Clock Change 'Vs' Diet Change

1. FIBRE FOUNDATION

As ever, forage should form the basis of every horse’s ration. This is especially important in the winter months when access to grazing is limited when many horses are reliant on forage being provided by the owner. The minimum a horse should eat on a daily basis is 1.5% of their body weight in forage per day, so keep weighing those hay nets on a regular basis to be sure your horse is eating enough. Take a look at our weight chart as a guide to how much forage to feed this winter.

For horses that spend a lot of their time stabled over the winter months, it is often a good idea to provide them with some additional forage sources when they are stabled. It has been found that horses like to browse through a variety of different forage sources when stabled and this can help to reduce the risk of behavioral problems linked with increased stable time, as well as ensuring the horse is eating plenty of forage by encouraging their natural browsing behaviour. Alternative fibre sources such as chaff, chopped grass, Super Fibre Pencils and soaked sugarbeet can be placed in separate buckets and left around the stable for the horse to browse through, alongside the usual hay or haylage.

2. Feed little and often, feed subject to workload, temperament and body condition

When forage alone is not enough to maintain body condition, winter diets will include concentrates to either provide nutrients or energy (calories). The type of concentrate will not only depend on body condition, but also the horse’s temperament and workload. For horses that can be a little bit ‘fresh,’ in the winter months, looking at feeds that contain fibre and oil will help to maintain a more trainable temperament.

Feeds that contain 'Super Fibres' such as sugar beet, soya hulls and alfalfa, together with a high oil level, are useful feeds for horses that have an excitable disposition or for those that are hard to keep condition on e.g. Super Fibre Cubes. High fat supplements, such as rice bran e.g. EQUI-JEWEL® will boost the calorie density of a ration, helping to keep meal sizes to a minimum. Overweight horses that need vitamins and minerals in a low calorie package can be given a feed balancer e.g. Essential Balancer that provides only these nutrients plus quality protein and usually yeast and prebiotics.

Use our Quick Feed Finder to narrow the search for the right feed or call a nutritional helpline on 01622 718487

3. Reducing the risk of Digestive Upset

During the summer months many horses may be turned out 24/7, with grass alone fulfilling their fibre requirements. When this is not possible and when stabling is reintroduced, the risk of digestive issues such as hindgut acidosis or colic can increase. Risk factors include the change from grass, which has a relatively low dry matter content (up to 20%), to hay, which has a relatively high dry matter content (80%+). This sudden diet change can lead to the pH being lowered, and 'bad' bacteria out competing the bacteria responsible for fibre digestion. This then becomes a vicious cycle, making it difficult for the horse to rectify hind gut health. Where possible, it is therefore recommended to introduce your horses 'new' forage source in the weeks approaching when they are likely to be brought into their stables. Placing hay in the field or bringing them in for short periods to a hay net is a great way of introducing the change of forage slowly. In addition, supplementing your horses diet with probiotics such as PRO-YEAST or supporting optimum hindgut pH with Kentucky Equine Research's EquiShure® can provide further support at times of change.

4. Maintaining water intake

Finally, the reduction of movement through stabling in conjunction with a higher intake of dry matter can all increase the risk of impaction colic. Around this transition period, it is especially important to ensure your horse stays well hydrated. Soaking hay or offering haylage that may have a lower dry matter, providing soaked feeds such as RE-COVERY MASH™, and ensuring regular turnout or opportunities to exercise is highly recommended. In addition, adding 20-30g of table salt will trigger your horses normal thirst response, helping to maintain their normal water intake.