Horses require special care in the winter months. If you board your horse, make sure he has a warm place out of the elements. Some stables charge extra for allowing your horse to stay in a warm barn and will leave horses that aren't paid for out in the pasture. Make sure you know exactly where your horse will be if it cold outside.

Horses are resilient animals and their hides and hooves offer a lot of cold weather protection. Many horses enjoy a ride in the snow and some horses will playfully kick it up as they trot just for the fun of it. If you ride your horse in the colder months and he gets hot, cool him down slowly and even though it's cooler weather, don't assume he'll just cool off because the weather is cold. It is just as important to slowly cool down his muscles in the winter as in the summer months.

Oats are good energy food and will help your horse generate body heat and while they should be fed sparingly along with a balanced diet, they are a great addition during cold weather months.

Make sure your horse has adequate bedding in his stall when it's cold. If he's accepting and the stall area is big enough, many horses enjoy the companionship of a stall mate and will cuddle up together when the weather is cold.