as well as clipped, very young or elderly horses, may need a stable or other shelter to protect them from cold and damp, and from very hot weather.
Turnout still matters. The British Horse Society advises getting horses outside every day, even when wet fields mean shorter turnout in winter. Long hours in a stable limit natural behaviours such as moving, foraging and socialising, and can lead to boredom, stress and unwanted habits. Out at grass, horses need natural shelter, such as thick hedges or tree lines, or a field shelter. The BHS notes that even a horse you think never uses its shelter is likely to look for a wind-break on a cold, windy day.
Forage: the in-built heater
Digesting fibre produces heat, so forage helps keep a horse warm. Bransby Horses notes that forage produces more heat during digestion than hard feed. World Horse Welfare advises ad-lib access to good-quality forage at all times, especially in cold weather. When there is little grass, give extra hay in the field, with more piles than there are horses so each gets a fair share.
Simply increasing hard feed in winter isn't advisable: Bransby Horses warns it can lead to colic, weight gain and laminitis. The British Horse Society says extra concentrate feed can help horses that lose an unhealthy amount of weight in winter, or older horses that struggle to chew forage. Ask a nutritionist first. If you do feed concentrates, give them little and often. The stomach is small, and large feeds can pass undigested into the large intestine, raising the risk of colic. Make all diet changes gradually.
Rugs
The British Horse Society lists the horses that may benefit from a rug: a breed with a naturally finer coat (such as Thoroughbreds or Arabs), horses that are underweight and need help saving energy in cold weather, clipped horses, and horses that are older, unwell or struggle to regulate their temperature. Bransby Horses says warmbloods and Thoroughbreds are more likely to struggle in winter and benefit from suitable rugs.
Deciding when and how heavily to rug:
- Temperature: World Horse Welfare notes horses can usually regulate their body temperature between 5 °C and 25 °C. Below 5 °C, a clipped horse may need a rug to keep comfortable and avoid losing weight.
- Feel the right places: judge how cold your horse is by feeling the neck, withers and body, not the legs, ears or face.
- Weather, shelter and forage: consider the "feels like" temperature, rain, available shelter and forage, and whether the horse can move around.
- Not too much: don't rug by how cold you feel. Over-rugging can cause discomfort, sweating under the rug, skin conditions and weight gain. If you can't change rugs during the day, choose the lightest suitable rug.
- Daily checks: take rugs off and refit them every day to check the horse thoroughly for rubbing, soreness or discomfort. Keep a spare rug so a soaked one can dry, and let rugged horses have time without a rug on warmer, dry days rather than keeping them rugged around the clock.
Watching weight through winter
The British Horse Society says it is natural for horses to lose some weight over winter, but a horse already at a healthy weight may need its routine adjusted to hold its condition. Use a weigh tape with fat scoring about every two weeks. A weigh tape isn't exact for overall weight, but it shows whether the horse is gaining, losing or holding steady. A weighbridge gives an accurate weight.
World Horse Welfare advises speaking to your vet if your horse has little body fat, meaning a fat score below 2 on the 0–5 scale, and using a rug when temperatures drop. Weight loss can also be a sign of illness, so talk to your vet about any unexplained change.
This guide cannot diagnose your horse. If in doubt, call.
Winter ailments
Wet, muddy conditions and more time indoors raise the risk of mud fever, rain scald and equine asthma, according to the British Horse Society. Keep a close eye on the legs and coat for early signs of mud fever and other skin conditions, and keep stables well ventilated and clean.
Sources
- Code of practice for the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids (2018) — Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Types of rugs and rugging a horse — The British Horse Society (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Winter Horse Care & Routine — The British Horse Society (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Winter Management — Bransby Horses (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Winter horse care tips — World Horse Welfare (accessed 7 October 2026)
- Rugging horses: when does your horse need a rug? — World Horse Welfare (accessed 7 October 2026)