Prevent Cold Weather Weight Loss WoesBy Kentucky Equine Research Staff · January 18, 2011
Nutritional management plays an integral role in helping horses maintain healthy body conditions during cold weather. While many healthy horses can stand to lose a few pounds, dropping temperatures are no reason to let horses in moderate or thin condition decline. Horse owners and managers can take a few simple steps to keep their horses fit and healthy, even when cold weather descends:
Feed
First, enlist the help of an equine nutritionist or veterinarian to give your horse's current feed ration a critical assessment. Is the horse getting sufficient calories and nutrients for the current conditions? Keep in mind that a ration that keeps your horse in fine fettle while pastures are lush might not be enough when grazing is reduced.
A near-constant supply of forage is an important factor in keeping horses warm, as fermentation of fiber in the horse's hindgut is the major heat source that keeps horses comfortable. At a minimum, start with the basic guideline of feeding enough hay to equal about 1.5 % to 2% of the horse's body weight (around 15 to 20 lb (6.8 to 9 kg) a day for a horse weighing 1000 lb (450 kg)), and increase as needed when the temperature drops.
If you need to add calories, consider adding an additional meal to your horse's feeding schedule rather than piling more on at the usual times. Don't feed more than 5 lb (2.27 kg) of concentrate at one meal. Another way to add calories is top-dressing meals with a dollop of oil. Horse owners can increase energy intake easily by drizzling up to two cups per day over two or more grain meals. If dumping oil creates too much of a mess, horse owners can also investigate other high-fat alternatives such as a rice bran meal or pellets.
Management
Even a healthy horse with a thick winter coat needs to be able to escape the elements in a run-in shed, overhang, or stall. Older horses or those with a naturally thin or body-clipped coat might also need additional protection. This is often managed in the form of waterproof blankets. Providing well-fitting blankets of varying weights can help horse owners keep the horse at a consistent level of protection regardless of the outside temperature.
A horse that cannot properly chew its feed will lose weight rapidly, no matter how much feed is provided. A veterinarian should perform a full dental exam on every horse at least twice per year. For horses with special dental problems, wetting feed and providing alternative forages such as hay cubes might also be needed.
Finally, monitor your horses throughout the colder months. Heavy blankets and thick hair coats can hide weight loss for weeks. Be sure to remove your horse's blanket frequently and feel along its back, hindquarters, and ribs to see if you can feel bones more prominently below the surface. A weight tape used regularly can also be a useful tool to monitor changes in condition.
Read more about managing horses' weight gain and get a free horse body condition score chart from Kentucky Equine Research.
