A Horse’s Built-In Winter Coat - How Horses Stay Warm in Winter.

Dennis Cappel
Dec 16, 2025
1 min read

Clear Mental Horsemanship with Dennis Cappel

Horses are naturally built to handle cold weather, and most healthy horses do extremely well in winter when they’re allowed to live naturally without heavy blanketing or artificial lights that interfere with their seasonal changes.

Winter Coats: Built-In Insulation

As daylight decreases, horses grow a thick winter coat that can fluff up and trap warm air close to the skin. This creates powerful insulation against cold winds. Their coat also sheds water, allowing moisture to roll off while keeping the underlayer dry and warm.

Movement Creates Warmth

Horses warm themselves through movement. Giving them space to walk, play, and interact helps them generate body heat naturally.

Digestion: Their Internal Heater

A horse’s biggest source of warmth is the fermentation that happens when they digest forage. Eating hay throughout the day produces internal heat, making steady access to forage essential in winter.

Winter Often Suits Them Better

Many horses handle winter more comfortably than summer. While humans love the look of a sleek, shiny coat, that short hair doesn’t protect them from the cold the way their natural winter coat does.

Supporting Their Natural Design

Plenty of forage, freedom to move, and protection from harsh wind or freezing rain are usually all a horse needs. When we let horses be horses, they stay warm, healthy, and thriving all winter long.

Mindful Riding,

Dennis Cappel - Master Horseman

www.cappeltrainingandshoeng.com