{"id":75341,"date":"2021-12-20T14:42:36","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T13:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cavalor.com\/articles\/de-beste-tips-tegen-winterkwaaltjes-bij-paarden\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:03:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T08:03:30","slug":"the-best-tips-for-equine-winter-complaints","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/cavalor.com\/en-us\/articles\/the-best-tips-for-equine-winter-complaints\/","title":{"rendered":"The best tips for equine winter complaints"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
We often dream of a beautiful white winter. But the reality is that here in America winter is mostly wet, cold, and dark. For horses, winter also means lots of changes as they go from grass to hay, from pasture to stable. They often get less exercise and go through coat changes. Winter ailments lurk. In this blog, we share our tips for preventing (or quickly solving) the most common winter equine complaints.  <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Winter complaint 1: thrush<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Horses\u2019 environments are more likely to be muddy in the winter, and moisture and urine can cause hoof problems. Such conditions encourage the growth of bacteria in the hoof as they need little oxygen to survive. We all recognize the symptoms. Thrush, foul-smelling hooves, and even swelling can make the horse walk with a sensitive gait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our tip: treat your horse’s hooves \u2013 both preventively and for active cases of Thrush\u2013 with Cavalor Dry Feet<\/a><\/strong>! Thrush will disappear in no time. Fighting bad bacteria with good bacteria is the idea behind Dry Feet. Poor hooves are often given aggressive treatments but here at Cavalor, we believe in the power of self-healing. With a little help, many problems can often be cured or prevented. Cavalor Dry Feet contains pre- and probiotics. Probiotics survive in wet conditions and are already present on healthy hooves. Probiotics do not kill anything off -\u2013 they suppress pathogens. Prebiotics help probiotics do their work. Cavalor Dry Feet allows good bacteria to flourish, resulting in healthy hooves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Winter complaint 2: Mud fever, an unwelcome guest<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Your horse’s hooves are not all that suffer from wet winter conditions. Another common complaint is mud fever. This is an irritation of the horse’s skin. The skin dries out, causing cracks that can be quite painful. It can also cause swelling which eventually leads to lameness. Mud fever is sometimes so chronic that it seems impossible to get rid of, but a boost to the immune system can help to prevent and cure extreme cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our tip for a comprehensive approach: strengthen the body\u2019s natural resistance! That is why we begin with a 45-day cure of Resist + Vit C<\/a>. <\/strong>Resist + Vit C is a supplement that supports the immune system through a combination of antioxidants, herbs, and essential oils. It helps your horse’s body be less prone to infections and more able to fight off pathogens. We also recommend feeding FiberForce<\/a> <\/strong>for six weeks. This high-fiber mix with long fiber lengths promotes healthy stomach and bowel function. A properly functioning bowel is the foundation of a strong immune system.  Adding OilMega<\/a> <\/strong>to the feed ration supplies a balanced mix of fatty acids, ensuring healthy gut flora and providing extra support for the immune system. This strengthens your animal\u2019s natural defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For mild cases, the best remedy is to wash the leg with Derma Wash<\/a><\/strong>, dry it, and then apply MudDoc<\/a><\/strong>. Repeat this until the infection is completely gone and the skin can start to recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Winter complaint 3: thick winter coats<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

A sport horse that trains through the winter can have problems with its winter coat. One solution to make life easier for you and your horse is by clipping that winter coat. However, you need to keep in mind that a horse without its winter coat will have a higher thermoneutral zone so extra rugs are definitely a need! A clipped coat also makes the cooling down more efficient as the horse cools down faster. But don’t rug your horse immediately after riding! As long as your horse is sweating after work, he doesn\u2019t need a wool rug. What about after intense training? You should cool the legs well, whether or not the horse has been clipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our tip: after clipping, wash your horse with Derma Wash<\/strong><\/a> for perfect skin regeneration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horses have sensitive skin. To prevent skin irritations, do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n