Stress is the body’s response to anything it considers threatening. For a horse this could be anything, including trailering and traveling, showing, poor nutrition, feeding at irregular times, changes in other routines, environmental toxins, interactions within their social environment, variations in climate, and illness.

During the last decade, participation in horse-related activities has continued to grow. The National Safety Council estimates that more than 10 million people in the United States are involved in equine sports. Membership in many horse associations has grown steadily.

Donkeys and mules have made a surprising come back since the turn of the century. Originally, these animals were used as beast of burdens, but today they are growing in popularity as companion animals, trail mounts, and even for showing purposes. Due to popular movies such as Shrek and the use of the mule for tourists in the Grand Canyon, there is a growing increase in donkey and mule owners across the U.S.

Why should you consider special horse care practices for winter? For starters, in cold weather, your horse's energy needs increase simply to keep him warm. With freezing temperatures come frozen ground and a lack of available pasture grass. Water sources freeze, barns get closed up and exercise routines may change. This discussion contains information to help you ensure your horse stays healthy and warm throughout the winter.

It’s a little known fact that horses can actually be thirstier in the winter than they are in the summer. During cold weather, especially if the humidity is high, a horse’s thirst mechanism does not always function as efficiently as it does in the summer. Water is lost from a horse’s body every day through the urine, feces and moisture in breath exhaled from the lungs. If the horse is performing during cold weather, significant water can also be lost from sweating.

Best management practices (BMPs) are methods and techniques designed to mitigate damage to the environment while simultaneously utilizing resources in the most efficient way possible. The term was established during the development of legislation for water quality control, but can also apply to other areas of conservation such as air quality control and soil conservation.