Cool-Weather Conditioning for Barrel Horses

The AP Barrel Co. Team · November 1, 2026

Cooler months bring their own management questions. How long should a horse warm up? What should happen after a hard run when the horse is sweaty and the air is chilly? How do you keep water intake up? This guide draws on the American Association of Equine Practitioners and university extension specialists. Talk with your veterinarian about your horse's specific needs.

Warm Up Longer

Purdue University's equine hospital calls warm-up essential, especially in winter, and suggests 10 to 20 minutes. Its sample routine starts with about five minutes of walking on a long rein, then five minutes of trotting large circles, then smaller circles with counter-flexing and walk-trot transitions, and finally cantering large-to-small circles in each direction.

For horses that are fully clipped, Rutgers Cooperative Extension suggests a quarter sheet over the hindquarters during warm-up in extreme cold. Horses with full coats or trace clips generally do not need one.

Cool Down Until the Horse Is Dry

Cool-down matters more in cold weather because a hot, wet horse can chill quickly. Rutgers warns that a sweaty horse left in a cold, drafty stall or chilly wind can become chilled, stressed or ill.

Purdue recommends cooling down at a walk, in hand or under saddle, for 5 to 15 minutes depending on the workout, until the horse is cool, dry and breathing normally. LSU AgCenter's winter cool-down guide recommends at least 10 to 15 minutes of walking, and keeping at a slower pace until heart rate, breathing and body temperature are back to resting levels.

LSU also suggests loosening the girth but leaving the saddle on at first so the back cools more gradually, then removing the saddle. To speed drying in a thick winter coat, ruffle the hair with a curry comb or towel. A wool or fleece cooler helps wick moisture so the horse does not chill while drying. LSU also suggests offering grass hay during drying, since digesting forage produces body heat.

One rule shows up in nearly every source: do not put a turnout or overnight blanket on a damp horse. Purdue notes it can lead to skin problems, and LSU points out that a heavy blanket keeps a dry horse warm but prevents a wet horse from drying.

Keep Them Drinking

Lower water intake in cold weather is linked to impaction colic. The AAEP notes that impaction colic rises in the coldest months, often tied to low water intake and less exercise. An average 1,000-pound horse needs at least 10 gallons of water a day for maintenance, and more with work.

Water temperature makes a difference. AAEP guidance says horses drink more when water is warmed to about 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. An AAEP article on winter water consumption describes research in which horses drank 40 percent more when heated water was their only option, compared with near-freezing water. When icy water was also available, they drank mostly from the icy source and consumed less overall. The same article notes that most drinking happens within about three hours after feeding, so that is a good time to make sure buckets are full.

Rutgers suggests that adding plain salt to feed, or soaking pellets or cubes, can encourage water intake. Ask your veterinarian or nutritionist how much is appropriate for your horse.

Forage Helps Keep Them Warm

The AAEP notes that hay, not grain, best supports body heat, because fermenting forage in the large intestine generates heat. During very cold weather, providing plenty of good-quality hay is recommended.

Blanketing Considerations

A horse with a full winter coat that is dry and has a windbreak usually handles cold well. The AAEP cautions that a blanket on a heavily coated horse can compress the hair and reduce its insulation. Blankets are recommended for body-clipped horses and horses that sweat from work, and can help in extremely cold, wet weather.

Penn State Extension lists situations where blanketing makes sense: no shelter during very cold or wet, windy weather; a clipped coat; a body condition score of 3 or less or poor health; very young or very old horses; and horses recently moved from a warmer climate. Penn State also notes that rain is a bigger problem than snow, because wet hair loses its insulating value.

If you blanket, check fit and remove the blanket regularly to look for rubs and reposition it. On warmer days, take it off so the horse does not sweat underneath. Rutgers recommends a trace clip for horses that are exercised regularly through winter. Clipped horses need adequate shelter and blankets, since hair grows back slowly in winter.

Watch the Footing

Rutgers advises knowing your riding area well, since holes or equipment can be hidden. It warns that heavy, damp snow can behave like deep sand and raise the risk of tendon injury, and that uneven frozen ground can bruise soles, especially in thin-soled horses. If an arena is frozen, postponing a ride may be better than risking an injury. Ask your farrier about traction and shoeing options for winter.

When to Call a Veterinarian

Know the signs of colic and call your veterinarian immediately if you see them. The AAEP lists signs including turning the head toward the flank, pawing, kicking or biting at the belly, repeatedly lying down and getting up, rolling, leaving feed, putting the head down to water without drinking, fewer or no bowel movements, reduced gut sounds, sweating that is not related to heat or exercise, rapid breathing and a pulse above 50 beats per minute.

The AAEP suggests having this information ready when you call: the signs and how severe they are, pulse, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, gum color and moisture, gum refill time (normally one to two seconds), gut sounds, manure, and any recent changes in feed, management or exercise.

In cold weather, also watch for signs of hypothermia. AAEP guidance describes mild hypothermia as a body temperature below 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit along with lethargy and reluctance to move. Contact your veterinarian if you are concerned.

Sources

Join The AP Barrel Co. for races near you, horses and tack for sale and $1 AlleyPass entries.