While very young, very old, or ailing horses may need specific changes in feeding routine, healthy horses with an intact coat can usually tolerate winter weather with few problems if owners pay attention to basic feeding and management principles.

Water If it’s not the most important winter consideration, water is at least near the top of the list. Even when the horse is not working and sweating, water consumption is necessary to prevent impaction of ingested material in the intestinal tract. Horses naturally tend to drink somewhat less water when the temperature drops, so every effort should be made to ensure sufficient intake. Owners can start with these management steps:

Provide a constant supply of clean water that is not too cold. Experts disagree on the exact “favourite” water temperature. Horses will drink water that is quite cold, but they tend to ingest a larger amount when water is warmed to around 4 to 15 degrees C. Water that is hot to the touch is not suitable.

Adding water to feed, giving occasional bran mashes, and sprinkling salt on feed to stimulate a thirst response are all useful techniques, but these measures by themselves may not ensure adequate water intake.

Forage Fermentation of fibre in the horse’s hindgut is the major heat source that keeps horses comfortable through the colder months. Therefore, a steady supply of forage (hay, pasture, chaff) is crucial. While many horses continue to graze some pasture, hay usually provides the majority of winter forage. Type and amount of hay will vary depending on a horse’s size, metabolism, and workload. At a minimum, start with the basic guideline of feeding enough hay to equal about 1.5 % to 2% of the horse’s body weight around 5-8 kg a day for a horse weighing 500 kg, and increase as needed when the temperature drops.

Good doers and horses doing minimal work get along well on medium-quality grass hay (can contain a few weeds, may have been cut when a little more mature than optimum, and containing more stalk than leaf).

Horses with average metabolisms will do better on good-quality grass hay (mostly free of weeds, made from grass that was not over-mature at cutting, and contains more leaf than stalk).

Heavily exercised horses or those with special requirements (older horses, thin horses, horses recovering from illness) may need a grass-legume mix or even straight lucerne hay.

As a general rule, shivering horses that regularly clean up every scrap of hay probably need to have their hay ration increased. Horses that simply enjoy eating will also consume every bit in sight, but increasing their ration is not a good idea. You can tell the difference by condition scoring your horse every few weeks through the winter to track changes in fatness. Remember a long winter coat can hide a multitude of things including ribs, so condition scoring heavy-coated horses in vital as many can appear fat when they are actually losing weight. Likewise, horses that leave some hay untouched may seem to have been overfed, but it is also possible they are leaving weeds, rough plants, or biscuits of hay containing mould. Inspect the rejected material and purchase better-quality hay if necessary.

Stabled horses have plenty of time to pick through their hay, munching a few mouthfuls now and then as the hours pass. Paddocked horses that eat hay in a group setting need to be monitored to be sure that low-status animals have adequate access to hay. Very timid horses may need to be fed hay separately or in smaller groups. Spacing hay piles widely in the field and offering several extra piles can minimise this problem.

Hard Feed Winter diets usually include additional hard feed for two reasons: nutrients and energy. Hay and dormant grasses don’t have the same nutritional value as fresh pasture, and this lack can be overcome by feeding a fortified textured feed or pelleted product. Concentrates also pack a lot more energy than grass or hay, and horses that are eating plenty of good-quality hay and are still not maintaining their weight may need additional calories in cold, windy, damp weather.

As with hay selection, the type of concentrate depends on the individual horse. Barastoc offers a variety of choices to meet the needs of young, senior, performance, or breeding horses. Feeds containing beet pulp or soy hulls (Barastoc Competitor and Barastoc Cool Command), so-called super fibres, include highly digestible fibre along with more traditional sources of energy. Vegetable oil, rice bran (KER EquiJewel), and other fat products boost the caloric density of a horse’s ration. The addition of a low starch, high fibre supplement such as Barastoc Equibix is another great way to add calories to your horse’s diet, which can help maintain condition during the winter months, but won’t fizz them up.

Overweight horses that need vitamins and minerals in a low-calorie package can be given a supplement or balancer pellet such as KER AllPhase that provides only these nutrients with minimal calories. Remember, to assist digestive health, feed no more than about 2.5kg of feed in a meal, breaking larger feedings into several small meals spaced throughout the day.

