The perfect feed for your horse in the winter period

During the winter period horses needs special feed.
Some horses suffer from the lack of fresh grass from the pasture and the cold temperatures.

We collected some useful advices for the correct horse feeding.

The winter fur

In the winter period the horse changes its coat. Linseed oil, neem oil, corn, flax, mash and minerals like zinc, vitamin A and biotin support this process and guarantee a shining coat.

Apples, carrots and Co

Especially during the winter all horses will be very thankful for fresh fodder, vegetables and fruits. Apples, bananas, beet slices and carrots are a welcomed alternative to the dark and cold winter days – and they make it easier to bridge the time until the next days on the green and fresh pasture.

Vitamin D and A

These two vitamins are important for the entire metabolism and the liver. Additionally they are an effective prevention against laminitis. If your horse often suffers from laminitis you can even feed these vitamins instead of pellets and grain.

A warm meal for the cold season: Mash

Horses normally love this great feed alternative. The warm mash is easy to make and has digestive effects. Just feed mash once or twice a week and your horse will be very happy and thankful.

Corn in all possible variations

Corn is a great treat for any fodder. Corn flakes, kibbled corn or popped corn – all forms of corn make every fodder much tastier! In general corn provides more fat and energy but less protein than oats. However corn is hard to digest so that it only can be fed in small portions.

Very important: the mineral lick

A mineral lick is the perfect possibility to provide all important minerals for your horse. If your horse avoids the lick you can easily put it in the feed trough. Then the horse will automatically lick it every time it eats the normal fodder.

Barm for horses

Barm is a useful feeding element that can be used for the time between the fresh grass of the pasture and the winter feed. The horse slowly needs to get used to barm (not more than 0.22 pounds a day). Barm is very good for the intestinal flora and the metabolism.

The correct height for the drinking trough

The drinking trough in the horse stable should not hang too high. While drinking the horse needs to have a lowered head. General guideline for the height: 1) for horses about 3.3 – 3.6 ft, 2) for ponys about 2 – 3 ft.

Feed needs to be free of mold and dust

Horses like to sort their food into small groups so that the feed trough needs to be big enough. Moreover you should always pick old and rotten vegetables and fruits out of the trough. Horses prefer a clean environment and otherwise refuse to eat their normal fodder. All feed components need to be free of mold and dust (triggers for allergies).

Horses with a hay allergy

If your horse has an allergy against hay you can feed wet hay, baleage, silage or hay flakes. If the animal eats from the ground it inhales less dust so that the respiratory tracts are free.

Surf tips:

—All statements without guarantee—