By Bridgett J. McIntosh, PhD; Extension Horse Specialist, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Winter management of horses requires proper nutrition, routine healthcare, and appropriate shelter. Additional management strategies are needed during the winter months to maintain optimal health and condition of horses, so be prepared to care for animals under the variable winter weather conditions the season brings.
Providing optimal nutrition during the winter months is critical for maintaining the health, performance and production of horses, but is difficult due to seasonal variation in pasture forage quality. Winter pastures often do not meet the nutrient requirements of horses. Providing year round grazing is an ideal practice in the Southeast climate.
A year round grazing system can be established by utilizing cool season forages during the winter. The most common type of winter grazing forage in the South is annual ryegrass. A winter annual grass/legume mix or small grains such as oats, rye or wheat can provide excellent pasture for horses; cool season grasses, orchardgrass and tall fescue, can extend the grazing season. The Kentucky-31 (common) variety of fescue is known to cause reproductive problems in pregnant mares, such as thickened placentas, absence of milk and foaling difficulties do to enlarged fetuses. New varies of fescue are available that are nontoxic to livestock, so consider them when renovating pastures.
For many horses, hay is the only source of winter forage. Knowing the nutrient content of your hay is the first step in developing a winter feeding program to provide your horse with optimal nutrition. Feeding good quality hay will decrease the amount of supplementation needed to meet nutrient requirements. Laboratory testing can accurately determine the nutrient content of your hay. Contact your county Extension office for assistance.
Pasture and hay alone may not provide all the nutrients needed to maintain optimal nutritional levels. Research at Virginia Tech found that pasture forage undergoes seasonal fluctuation, with its lowest nutrient content occurring in the winter months. Variations in nutrient concentrations of hay also result from exposure and degradation. For example, vitamin content in hay may be lower in older hay or hay that has been exposed to the elements. To meet nutrient requirements, horse owners should supplement the nutrient(s), which are deficient in the forage. To ensure that your horse's nutrient requirements are met, feed a commercial concentrate that is formulated specifically for horses. Selected one formulated for the age and activity of the horse.
Research has shown that idle mature horses consume an average of 0.6 gallons of water per 100 pounds of body weight per day. Variation in individual horses and diet alters the amount of water consumed, so providing free choice water is essential! Water requirements double for horses fed a hay-only diet in winter. Water intake is also directly related to ambient temperature: when temperatures decline, water consumption decreases. To encourage horses to drink water, provide free choice salt year round.
Horses are most comfortable in temperatures between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Horses are cold tolerant, but wind and rain can reduce their temperature regulating abilities. In colder temperatures, increasing the amount of forage, rather than increasing the amount of concentrate, better enables horses to maintain proper body temperature. Providing shelter is essential for winter management of horses. If horses are housed in barns, stalls should be a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet, with increased stall size for larger horses. For adequate ventilation, ceilings should be a minimum of 10 feet high and barn design should allow fresh air to the horse without creating a draft. Horses kept in pastures or paddocks should be provided with shelter, such as run-in sheds. Shelters should face either the south or west, and size should be at least 75 square feet per 1,000-pound horse. A shelter should be a minimum of 20 feet deep, 10 feet high and the opening should be wide enough to allow all horses to enter and exit safely. If a manmade shelter cannot be provided, the natural protection of trees offers some relief from harsh conditions.
Maintain routine health care throughout the winter. It is a common misconception that deworming is not required during cold temperatures. Many internal parasite eggs can survive cold temperatures, so horses usually need to be dewormed in the winter. Manure should be analyzed for fecal egg counts to identify the types of parasites present and what type of dewormer should be used. Maintain a regular vaccination and health care schedule with your veterinarian, as well as dental care so that horses can utilize feed optimally.
Even though many horses are ridden less frequently in winter, regular hoof care is still important. Inspect hooves daily for foreign objects and pick them clean to make sure mud and manure don't stay packed in the hoof. Even if you remove your horses' shoes during the winter, regular farrier care is still required every six weeks or less to keep hooves in good condition. Some horses may require shoeing year around, even if they are not ridden in winter.
Managing horses is a year round process, and environmental changes through the seasons require horse owners to incorporate various management strategies. These management strategies will help horses owners maintain healthy animals during this challenging time of year.
