November 7, 2022

Winter Feeding Tips For Horse Owners

Knowing what to feed your horse can be a minefield in itself, especially for the fussy eaters, or those who get “fizzy” yet don’t maintain their weight well. So when it comes to feeding in winter, this can become even more difficult.

We always recommend speaking to an equine nutritionist if you are ever in any doubt, but there are some things you can do to ensure your horse is getting the correct nutrition during the colder months, and maintaining their weight.

Give your horse ad-lib forage

A horse’s gut works best when they are fed a high-fibre diet, and their digestive system is designed for them to be grazing for the majority of the day. By feeding them ad-lib forage, you are maximising this opportunity for them, especially when there is less grass and/or turnout for your horse.

Feed for work, temperament, age, condition, and ability to maintain weight

Some horses will naturally maintain their weight well over winter. Others will drop weight at the first signs of the cold settling in, and these will have different nutritional needs. Additionally, a horse going into winter on the heavier side (such as native ponies) may need little to no hard feed in contrast to a fit competition horse who is kept on the leaner side.

If your horse will be working less over winter, you will need to gradually reduce their feed (and therefore energy intake) to reduce the chances of them becoming overweight. If they are kept in the same level of work, they may need the same or even more feed to maintain their weight in the colder months. This is because, the colder it is, the more energy it takes to stay warm.

Feeding requirements will also be dependent on a horse’s age. The older the horse is, the harder it is for them to maintain weight, and equally younger horses need more energy to help with their growth. Both will need more feed than other horses.

Also, if your horse is stabled, will they feel “fresher” or “fizzy”? If so, you may need to feed less, or feed a different type of feed if they have spent the summer turned out 24/7.

Purchase forage from a supplier who analyses the contents of their hay/haylage

As different horses need different energy requirements, you want to know that your horse is getting the correct amount of energy from their feed. Knowing the water-soluble concentrate (sugars) % within your hay/haylage will help with this, and you will know that you are not feeding the incorrect forage for their age/work/type.

Consider your bedding choices

If your horse puts weight on easily, and they are stabled, bedding choice is essential. By choosing bedding such as shavings or wood pellets rather than straw, your pony is less likely to eat their bedding and get those extra calories. Additionally, a horse or pony that eats straw, and eats too much too quickly, could be at a higher risk of colic!

Make changes to feed, gradually

We recommend making changes to feed, including quantities of feed over a course of 2-4 weeks (one week as an absolute minimum). This gives your horse’s gut a chance to adapt, reducing the risk of colic.

Make sure your horse has constant access to fresh clean water

Access to water is essential to allow your horse to rehydrate. Despite the colder weather, horses will still lose water through sweat, and it is important that they have the chance to replenish this.

Consider worming your horse, especially if you are worried about their weight

If your horse has lost weight recently (outside of what you would expect), could they have a worm burden? Traditionally, late Autumn is the time to worm for roundworm, tapeworm and bots, so worming your horse may be necessary to remove the worms and allow them to put weight on. That said, worm resistance is becoming a problem, you can get a worm count done, and this will give you an indication of whether or not you need to worm your horse.

~

In summary:

Ensure your horse has access to ad-lib forage

Consider all the different factors (age, weight, amount of work, ability to maintain weight) when feeding your horse

Purchase forage from a supplier who analyses the contents of their hay/haylage

Consider your bedding choices

Make changes to feed gradually

Make sure your horse has constant access to fresh clean water

Consider whether or not your horse needs worming