Managing The Competition Horse This Winter
The onset of autumn will prompt many horses owners to start to look at their horses diet and whether the change of season will affect their horse.
For many of us, the shorter days mean that it’s not always possible to ride as often as we might like, and the UK’s reputation for torrential downpours can cause a restriction in turn out and access to quality grazing. Feeding routines therefore need to take these factors into consideration so that horses remain in optimum condition, a pleasure to handle and kept occupied during times of stable confinement and reduced workload.
Forage
Forage should form the basis of every horse’s ration. This is extremely important and one rule that can get easily overlooked. In many cases, condition, performance and mental well being of the horse can be improved if close attention is paid to exactly how much forage is being eaten. In the winter months, forage fermentation also acts as an internal radiator and can help to keep horses comfortable. The minimum that a horse should eat in forage on a daily basis is 1.5% of their body weight, with this being increased to 2-2.5% in horses that struggle to maintain their condition.
Concentrate Feed
Winter diets usually include concentrates for two reasons, nutrients, and energy (calories). Hay and dormant grasses don’t have the same nutritional value as fresh grass, and this can be overcome by feeding a fortified feed such as a compound mix or cube. Horses that are working hard or consuming large amounts of hay but still not maintaining any weight may require additional calories in order to maintain in optimum body condition.
The type of concentrate will depend on the individual horse and their workload, and choosing the right one can seem like a difficult task! For horses that can become a bit more excitable in the colder weather, choosing feeds that contain highly digestible fibre sources together with a high oil level are useful for maintaining a trainable temperament. Feeds that may contain cereals and are higher in starch will help to support an increase in energy levels with horses who have a more laid-back temperament, or for those who might be having an increase in their training before moving up a level in the following season.
Water
With cold temperatures often leading to a layer of ice on water troughs, it is not surprising that horses might drink less in the winter months. Maintaining sufficient water consumption is vital not only for reducing the likelihood of health issues such as impaction colic, but in also maintaining performance through reducing the effects of dehydration. Dehydration and loss of electrolytes can lead to muscle stiffness as well as early fatigue, and so it is vital that you begin competition with optimum levels of both fluids and electrolytes. Adding warm water to your horses bucket or using a soaked product such as our Re-Covery Mash can be a great way of tempting fussy drinkers and maintaining water intake.
Anti-Oxidants
Travelling even short journeys can cause all horses some degree of stress, even in well-seasoned travellers who do not display any signs. Travelling can use up the horses stores of antioxidants and it can take a long time to build these levels back up again, leading in a lack of energy and decrease in performance levels. Antioxidants are readily supplied by fresh, green grass, and so in the winter months it is likely that requirement levels are not always being met.
Supplementing concentrates with additional vitamin E will help to boost the anti-oxidant level in the body, helping the competition horse to recover quicker and support optimum performance.
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