Why the thaw season is more difficult than the heart of winter
Most horse owners prepare for February. What they underestimate is March.
In the depths of winter, conditions are cold but stable. Horses adapt, forage consumption increases, and hooves stay dry. But when temperatures begin to fluctuate—below freezing at night, above freezing at midday—the ground never truly thaws and never fully refreezes. The result is a persistent, waterlogged layer of mud directly beneath your horse for 18 hours a day.
This mud, combined with a horse running on its winter reserves and just beginning to shed its coat, creates a perfect storm: hoof problems, weight loss, a stressed coat, and increased parasite pressure. In the Eastern Townships, this window generally extends from the end of February to mid-April. Right now, then.
At FG Edwards, we've been supporting horse owners in the Brome-Missisquoi region for over 97 years. Here are the five most common challenges we see at this time of year — along with concrete solutions that work.
Challenge 1: Mud, sore hooves, and the risk of thrush
When a horse stands in mud for hours, the frog—that soft, V-shaped structure under the hoof—absorbs moisture and begins to soften. A softened frog becomes extremely vulnerable to the anaerobic bacteria that cause thrush (or frog rot). The problem is insidious: by the time you smell the characteristic odor, you've missed two weeks of preventative care.
The freeze-thaw cycle exacerbates the situation far beyond simple exposure to mud. Each time the ground refreezes at night, the surface hardens while the deeper layer remains saturated. A horse that breaks through this crust applies uneven and concussive pressure to an already weakened hoof.
What needs to be done now:
Clean the hooves daily during this period—not just before riding. After picking, inspect the frog for any soft, dark, or smelly tissue. A stuffing paste like Absorbine Magic Cushion applied to the sole and frog creates a physical barrier against moisture while soothing inflamed tissue. For active thrush or as preventative protection on already softened frogs, a copper antiseptic like Kopper Kare provides targeted antibacterial action without the systemic effects of oral treatment.
In the stall, rubber mats insulate the hoof from the cold, damp concrete and reduce exposure to ammonia caused by wet bedding. Our 100% pine pellet bedding absorbs up to four times its weight in moisture, keeping the stall floor truly dry—not just on the surface. We currently have over 260 bags in stock.
The key principle: Prevention this month costs a fraction of a veterinary treatment in April.
Challenge 2: Loss of physical fitness after winter
A horse that has "maintained its weight" this winter hasn't necessarily preserved its reserves. Thermoregulation in a Quebec winter is energy-intensive—even a properly fed horse has drawn on its fat reserves to maintain its core temperature. In March, this deficit manifests not in the ribs, but in the muscle covering the top of the back, the quarters, and the shoulder.
The window before the start of the riding season is ideal for correcting the situation, because the horse is not yet subjected to the demands of work. A targeted increase in caloric density—without overloading the digestive system—accelerates recovery without causing metabolic stress.
Power options to consider:
Our FG Edwards Fundamental 14% textured feed is formulated as a high-energy base for horses regaining condition. Its textured form improves palatability for horses with reduced winter appetite, and the 14% protein content supports muscle rebuilding alongside the replenishment of fat stores.
For horses that easily maintain their weight and don't require a high calorie intake, the Buckeye Nutrition GRO 'N WIN ration balancer supplements any hay-based diet with missing vitamins and minerals, without adding excess sugars or starch. It's the right tool when the forage base is adequate, but the micronutrient profile is incomplete.
How to assess: Assess your horse's body condition score (Henneke scale) this week. A score of 4 or lower warrants an immediate nutritional adjustment before returning to work. If you are unsure of your assessment, bring your horse's current feeding program to the store—our team can review it with you.
Challenge 3: Coat Transition and Spring Molt
The molt is triggered by photoperiod, not temperature. The lengthening days from the end of February onward set off the hormonal cascade that initiates the coat change, whether it's still -10°C outside or not. By mid-March in the Eastern Townships, horses are actively molting—and the condition of the emerging summer coat accurately reflects what the horse has eaten since January.
A dull, patchy, or slow-shedding coat is one of the most reliable indicators of an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. Winter hay is notoriously low in omega-3s—the grass it was made from was rich in them, but drying and storage destroy almost all of them. Supplementing now gives visible results in four to six weeks: a brighter coat color, less dander, and a faster, cleaner molt.
Two approaches:
Our FG Edwards Prestige 13% formula incorporates extruded flax directly into the formula—a natural and stable source of plant-based omega-3 that also contributes to energy and coat condition. It's our flagship product and our top recommendation for the spring transition: it addresses weight maintenance, coat quality, and energy stability all in one bag.
