Winter is here, and in northern California it is shaping up as a real one this year! Storms and rain have already turned our barnyards and corrals into mud bogs, and make the daily feeding chores into a real slog. This is usually not the best time of the year for horse-people, who still need to do the work, but don’t get to ride much in the dark and wet. Still, there are ways to make it easier, like a great pair of waterproof boots and a sturdy Carhartt Rain Jacket. This is the time of year for warm beanies, gloves and sweatshirts. If you aren’t stocked up with wet-weather outfits, come in to Rainbow. You’ll be ready to wade to the barn in no time.
After Holiday Clearance Sale!
Starts January 2, 2025
40% off all Jackets (excludes rain gear)
40% off select Sweatshirts
75% off Holiday Decor
Buy One, Get One Free Holiday Pet Toys and Treats!
Do horses get cold? Well, yes, but if provided with proper feed, water, shelter and exercise most horses do well even in extreme cold. In our part of the country, we aren’t dealing with sub-zero temperatures, but horse owners still need to consider the weather’s impact on our horses. Often, mud and wet conditions are the most challenging. Providing shelter from wind and a dry place to stand is important for both general body condition and for the condition of your horse’s hooves. Standing in wet conditions contributes to bruises and abscesses, which might need to be treated by a farrier or veterinarian. Stay ahead of problems by cleaning out horses’ feet daily, allowing air to circulate and the sole to dry. A dry place to stand can simply be a pile of gravel, or a stall or shelter with mats, so that the hooves have a chance to dry out and harden up. Deep mud can also cause “rain rot” on the horse’s lower legs, fetlocks and pasterns. This is a bacterial infection of the skin, caused by anaerobic conditions. Hosing off the mud can help. Learn more about keeping your horse healthy during Winter weather in these two articles:
Winter Hoof Care – from the Kentucky Equine Research
How to Care For Horses In Winter – from Purina Equine Nutritionist Anna Pesta Dunaway, Ph.D.
New in the Rainbow Equine Department:
Mrs. Pasture’s Cookies for Horses – These classic, popular horse treats are now available in several sizes, and save 25% with this month’s Subscriber Coupon!
Check out this cute new hay bag! Bring a little Western style to your trailer with this sturdy and colorful feeder. Keep that hay off the wet ground!
Highland Springs Equestrian Center will be hosting Dr. Steve Peters in April, for an Equine Brain Science Seminar. This weekend event, Dr. Peters will discussion connection with horses and important structures of a horse’s brain that allow the horse to perceive, feel, understand, process, move and learn. A cutting-edge neuroscientist and passionate horseman, Dr. Stephen Peters has been a guiding figure in understanding of how horse’s brains learn and process information. Dates are April 25, 26 & 27, 2025 at Highland Springs Equestrian Center in Kelseyville. Seating is limited and previous seminars have sold out.
Learn more and reserve your seat here.
Trivia –
Enter to win a $15 Rainbow Coupon! All correct answers are entered (once) in a random drawing.
Last month’s question was a “fill in the blank” – you can sign up for the Purina ________________________________ Challenge! Our winner is Kara Beckstead with the correct answer of “Through Thick and Thin.”
The first Trivia question of 2025 is, What Winter weather challenge is common here in northern California?