Christmas Horse at the Barn coloring page

About this coloring page

A Christmas wreath horse looks ready for the holidays, but in the middle of winter a horse’s real priority is staying warm. Horses handle cold far better than many people expect, as long as they are dry, well fed and have somewhere to get out of the wind.

As days shorten in the fall, most horses grow a long, thick winter coat. Those fluffy hairs trap a layer of warm air next to the skin, a lot like a puffy jacket. You may even see snow sitting on a horse’s back without melting, which is actually a good sign: it means the coat is holding body heat in so well that little escapes.

Food works like a built-in furnace. Digesting hay produces heat inside the gut, so on the coldest days owners serve extra forage rather than extra grain. Keeping water from freezing is just as important, since a horse that drinks too little in winter is at risk of colic.

Some horses do need help. Older horses and those whose coats are clipped for showing often wear blankets, while hardy breeds from northern climates, with heavy manes and stocky builds, usually get through snowy months with nothing more than shelter and plenty of hay.

• christmas
• horses
• winter
• barn
• holidays