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TheHorse.com THE HORSE December 2017
H
ay. Grain. Concentrate, sweet, and
other prepared feeds. Bran. Oils. Vi-
tamins and minerals. Supplements.
Keeping up with the array of rations you
can feed your horse can make your head
spin. Indeed, nutrition is a complicated
subject.
But our sources say that by monitor-
ing just three things, you can keep most
horses in top condition throughout the
cold winter months. Those three simple
things? Feed type, water, and body condi-
tion score.
The feed your horse consumes sup-
plies the calories he needs to maintain
good body condition. Adequate water
intake encourages feed consumption
and digestion and helps prevent dehy-
dration and impaction colic. And your
horse's body condition score (which
you can learn more about at TheHorse.
com/30154) provides a measure of
whether he's getting enough nutrients to
stay warm and nourished through the
winter.
Read on to learn what our sources,
who have enountered their fair share of
cold weather, have to say about these
three nutrition musts, plus a few bonus
tips for your horse's winter well-being.
Feed
Hay Krishona Martinson, PhD, says
one of the most common questions she
and her colleagues get in the University
of Minnesota's Department of Animal
Science is "How do I keep horses warm
during winter?"
"I think a huge misconception is that
grain keeps horses warm," she says, "but
actually, forage keeps horses warmer
compared to grain. Forages, when
fermented during digestion, produce
calories plus heat that warms horses from
the inside out. Grains go through a differ-
ent digestive process and don't produce as
much heat."
Martinson warns against changing
feeding and management strategies
quickly before a cold snap, though.
"That's where we see an increase in colic
NUTRITION
DIANE RICE
TheHorse.com/Nutrition
Weathering Winter
ISTOCK.COM
Remember these three simple things to help your horse maintain
his weight and health this season
When determining how much hay you need to feed in winter, remember to
factor in wastage, especially when offering large round bales without a feeder.