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During winters horses may lose appetite and thirst to a significant level but their energy needs increase up to 25%. Energy is consumed to keep the body warm. If your horse is not taking up food in the desired amount, it may start losing weight. The body will start the natural process of utilizing body fat and muscles to provide energy. Consequently, making your horse lean and shed weight.
To make sure your horse survives the winter season and enters spring with energy and good health, you need to make sure your horse is eating enough nutritional food. To make sure you do not run out of food during extreme weather conditions, buy bulk horse feed online at Barastoc so that you have enough to last winter.
Here are a few tips to maintain your horse’s weight and condition during the winter season.
1. Provide Adequate Hydration
Horses avoid ice-cold waters and consume only enough to remove thirst. Due to this, their body may face extreme dehydration. As a horse owner, you must make sure your horse is not dehydrated.
Provide a free supply of warm water. If your horse gets drinking water in buckets, make sure there is no ice in it. If you have installed an automatic waterer for your horse, make sure there is no short-circuiting as your horse may feel electric shocks while drinking water.
To provide extra hydration, wet blocks of hay that your horse is going to consume. Adding a tablespoon of salt to the feed may also increase water demand in horses.
2. Supplement The Feed
In winters, you need to be extra cautious to maintain the caloric intake of your horse. The difference in the hay, for example, grass versus alfalfa carries significance when it comes to caloric density. Choose the feed that has more nutritional value in less volume.
You can also increase the calories that your horse gets, without increasing the amount of feed. Adding vegetable oils, like canola, can provide an extra dose of energy.
You can also add multivitamins and minerals to balance the feed. Use feeds that promote metabolism and help indigestion.
3. Do Regular Check-Ups
You must get your horse checked regularly, especially in winters. The vet should make sure that the horse has no grown ulcers or any other issue in their teeth. Problematic teeth may significantly decrease a horse’s intake of food.
Inability to chew properly may also affect calories being consumed. Maintain your horse’s dental hygiene and gut health.
4. Manage Fussy Feeders
Fussy feeders can be particularly challenging during winters when horses already have decreased appetite. Try providing more nutrition in fewer volumes so that the condition of your horse is maintained. You do not want your horse to get sick or shocked due to the cold.
Adding molasses in small quantities may increase the palatability of food. Also, you can consider using ingredients that make food irresistible for horses, such as beet pulp.
