Equine nutrition can be confusing at the best of times and Winter often presents a whole host of new issues and requirements for our horses and ponies. Do you find that your horse drops condition and needs a helping hand when the temperature drops? Keep reading to find out our top tips for a stress-free feeding plan!
Hydration
Hydration is key! Water plays a crucial role in both hydration and digestion all year round. Your horse must always have access to clean, fresh water to enable food to pass along the gut. If not, the risk of impaction colic is greatly increased. The BHS suggest filling containers with water, so you have an emergency supply if the taps freeze, also if possible, make sure pipes are well insulated to avoid freezing altogether.
Weight , Age and Current Routine
Whether of not you make any changes to your horses winter feeing routine will depend on how they hold their weight. Are they a good doer? Use Winter to naturally drop a few pounds and refrain from adding too much to their hard feed. Rugging will also play a role in weight management. When Winter hits it can be really tempting to over rug our horses to keep them ‘warm and toasty’… it’s crucial to assess whether rugging is necessary for the individual horse as the majority will grow a thick winter coat and if not clipped, will hardly need rugging at all.
Does your horse live out? Due to there being little to no nutrition left in the grass, you will most likely have to supplement their grazing with other sources of forage such as hay or haylage and consider adding a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement to their daily feed. Older horses and ponies, particularly those who struggle with poor dentition, can struggle during the Winter and often lose condition. Senior-specific mashes and soaked high-fibre cubes are a great alternative to forage when chewing becomes difficult.
Supplements
During the Winter months, horse owners tend to reach for feed supplements to keep their equine friends ticking over and ensure they are receiving all the nutritional support they can. There are typically 6 categories of equine supplements; Joint Care, Respiratory Care, Digestive care, Calming & Hormonal, Hoof Care and General Health. We will break down each category and show you some of our favourite products.
Please bare in mind, if you are competing your horse, it is important to make sure any supplements you use do not contain any prohibited substances.
Click here to be taken to the official FEI list of prohibited substances
Joint & Mobility
Joint supplements are typically used for more senior equines or horses and ponies that have a heavy workload. The primary ingredient mainly included is glucosamine, the higher levels of this tend to be the most effective when it comes to helping build cartilage – this is vital for helping fight arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Other ingredients that are proven to aid stiff joints are Chondroitin, Boswellia and Yucca. Both Glucosamine and Chondroitin work particularly well with each other and can be found in NAF’s range of Superflex products
At R&R Country we stock a vast range of joint and mobility supplements, why not take a look at our range here.
Respiratory Care
Whether it’s pollen particles in the Summer or dust particles from their bedding in the Winter, your horse’s respiratory system is constantly being challenged. There are a number of ways we can reduce their exposure but respiratory and breathing supplements can help to maintain healthy and clear airways whilst providing a soothing effect.
There are two common ingredients used within respiratory and breathing supplements, these include herbs and anti-oxidants such as vitamin E. You can choose from a liquid or powder form, this may depend on your horses preference in their feed
At R&R Country we stock a vast range of respiratory and breathing supplements, why not take a look at our range here.
Digestive Care
Horses, just like humans, experience various changes throughout the year. Whether it’s increased/decreased turnout, a change in feed or even a yard move, these changes can have an impact on their digestive system and often lead to loose droppings and other digestive upsets.
Digestive supplements often contain soothing ingredients that help to maintain a healthy digestive system and promote healthy bacteria in the gut. Soothing herbs as well as pre & pro-biotics will help to keep your horse comfortable when these changes occur.
At R&R Country we stock a vast range of respiratory and breathing supplements, why not take a look at our range here.
Calming & Hormonal
From yearly events like Bonfire Night and New Years Eve to everyday occurrences, calming supplements can help support your horse through stressful periods. Often using natural ingredients such as magnesium, these products are proven to settle nerves in our equine friends.
Horse Calming supplements are also useful to regulate and relieve hormonal imbalance within mares and ‘riggy’ geldings; there are specific products for each specific issue. You can choose from a liquid, powder or syringe form, this may depend on your horses preference in their feed!
At R&R Country we stock a vast range of Calming & Hormonal supplements, why not take a look at our range here.
Hoof
You may of heard the famous saying ‘no hoof, no horse’ and it couldn’t be anymore true. A hoof supplement can help your horse contend with various challenges throughout the year, from environmental to workload changes. There are a range of hoof problems that can occur if your horses feet aren’t well looked after such as cracks, splits and poor quality horn.
With a specially formulated hoof supplement, you can maintain and support healthy hooves. The key ingredient to look out for when purchasing a hoof supplement is Biotin. It is recommended that your horse recieves 3mg/100kg bodyweight/day, which is equivalent to 15mg for a 500kg horse. You can choose from a liquid or powder form, this may depend on your horses preference in their feed!
Important: If you decide to start feeding a hoof supplement, please be aware that you will not see change over night. The supplement will only improve the quality of the NEW horn, rather than the existing horn so it can take a few months before a difference is visible.
At R&R Country we stock a vast range of Hoof care supplies and supplements, why not take a look at our range here.
General Health
There are various supplements that can help to make your horse feel better than ever this Winter. Although these supplements are often fed all year round, the quantity or combination can be altered to ensure the recommended levels of nutrients are met for overall health and well-being.
Take a look at our top picks for general horse supplements here