Beyond the basics Water, forage, hard feed…a winter diet containing these elements is a good starting point. Good managers, however, ensure the comfort of the horses in their care by attending to a few more details.

• Horses should have access to shelter from extreme weather. This can be a barn, run-in shed, windbreak, or even a line of trees. As with access to hay, low-status horses may be blocked from shelter by more aggressive animals, and alternative grouping may be necessary.
• Owners should be sure horses have proper dental care and regular dewormings so that feed can be properly digested and utilised.
• Daily inspection of horses in winter months should include a light grooming, an all-over check for injuries, and an inspection for skin problems.
• Water consumption and manure consistency should be monitored (very dry manure is a sign that the horse may be becoming dehydrated).

This article was written by Dr Clarissa Brown-Douglas and reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. For more information about feeding your horses during the different seasons sign up for our free weekly equine nutrition e-newsletter.

Kelly and her horse Royal Russia

Kelly van den Berg is a professional accredited riding coach, dressage competitor and horse educator. She has been riding and around horses for most of her life and has tried almost every type of discipline that involves a horse from track riding, cutting, showjumping to eventing and now dressage. Along the way Kelly has accumulated injures that have made her more aware of the need for complete riding fitness suited to the tasks that you are asking your horses to perform. In 2010 Kelly fell from a horse resulting in a break in a lower vertebrae and two prolapsed discs in her back. Health professionals told her she would not ride again but through making lifestyle adjustments and paying more attention to core strength and fitness Kelly was able to return to training and riding horses in her full time business as well as competing on her own horses at professional level. Kelly shares some tips with us on how to look after yourself off the horse.

There are many articles surrounding the care, fitness and training of the dressage horse…..but what about the rider?

There is an old saying; The Horse is Your Mirror. This rings very true when contemplating the riders fitness and suppleness. A stiff one-sided horse is often attributed to a stiff blocking rider. Before we consider our horse’s inabilities or limitations let’s first look to our own. There is a great deal that every rider can do to improve their flexibility and fitness off the horse that will improve your performance and your horses performance and willingness.

Horses are extraordinary animals that speak to us. They give their feedback to you instantly. For example, when a rider holds her own back tensely, the horse cannot be free in his back. Although horses move freely in their natural state, as soon as the weight of a rider is added, they must re-balance themselves. When a rider is not balanced, this re-balancing of the horse is hampered since he must use more muscular effort through his back in his attempt to balance, which hinders his most effective movement. When a horse’s back is tense, his gaits are stiff and he must try harder at everything he is asked to do.

Horses are extremely sensitive to their riders, from weight changes to excess tension, even to the mood of the rider. When a rider learns a more fluid and balanced use of her back, the horse can move freely and becomes more fluid and balanced himself. A dressage rider is required to remain completely balanced, motionless and consistent on the horse to achieve the maximum effectiveness and positively influence the horse. In other words, the rider must sit still with a seat that follows the movement of the horse harmoniously. Any extra movement of the rider if it is not in harmony will go against the horse movement and cause a breakdown in communication. Learning to sit still whilst remaining supple and effective is not about learning on the horse. This requires a high degree of core stabilization and a physical/mental connection to the specific muscle groups engaged in riding.

I have learnt through my own experience that keeping fit and looking after your well being and health off the horse is a huge asset on the horse. Here are some of my tips for improving your riding fitness

Get your alignment checked by a health professional

This should always be the first step. You may be working against a misalignment in your body….know and understand your body before you start with rigorous training routines.

Equally the shoulders and the hips, that are both ball and socket joints, can over-rotate and become tight. The main reason most riders have difficulty getting into the correct position on the horse and staying there is due to the imbalance in both these areas.

Rhythm in a rider, is free-movement that is controlled and given by the rhythm of the horse. The energy that is produced within the core is not seen because the package of the horse and rider absorb the movement.

We all need core support, the area that lies somewhere around your center. Stability is the engagement and elastic control of this area.

Suppleness and Exercise

Pilates and Yoga exercises are extremely productive for developing stability, which leads to better rhythm in the saddle. Not just for a rider’s flexibility training, deep-strengthing benefits the body as a whole.

A great training aid I have found for working core strength off the horse is Pilates. Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps build flexibility and strength. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing to relieve stress and allow adequate oxygen flow to muscles, developing a strong core or center which tones abdominals while strengthening the back. Pilates greatly improves coordination and balance.

