As fall approaches pastures begin to provide less forage and grass looses some of its nutritional quality as temperatures cool. Most horse owners will need to supplement pasture foraage with another forage source such as hay, cubes or a complete pelleted feed.
Keeping horses fit during changing weather
As fall approaches horse owners can keep horses healthy and fit with attention to forage, water, and hoof care.
Preconditioning horses before the onset of cold temperatures helps to reduce the effect of cold weather on nutritional needs. As weather becomes cooler, many horses are ridden less, but horse owners need to be aware of any changes in the physical condition of their horses.
As dryer conditions develop during fall months, proper hoof hydration is important. A tip: Allow your horse’s water trough to occasionally trickle over, creating a small puddle to allow their feet to become wet.
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.
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 horse’s 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.
Fall weather also means changing conditions in pastures, and horse owners are urged to make sure their pastures are clear of excess leaves and toxic plants that may endanger horse health.
Dr. Ann Swinker, Extension Horse Specialist with Penn State points out, horses like the taste and smell of recently fallen leaves. However, the leaves are dense and can compact in the horse’s digestive system and cause compaction colic. For that reason excess leaves from trees and shrubs in pastures should be removed and, if possible composted, to be used as mulch.
Feeding dense leaves and grass clippings can also result in “choke.” Choke in the horse occurs in the esophagus and is not only painful and uncomfortable to the horse, but the compacted leaves in the esophagus can only move in one direction – toward the stomach. A choking horse often presents itself with its head hung low with saliva and masticated feed coming out of the horse’s nostrils.
A choking horse requires immediate veterinary attention and is usually treated with minimal complications.
Another important focus of horse owners during fall weather is the types of plants growing in pastures and along riding trails. As frost and colder weather affect plant growth in pastures and along trails, horse owners are urged to make sure browsing horses do not ingest plants that are toxic.
Poisonous plants can cause serious injury to horses, particularly if animals graze when plants are at an especially dangerous growth stage, when little other forage is available, and when animals are very thirsty.
Poisonings can be avoided by proper management of animals, pastures, and hay. Suggestions for preventing poisoning are as follows:
- Know which plants are poisonous in your area and when they are potentially dangerous.
- Inspect pastures to identify and destroy poisonous plants before initiating grazing.
- Provide supplemental feed and water to animals during periods of low pasture availability.
By taking preventative measures, horses can be protected from plants that might cause colic, health problems or death and with attention to changing needs related to forage, water, and hoof care horses will be healthy and active when colder weather arrives.