For horses already on another base feed, Mad Barn W-3 Oil provides omega-3s in the form of DHA from fish oil—the active form that horses use directly, without the conversion step required for plant-based sources. It is especially effective for horses with metabolic sensitivities where changing their base feed is not an option.
Note on biotin: Shedding and hoof quality are often discussed together, and for good reason—both are influenced by nutritional status. If your horse has hoof wall problems along with a poor coat, adding a biotin supplement at the start of the spring thaw season will generally show noticeable results within a full growth cycle (9 to 12 months).
Challenge 4: The conditioning window for returning to work
If your horse is competing, trail riding, or doing serious work, the nutrition you provide in March directly determines the performance available in May.
This isn't marketing—it's basic physiology. A horse coming off a sedentary winter needs six to eight weeks of gradual nutritional loading before it can safely handle a serious workload. Horses put into intense work before this preparation are more at risk of azoturia, muscle soreness, and soft tissue injuries. Starting nutritional preparation now means arriving in peak condition just as the riding season begins.
For performance horses, two products stand out:
Buckeye Nutrition SAFE 'N EASY Performance provides sustained energy through a controlled starch content combined with added fats—a combination that supports aerobic work without the glycemic spikes that contribute to excitability and metabolic stress. Well-suited to sport horses and warmbloods, where temperament is as important as physical ability.
For horses requiring a significant calorie boost alongside their training, the Vital Calorie supplement offers 19.5% fat and approximately 3,900 kcal/kg—one of the highest energy densities available in a low-glycemic index format. It blends seamlessly into any base feed.
The March rule: If your competition season starts in May, your nutrition season started last week.
Challenge 5: Spring parasite control — time it carefully
The melting snow releases much more than mud—it releases strongyle and botfly larvae that have been overwintering in the soil. Strategic spring pest control is one of the most important management decisions of the year, and timing matters more than most homeowners realize.
Treating horses too early—before the last persistent frosts—means treating them against larvae that are still dormant in the soil. The pastures will simply re-expose the horses after treatment. The optimal window in the Eastern Townships is after the last consecutive frosts , which historically occurs in April in our region. A product that covers both small strongyle larvae ( cyathostomini ) and bots should be used for this treatment.
Fecal egg counts are a game changer. Treating all horses on the same schedule is increasingly outdated. Individual parasite loads vary enormously from horse to horse—strategic deworming based on fecal egg counts allows you to treat only the horses that truly need it, reduces the pressure of anthelmintic resistance, and optimizes your budget. Your veterinarian can advise you on fecal egg count tests available in your area.
The discussion about spring deworming is also a good time to think about the appointment with the equine dentist — if you haven't already booked your dental rasping for this year, add it to the April list along with the body condition assessment and the gradual transition to grazing.
Before adjusting the feed: hay analysis
Any significant change to your horse's feeding program should begin with knowing what your forage actually contains—not what the label says it should. Hay quality in the Eastern Townships varies enormously from cutting to cutting, from farm to farm, and depending on storage conditions. A bale that looks and smells good can be dramatically deficient in protein, energy, or key minerals.
We offer hay analysis at both of our branches for $35 per sample . It's simple:
- Take a representative sample from several areas of the ball — not just one corner.
- Fill a large Ziploc bag tightly.
- Drop it off in store any day we're open — six days a week, Monday through Saturday.
The analysis reveals protein levels, digestible and net energy, NDF/ADF fiber fractions, mineral concentrations, and moisture. With this data, you can supplement precisely—filling in the gaps in your forage without guesswork or oversupplementation. It transforms your feeding program from an intuitive approach to a fact-based one, usually for the price of a bag of feed.
Your spring preparation calendar
The transition from winter to riding season isn't a single event—it's a series of overlapping decisions that are easier to manage when planned in advance. Here's a handy calendar for horse owners in the Eastern Townships:
March — Hay analysis. Adjustment of base feed. Start of omega-3 supplementation. Preventive hoof treatment.
April — Strategic deworming (after the last frosts). Appointment with the equine dentist. Complete body condition assessment. Gradual introduction to grazing.
May — Resumption of conditioning work. Insect management. Adjustment of ration according to training load. Confirmation of seasonal vaccinations with your veterinarian.
Covering these steps methodically means fewer emergencies, lower vet bills, and a horse that's truly ready when the weather finally permits.
Come visit us — equine specialists on site
Our equine team is available Monday through Friday at both of our locations. Bring your current feed bags, hay analysis results, or simply your questions—we can build a program that suits your horses and your budget.
West Brome — 12 chemin McCurdy | Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Bedford — 1290 route 235 | Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Telephone: 450-263-2008
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