Swimming

Regular swimming keeps your flexibility and cardiovascular fitness levels up in a low impact environment. I try to swim laps at the local heated pool at east 2 times a week. A great fun way to keep fit!

Bike riding

Bike riding is also a good cardiovascular exercise that works the hips joints in a different way to horse riding and keeps your pelvis and hip joints loose and supple.

Remember that dressage is a team effort! It takes training of both horse and the rider.

Happy riding!

Kelly van den Berg

All you need to do is buy specially marked KER products OR Barastoc Horse Feed from participating stores. To find out where the nearest store is or which KER products you need to buy click here.

All you need to do is, in 150 words or less, tell us about you & your Barastoc Senior fed horse before Friday 22nd June to be in the running. The best four pictures and stories will be shared on the Barastoc Horse facebook page & the story with the most likes by 9am on Monday the 2nd of July will be our winner!

Send your story, photo and contact details through to marketingteam@ridley.com.au. 

Terms and Conditions. 1. Information on how to enter and prizes form part of the terms and conditions. Entry into the competition constitutes the entrant’s unconditional acceptance of the Term and Conditions. 2. Entries must be made before 5:00pm on Friday May 22nd, 2012 and be entered via email to marketingteam@ridley.com.au. Four stories will be selected and posted on the Barastoc Horse Facebook page between Monday 25th May & Monday 2nd June. The story with the most likes will be the winner. 3. Entry is open to Australian Residents 4. Entrants under the age of 18 are welcome with permission of a parent or guardian. 5. Prizes cannot be transfered or redeemed for cash. 6. The prize is for 2 bags of Barastoc Senior, 2 bags of Barastoc Equibix, 1 haybag and 1 halter and is valued at $120. 13. We accept no responsibility for late, lost or misdirected entries.

• Do not feed concentrate closer than 4 hours before a game
• Horse will drink more from a bucket than a bowl drinker so make certain plenty of deep buckets of water are available prior to and after the game
• Ideally a horse should be fed on the ground to assist with clearing of airways
• Horse should be accustomed to consuming hay that has been dampened to reduce dust and it also assists with rehydration.

Strategic Feeding before and after a Tournament

• Adapt horses to reduce or nil grazing time over several days before travel to the event. Replace grass with hay
• Train horses to drink water readily after a game to replace sweat losses. This may involve adding molasses to water or working out the preferred temperature or shape of the water bucket
• Offer several choices of water after a game
• Boost vitamin E blood levels to enhance anti-oxidant protection with high doses of natural vitamin E e.g. KERx Nano E for 4 days before and 2 days after tournament
• If horse goes off feed related to travel to the tournament, supplement with oral B Vitamins and antacids eg KER Hemabuild and KER Neigh-Lox
• Top up electrolyte levels before a game. If past experience tells you this horse doesn’t like electrolytes in the feed, use pastes or salines or drips
• After a game you need to replace energy, some electrolytes losses and also water
• Reduce normal chaff and fat content (oil or rice bran) in grain feed after intense exercise to enhance replacement of muscle glycogen
• Give horse time to eat soon after cooling down
• Use of carrots, bran and other aids to palatability may be useful
• Damp feeds may help increase water intake
• A B Vitamin paste may help boost appetite
• Never give concentrated oral electrolytes until a horse has started drinking
• Offer both lucerne hay and grass hay – Lucerne can help replace calcium losses in sweat and protein breakdown in muscles. Hay will encourage drinking

Feeding prior to Travel

• If horse is used to prolonged grazing, reduce grazing time and grass intake in 2 –3 d before travel
• To increase amount of water in hindgut – allow free access to grassy hay at least 2-3 days prior to travel.
• Reduce protein content of feed to reduce the ammonia output in urine and to improve fluid balance. Try to avoid lucerne (high protein) as this will increase the amount of ammonia excreted and compromise air quality during the time the horses are confined in the truck.
• Reduce the amount of concentrate fed to at least below 50% normal levels and increase fibre accordingly.
• Reduce exposure to dust by damping down all feeds, hay.
• Add electrolytes to feed in the days ahead of travel.

