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Owners of older horses might find that it is becoming harder and harder for their horse to maintain their weight in the winter. Although this condition can have many causes, inadequate nutrition and poor teeth are probably the most common. In general, as horses become aged, they require foodstuffs that are calorie-rich, easily chewed and digested, and contain additional vitamins. Below are a few tips to help you and your senior horse make it through the winter easier.- Shelter from the Storm If your older horse is going to be fully or partially turned out this winter, one of the most important things for them to have outside is shelter . This can mean just a tree line to break the wind, or a run-in shed for those that live outside year-round.Providing shelter can decrease the caloric needs of your horse for maintaining body warmth.
- Blanketing While many older horses that live outside will have an adequate coat to keep them warm, a waterproof layer is also important. Blankets are available in varying weights to help your horse conserve heat and energy. Check at least once a day to make sure the blanket is securely in place. Blankets should be removed regularly to check for rub spots and skin issues. The blanket doesn’t necessarily have to be thick or heavy, but it should be waterproof and breathable.
- Check Your Horse’s Smile Before the winter season hits, have a professional examine your senior horse’s teeth. Older horses sometimes cannot properly masticate (chew) their food. When the food is not utilized in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the calories are wasted.
- Body Condition Score As the temperature drops, horses burn more calories. A good pasture might be enough to keep a horse at a consistent weight, but it is good to know how to supplement their diet. Use a body condition score chart weekly to assess your horse. A score between five and six is ideal. A winter coat can hide weight loss. Begin a monthly check by running your hands over your horse. If the ribs become more prominent than normal, adjust the ration accordingly.
- Keep Food Off of the Ground
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If possible, feed your horse’s hay above ground and away from the fence line. If you feed your horse hay every day in the same place where they walk and are competing for food, the hay can get mixed in with the soil. When it warms up again, that can start rotting and is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. The best way to avoid this is to feed above the ground, if that is not possible rotate the areas where you feed hay. - Monitor Water Intake and Manure Output In order to monitor how a horse’s health changes in the winter, it is important to have a good baseline of their usual routine in fair weather. Know how much water your horse drinks and what their average manure output is. In the winter, geriatric horses may have a decrease in manure output and water intake. Adding a bran mash to their diet can help encourage drinking and keep their system regular.