Winter Horse Nutrition: What to Change in Your Feeding Plan

Winter feeding does not mean automatically adding grain to every horse’s bucket. Energy needs depend on weather, shelter, exercise, health and the horse’s ability to maintain condition. An older horse with dental problems needs a different approach from a working horse or an easy-keeping pony.

Start by checking the basics: how much hay the horse actually eats, whether it drinks enough, and whether the complete ration supplies essential nutrients without unnecessary calories. Make changes gradually and judge their success by the horse’s condition and health, not by how quickly the feed bucket is emptied.

1. Make hay the foundation

Suitable forage is the foundation of winter feeding. It provides fibre for normal digestive function, encourages chewing and produces heat through fermentation in the hindgut. When temperatures fall, the first step is often to review forage intake and availability rather than immediately increase concentrates.

The appropriate amount depends on body weight, condition, workload and any medical restrictions. Consider what the horse actually consumes, not just what is delivered. Hay trampled into mud or blown away does not contribute to the ration. In group housing, less assertive horses may also struggle to reach a feeder or remain there long enough.

Check the following each day:

• Hay smell, dust levels and any signs of mould.
• Wastage and the length of periods without forage.
• The number and safe positioning of feeding points.
• Whether each horse chews normally or drops partially chewed wads.

A hay analysis can help identify nutritional gaps and guide supplementation. It is particularly useful when one supply will form the basis of the ration throughout winter, or when feeding a horse with metabolic concerns. Soaking does not make mouldy hay safe. Discuss coughing or chewing difficulties with your veterinarian rather than simply changing the feeding container.

For overweight horses, avoid using long periods without food as a weight-loss strategy. Controlled quantities of suitable forage and safe ways to slow consumption are better discussed with a qualified professional.

2. Check water intake, not just the trough

A horse moving from pasture to dry forage receives less water from its food. Some horses are also less willing to drink in cold weather. Inadequate water intake can increase the risk of digestive problems, making water checks an essential part of the winter routine.

Seeing water in a bowl is not enough. An automatic drinker may have poor flow or frozen pipework even when the bowl looks normal. Another horse may guard access, and icy ground can make the approach unsafe. Watch individual horses drinking whenever possible.

• Remove ice and clean containers regularly.
• Test automatic drinkers as often as conditions require.
• Offer lukewarm water if a horse is reluctant to drink cold water.
• Monitor usual consumption, droppings and changes in behaviour.

Snow is not a reliable replacement for drinking water. Appropriate soaked feeds can contribute moisture, but they do not replace continuous access to water. Prepare them hygienically according to the manufacturer’s instructions and serve promptly so they do not spoil or freeze.

Tip: During morning and evening checks, record hay intake, drinking, appetite and droppings. A brief written note can reveal a developing change more clearly than a quick glance at the horse.

Contact your veterinarian promptly if you notice signs of colic, a marked reduction in droppings, or refusal to drink accompanied by dullness. Do not wait for a routine feeding adjustment to solve an acute problem.

3. Review minerals and energy across the whole ration

Hay alone may not supply every required mineral and vitamin. Choose a suitable mineral or vitamin-and-mineral supplement according to the forage, the horse’s life stage and its workload. A plain salt lick is not a complete mineral supplement, and voluntary consumption varies between horses.

Before adding a new product, list everything the horse receives. A fortified compound feed may already contain the nutrients supplied by another supplement. Combining several products can create unnecessary overlap, and excessive amounts of certain nutrients, such as selenium, can be harmful.

The opposite problem also occurs: a fortified feed offered well below its recommended feeding rate may not provide its intended daily vitamin and mineral contribution. The whole ration matters more than the claims on any individual bag.

Ask these practical questions:

• How much of each product does the horse actually consume?
• Do any supplements duplicate one another?
• Does the ration match current work and health needs?
• Is salt provision appropriate, with unrestricted access to water?

Only increase energy when there is a reason. If a horse loses weight despite sufficient suitable forage, investigate teeth, health, competition for food and exposure to cold or wind. Additional energy may then be provided through suitable digestible-fibre feeds or carefully introduced fat sources.

Large, starchy meals are not a universal winter solution. Divide supplementary feed into smaller meals and consult a veterinarian or equine nutrition professional, especially for horses with metabolic disease.