We’ve all seen the funny videos of people slipping and falling on the ice. We don’t mean to laugh at other’s misfortune, but we almost can’t help ourselves.
But what happens when a horse slips and falls? Do they bounce back as easily as we seem to?
Slips on ice:
Inclement weather affects our horse’s mobility, just as it does ours. When a horse slips on the ice, it may not be a benign occurrence. Injuries may occur, such as sprained joints or pulled muscles.
The photo below shows a horse slipping on the ice. He recovered fine, but this could have just as easily resulted in a slip and fall, or the rider being unseated.
Possible solutions:
➡ Ride in the areas where the ground has a snow covering or other materials that have traction.
➡ Be careful in areas where there may have been standing water, which can freeze to slippery ice.
➡ Don't assume that all of the ice has melted when you see water. Part of it may still be frozen and slippery.
More slips:
If the horse has slipped and fallen, but can’t get enough traction to get up, the horse will need human assistance. The senior horse pictured below, was unable to get enough traction to get up after slipping on the ice. Fortunately, this had a happy ending. Just before the rescue personnel were going to use a front-end loader to lift the horse, he popped up on his own due to the traction the carpet afforded.
Unfortunately, not all falls have a happy ending. Slips can also occur in areas that have obstacles, like a horse sliding under a fence, colliding with machinery or branches, or other obstacles.
Possible solutions:
Have material on hand to help produce traction. This could include manure, hay, sand, or even in this case, carpeting. Know that it can happen anytime.
Think in advance of who you know that has a tractor, in case you need it. Think about who you can call if you need significant help. When a situation like this arises, you may be too shook up to be able to think clearly.
Ice on pond
Many people have a pond on the property. When we think about an animal on a frozen pond, we think of Bambi on ice. Unfortunately for horses, the ice is usually not thick enough to support the horse’s weight. Accidents can occur, in which the horses fall through the ice and need assistance to get out.
Possible solution:
Be careful of the hazards in the turnout areas.
Take home message:
Wintertime with icy ground and frozen ponds create special hazards. Be aware of the things that could go wrong in the frigid temperatures.
➡ Keep a checklist of people you can call if you need help to save your horse.
➡ Take the time to winterize your barn and property when the weather is warmer.
We do the best that we can for our horses. Becoming aware of special hazards in winter is a part of that.
Do you have a special photo or story that you’d like to share? Email to sales@mybesthorse.com
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©Joan Kulifay 2025