With all of this snow and the unusually cold and bitter weather we've experienced in the aftermath of our epic snowstorm, I'm keeping a good eye on my horses' water intake. For some reason, they don't seem to drink as much when it's really cold. But I can tell you for certain that they are digging into that free choice hay out there in the feeder, and that their food intake hasn't slowed down. In fact, I think they're eating a little more.

One of the reasons I like to feed free choice hay is that it allows my horses to graze throughout the day, more as nature intended. And it keeps their delicate systems moving, which can help reduce their chances for colic.

A colleague of mine raises miniature horses, and she's going through a colic with one of her tiny mares right now. She thinks the reason behind it is that the mare hasn't been drinking enough water in this highly unusual blast of weather.

Vigilance!