The Hidden Musculoskeletal Risks of Winter

This article is part of the 2026 Preventive Musculoskeletal Health Report. View all 10 sections or download the full PDF below.

Winter is the season where the most preventable musculoskeletal issues begin. Riders often assume winter is a “rest period” for the body, but the opposite is true: muscles tighten, connective tissue stiffens, water intake drops, and subtle strain accumulates quietly in the background.

By the time spring arrives, the small winter problems have compounded into visible soreness, behavioral pushback, or inconsistent performance. That is why this section of the 2026 Preventive Musculoskeletal Health Report focuses on the real risks hiding beneath cold temperatures and quiet barns.

1. Winter Dehydration Sets the Stage for Spring Soreness

Horses drink significantly less in cold weather. Even a mild drop in hydration thickens muscle fibers, increases fatigue, and raises the likelihood of small strains during even light exercise.

• Colder water reduces intake
• Blanketing creates micro-sweat and electrolyte loss
• Reduced turnout movement slows circulation

This dehydration-driven stiffness is one of the biggest overlooked contributors to spring soreness. Hydration is not just internal wellness—it is muscular readiness.

2. Cold Weather Tightens Muscle and Connective Tissue

As temperatures drop, tissues lose elasticity. Movement becomes shorter and choppier. Muscles fire less efficiently. Horses with even mild stiffness become tighter, quicker.

This is why riders often see:

• Shorter strides
• Reduced willingness to bend
• Slower warm-ups
• Inconsistent transitions

These aren’t “training issues.” They are musculoskeletal signals.

3. Restricted Winter Movement Creates Compounding Tightness

Less turnout and less natural movement means muscles never fully cycle through their normal stretching and contracting rhythm.

Over time this leads to:

• Accumulated micro-tightness
• Slight inflammation in high-load zones
• Early fatigue under saddle
• Increased sensitivity along the back and SI

4. Electrolyte Loss Still Happens in Winter—Even Without Sweat

Many riders stop electrolytes entirely in winter, assuming they are unnecessary. But electrolyte loss continues through:

• Respiration
• Urine output
• Blanket-related micro-sweat
• Work sessions
• Stress and travel

When electrolytes drop, nerve firing slows and muscles fatigue faster. This is where Hydro-Lyte® becomes a powerful winter tool—it maintains hydration and muscular responsiveness even when horses are not sweating visibly.

The Takeaway: Winter Is When Prevention Matters Most

Most riders only treat soreness after it shows up in warmer months, but the problems begin long before that. Water intake, muscle elasticity, circulation, and daily movement all drop during December through March.

Supporting hydration and recovery now is the single best way to enter spring already ahead, not already behind.

This article is Section 2 of the 2026 Preventive Musculoskeletal Health Report. Section 3 publishes on December 22 and covers hydration strategy and why winter electrolytes matter more than most riders realize.