BarnYard & BackYard

01/23/2026

How many of you have a donkey? Here are some interesting winter facts about our donkey friends.

01/23/2026

THE COLD WEATHER IS UPON US! ❄️
Are you familiar with the many adaptations that help your horse stay warm during the cold winter months?
🌾 Hindgut digestion of hay produces the most heat, acting as a small furnace inside of the horse. This is why free choice; good quality hay is so important in the winter.
💪 Horses have a huge muscle mass and muscle activity produces heat. This includes running and playing and even shivering if their body temperature starts to drop. It is important to remember that these activities also will result in a bigger caloric demand so free choice hay and in some cases, grain, is often needed.
🧥 To blanket or not to blanket is a constant debate but either way, as it starts to get cold your horse will grow a thicker coat. If you decide to leave your horse unblanketed you may notice that they look “fluffy”. This is due to a phenomenon called piloerection where the hair stands up to better trap air within. Two layers of the coat also help with warmth. The inner layer is softer and has air pockets to create an insulating layer. The outer layer is coarse and has oils that keep moisture from penetrating the insulating layer and keep the horse warm.
⚖️ Wild horses go into the winter heavier than ideal, and the fat serves as an extra layer of insulation. However, if a horse is going to be kept heavily blanketed and in a barn during the cold weather months this is unnecessary and can lead to obesity related issues.
🦵Their distal limbs (below the knees and hocks) are made of mostly bones and tendons, tissues that are resistant to the cold temperatures.
🦶The hooves have an alternative route of blood circulation through larger vessels that can be used in low temperatures. This is why horses can stand in snow without detrimental effects.
👃A horse’s nose has a robust blood supply and is rounded so that it is less susceptible to frostbite than a human’s nose.
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Thank you AAEP for the Post! Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

01/21/2026

We have a few seats, join us for our Spotlight Event! https://www.facebook.com/share/1DTbvJ65XU/

01/21/2026

Consistent nutrition matters year-round. 🐴
EquiTub® helps complement forage with convenient, free-choice supplementation for horses.

Contact me today to learn more about EquiTub® options.

01/21/2026

Good info as we prepare for the upcoming cold snap. Stop in today to stock up on all the supplies you will need to keep your animals safe and warm!

🌾 Forage = Heat 🔥: Fueling horses through cold weather

Plummeting air temperatures mean your horse needs more energy to maintain their body temperature and condition. One of the best sources of warmth comes from fiber fermentation; the microbes in your horse’s hindgut generate heat as they digest forage. That’s why forage = heat.

During cold weather, meeting your horse's higher energy needs with forage is one of the most effective ways to help keep them warm and comfortable. How much forage is enough?

For every degree below 18°F, a horse's dietary energy needs increase 1%. For example, if a 1,000-pound horse needed 17.5 pounds of good-quality hay each day when the temperature was above 18°F, its requirement would be increased by about 3 pounds (to 20.5 pounds daily) if the temperature dropped to 0°F.

Let's break down the math in this example:
1,000-pound healthy horse at maintenance needs about 17 Mcal energy daily
Hay analysis indicates 0.97 Mcal energy per pound of hay

0.01 (% energy increase) x 17 Mcal (horse's daily energy) x 18 (number of degrees below 18°F) = 3 Mcal additional energy needed at 0°F.

3 Mcal additional energy / 0.97 Mcal energy per pound of hay = ~3 pounds of additional hay needed

3 pounds additional hay + 17.5 pounds hay daily (when above 18°F) = 20.5 pounds of hay per day to meet energy demands at 0°F

01/19/2026

Are your horses drinking enough water during these swings in cold weather? If you aren't sure, try giving them some room temp/lukewarm water and Replenimash. Hydrate, replenish electrolytes and help keep your horse's gut comfortable. We have replenimash on hand!

01/13/2026

Changing pace a bit this month and welcoming our first bird as Pet of the Month! Thank you Lesley for the submission.

01/08/2026

Pet of the Month time! Submit your picture below. Please pick your favorite and only submit 1! Thank you!

12/30/2025

The New Year is nearly upon us, so if you’re setting goals for 2026 and one of those is to complete a fencing project, talk to us about our Priefert fencing system. We’d love to help you achieve your goals!

12/26/2025

We hope Santa found you this Christmas, but if his reindeer ate some of your feed and you’re running low, remember we open at noon today!

12/19/2025

Can’t think of the perfect gift? We have gift certificates!