Wild Horse Coloring Sheet

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How Do Wild Horses Stay Warm In Winter?

When we moved to Colorado, I was surprised when my husband told me there are wild horses here. It is estimated that there are around 2,000 wild horses in Colorado.

In the United States, there are at least 73,000 wild horses, and the number might be closer to 300,000. That is a lot of wild horses. Many of these horses are protected and managed. Most live in the western United States in areas called Herd Management Areas.

The wild horses in the United States are actually feral. They are descendants of horses that were not originally wild. They came from domestic horses that escaped or were released. They are defined as horses that are unclaimed and roaming freely. This might sound wonderful, but they face real challenges living wild without owners to protect and care for them.

If you have seen a horse in the winter, it might have had a cozy horse blanket on to keep it warm. But wild horses do not have blankets. So how do wild horses stay warm?

Built-In Winter Coats For Wild Horses

God designed horses with many ways to keep warm. Although they do not strap on horse blankets made of fabric, they have built-in winter coats of hair.

A horse’s winter coat has two protective layers to keep it extra cozy.

• The outer layer is tougher and helps repel water. It can be oily, which makes rain or snow roll off.
• The inner, softer undercoat provides insulation and helps keep the horse’s body heat close.

The oil on the outer coat comes from special glands in the horse’s skin.

Sebaceous Glands And Oily Protection

The oil that helps protect a horse’s coat is made in sebaceous glands.

A sebaceous gland is like a little pocket of oil in the horse’s skin. Oil from these glands protects their hair and skin, helping the outer coat repel moisture so the horse stays drier and warmer in rain and snow.

Fluffing Their Coats To Trap Heat

God also designed horses so they can change how their coat works. They can fluff their winter coat to stay warmer.

Horses can make their hair stand on end, similar to when we get goose bumps on our skin. When the hairs lift, they trap pockets of air close to the body. This extra layer of air provides more insulation and helps hold in heat.

Other Ways Wild Horses Stay Warm

A thick, oily winter coat is one way God helps wild horses stay warm, but it is not the only way. Wild horses have several other ways to keep their bodies from getting too cold.

• Insulating fat under the skin
• Staying warm through constant grazing
• Using shelter in the landscape
• Sharing warmth in the group
• Shivering to generate heat

God designed wild horses with built-in winter coats, insulating fat, constant grazing habits, and wise behaviors that all work together to keep them warm. So when you see a horse without a blanket on a snowy day and wonder, “How do wild horses stay warm?” you can remember the many wild and wonderful ways God cares for them in His creation.

Learn more about wild and domestic horses on our horse podcast for kids: