Winterizing
(Winterizing and Feeding the Older Horse)

Alien winter temperatures drop, energy demands on your horse increase to keep them warm. Feed rations should increase and it is a good idea to evaluate your feeding program and have a veterinarian evaluate your horse's teeth and keep up on deworming to make sure they are getting the most out of their feed.

In summer, rations that are higher in grains and lower in hays are appropriate. As winter approaches, the percentage of hay fed should be increase because it is fermented slower in the hindgut providing more heat for your horse to stay warm.

To help your horse get the most out of their feed, it's a good idea to have their teeth evaluated and possibly floated if deemed necessary. Older horses often have wear patterns difficult to get the full value out of the food they eat. Some of these older horses may require complete feeds, such as Equine Senior, that can be fed solely for nutrition (13-20 pounds daily, depending on horse). Equine senior is fortified with nutrients like vitamin C, Biotin, Vitamin B-12, trace minerals and vegetable oils. Oils are another way to add calories, because each unit of vegetable fat contains twice as much energy as carbohydrates (corn, oats, and barley). Vegetable, corn, soy or canola ail can be added gradually to feed up to two cups daily making them a useful and practical way to meet increased energy demands. Increasing dietary fat can also increase glycogen stores in muscle, which in turn means more available to your horse.

Remember your horse's increased nutritional needs to keep up with energy demands during cold weather. Have a veterinarian examine your horse's teeth and remember to de-worm to allow them to make the most of the feed. Our clinic recommends de-worming with Ivermectin in October, Fenbendazole in December, and Pyrantel in February. Keeping your horse warm and healthy during the winter months will help them to keep up with you during the riding months.