Preconditioning horses before the onset of cold temperatures helps to reduce the effect of cold weather on horses' nutritional needs and general health. As weather becomes cooler, many horses are ridden less, but horse owners need to pay attention to any changes in the physical condition of their horses since some horses become more susceptible to infectious diseases during cold weather.
Keeping horses fit during changing weather
As winter approaches horse owners can keep horses healthy with attention to forage, fitness, and hoof care.
As dryer conditions develop during fall months, proper hoof hydration is important. A tip: Allow your horseâs water trough to occasionally trickle over, creating a small puddle to allow their feet to become wet. Most horses should have their feet picked daily and horse owners should be on the lookout for thrush and other hoof ailments.
Hoof care should be kept on schedule. Many horse owners prefer to have shoes removed during the fall and winter months, but hooves need routine trimming every six to eight weeks to prevent cracks and breakage.
As fall approaches pastures begin to provide less forage and grass loses some of its nutritional quality in the colder months, horse owners should plan to supplement with another forage source such as hay, cubes or a complete pelleted feed.
A water supply that is consistent during all months of the year becomes more important during the fall and winter seasons. Horses tend to reduce their water intake when temperatures fall.
This also comes at a time when more dry forage is included in the diet, making intake of water very important to prevent impaction and colic. Water should be maintained between 45 and 65 degrees F and any ice removed. Horses should continue to drink 8 to 12 gallons a day, depending on activity level.
Sufficient forage will also increase dry matter intake, and subsequently water intake. Finally, research has suggested that horses fed high fiber diets have fewer instances of gastric ulcers.instances of gastric ulcers.
Forage is also necessary in the equine diet from a behavioral perspective. Horses have an innate need to chew, and if there is not sufficient quality forage available they are more inclined to chew on wood or tree bark, other horseâs tails, or to consume toxic plants that they would otherwise ignore.
Further, planning for the upcoming winter feed supply during the summer and fall months is key to keeping costs manageable, and the use of alternative forages such as complete feeds (over 16% fiber), and hay cubes may also extend the supply if forage is scarce.