Winter management of horses requires proper nutrition, routine healthcare, and appropriate shelter. Additional management strategies are needed during the winter months to maintain optimal health and condition of horses, so be prepared to care for animals under the variable winter weather conditions the season brings.
Providing optimal nutrition during the winter months is critical for maintaining the health, performance and production of horses, but is difficult due to seasonal variation in pasture forage quality. Winter pastures often do not meet the nutrient requirements of horses. Providing year round grazing is an ideal practice in the Southeast climate.
A year round grazing system can be established by utilizing cool season forages during the winter. The most common type of winter grazing forage in the South is annual ryegrass. A winter annual grass/legume mix or small grains such as oats, rye or wheat can provide excellent pasture for horses; cool season grasses, orchardgrass and tall fescue, can extend the grazing season. The Kentucky-31 (common) variety of fescue is known to cause reproductive problems in pregnant mares, such as thickened placentas, absence of milk and foaling difficulties do to enlarged fetuses. New varies of fescue are available that are nontoxic to livestock, so consider them when renovating pastures.
For many horses, hay is the only source of winter forage. Knowing the nutrient content of your hay is the first step in developing a winter feeding program to provide your horse with optimal nutrition. Feeding good quality hay will decrease the amount of supplementation needed to meet nutrient requirements. Laboratory testing can accurately determine the nutrient content of your hay. Contact your county Extension office for assistance.
Pasture and hay alone may not provide all the nutrients needed to maintain optimal nutritional levels. Research at Virginia Tech found that pasture forage undergoes seasonal fluctuation, with its lowest nutrient content occurring in the winter months. Variations in nutrient concentrations of hay also result from exposure and degradation. For example, vitamin content in hay may be lower in older hay or hay that has been exposed to the elements. To meet nutrient requirements, horse owners should supplement the nutrient(s), which are deficient in the forage. To ensure that your horse's nutrient requirements are met, feed a commercial concentrate that is formulated specifically for horses. Selected one formulated for the age and activity of the horse.
Research has shown that idle mature horses consume an average of 0.6 gallons of water per 100 pounds of body weight per day. Variation in individual horses and diet alters the amount of water consumed, so providing free choice water is essential! Water requirements double for horses fed a hay-only diet in winter. Water intake is also directly related to ambient temperature: when temperatures decline, water consumption decreases. To encourage horses to drink water, provide free choice salt year round.
Horses are most comfortable in temperatures between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Horses are cold tolerant, but wind and rain can reduce their temperature regulating abilities. In colder temperatures, increasing the amount of forage, rather than increasing the amount of concentrate, better enables horses to maintain proper body temperature. Providing shelter is essential for winter management of horses. If horses are housed in barns, stalls should be a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet, with increased stall size for larger horses. For adequate ventilation, ceilings should be a minimum of 10 feet high and barn design should allow fresh air to the horse without creating a draft. Horses kept in pastures or paddocks should be provided with shelter, such as run-in sheds. Shelters should face either the south or west, and size should be at least 75 square feet per 1,000-pound horse. A shelter should be a minimum of 20 feet deep, 10 feet high and the opening should be wide enough to allow all horses to enter and exit safely. If a manmade shelter cannot be provided, the natural protection of trees offers some relief from harsh conditions.
Maintain routine health care throughout the winter. It is a common misconception that deworming is not required during cold temperatures. Many internal parasite eggs can survive cold temperatures, so horses usually need to be dewormed in the winter. Manure should be analyzed for fecal egg counts to identify the types of parasites present and what type of dewormer should be used. Maintain a regular vaccination and health care schedule with your veterinarian, as well as dental care so that horses can utilize feed optimally.
Even though many horses are ridden less frequently in winter, regular hoof care is still important. Inspect hooves daily for foreign objects and pick them clean to make sure mud and manure don't stay packed in the hoof. Even if you remove your horses' shoes during the winter, regular farrier care is still required every six weeks or less to keep hooves in good condition. Some horses may require shoeing year around, even if they are not ridden in winter.
Managing horses is a year round process, and environmental changes through the seasons require horse owners to incorporate various management strategies. These management strategies will help horses owners maintain healthy animals during this challenging time of year.