General Principles Governing Supplement Use

• The need for general vitamin and mineral supplements depends upon the use of premixed feeds vs home grain mixing
• Extra supplementation may be needed if a premixed feed is poorly fortified with key nutrients e.g. selenium, vitamin E, copper
• Extra supplementation may also be needed if less than recommended amounts of premixed feeds are used. For example, use of only 1 – 2 kg of a feed designed for use at 4 – 5 kg will require additional supplements
• In that case, use a more concentrated feed that is designed for that level of intake to eliminate the need for extra supplementation
• Diet analysis and calculations of nutrient intake will determine the need for general vitamin and mineral supplements. Contact Barastoc or KER for a diet analysis.
• The ‘average’ horse gets no extra benefit out of 2 scoops of a well formulated supplements that is designed for 1 scoop per day
• Performance horses will require extra salt and electrolytes, on top of those in premixed feeds
• Liquid electrolytes are usually ineffective
• Neveruse alkaline electrolytes or bicarbonate in performance horses
• Electrolyte pastes are variable – some supply good quantities whereas others contain more vitamins than electrolytes

Horses with special needs may require supplements to:

• Improve hoof growth or quality
• Prevent or treat joint problems
• Supply extra fat based energy or fatty acids e.g. oil or rice bran
• Calm nervous horses
• Supply anti-oxidants to reduce muscle soreness or boost immunity
• Soothe gastric ulceration
• Decrease the effects of hindgut acidosis
• Boost appetite or red blood cell production

Lactation, strenuous or prolonged exercise, hot weather, heavy sweating for any reason, and a diet consisting mainly of dry hay will greatly increase the amount of water the horse needs each day. Inadequate water intake can lead to impaction colic, so having a constant supply of clean, fresh water is important in keeping horses healthy.

Follow these tips to ensure horses always have access to water:

Place one or more water sources in each stall and paddock. Check frequently to be sure the water sources are clean and operating properly.

Offer water periodically (at least every couple of hours) while horses are exercising and while they are being transported.

Empty, scrub, and refill tanks frequently during the summer, and check that water is ice-free during the winter. Monitor water consumption and add extra buckets if a horse seems to be running out of water.

This article is reproduced with the permission of Kentucky Equine Research.

What is the rationale behind feeding these to horses?

Energy density. Grains usually contain about 50% more energy than good-quality hay, which makes them ideal feedstuffs for horses with elevated energy requirements such as hard-working horses, late-gestation mares, and lactating mares.

Source of starch. Though it has received a fair amount of negative press lately, starch is an important energy source for many horses, particularly growing horses and certain equine athletes.

Palatability. Horses generally prefer grains to forage and will typically consume all available grain before moving on to forage.

A few studies have been conducted to determine feed preferences among horses. In those studies, the most to least preferred feed or feedstuff was a mixed-grain sweet feed, oats, cracked corn, whole corn, wheat, barley, and rye. Feed preferences among horses, though, are just as varied as they are among humans. Given sufficient acclimation time, most horses will eventually consume all grains readily.

For many horses, cereal grains are the easiest and most palatable way to provide supplemental energy.

This article is reproduced with the permission of Kentucky Equine Research.

During the journey it is quite normal for horses to reduce their intake of feed. This does not present too much of a problem for journeys of 3 hours or less. However, going more than 3 hours without eating can increase the risk of colic, especially when combined with dehydration. Thus it is important to try and encourage them to eat and drink something along the way.

Travel diets should be based around good-quality forage. If horses are not keen to eat their usual forage, try soaking the hay in water with some molasses added to improve palatability. This has the added bonus of increasing hydration levels. Lucerne (alfalfa) hay also tends to be more palatable than grass hay. Soaked sugar beet pulp is another potential source of energy and fibre.

Offer as much water as often as possible. Carry your own water with you so the horse is used to the taste and is more likely to drink. The addition of a small amount of molasses or apple cider vinegar may improve palatability for fussy drinkers. Dosing the horse with electrolytes might be beneficial, but only do so if the horse has free access to water (for example, during an overnight rest break) and is drinking adequately.

Another way to get water into the horse is to thoroughly wet down any hard feeds that are offered. Pellet and cube feeds are particularly useful for this, as they can be made into a “slurry” type of mix.

During the journey it is also advisable to put your horse on a gastric ulcer preventative, which acts as a buffer and aids as a physical protective lining in the stomach and small intestine.

Most horses will regain their appetite and exhibit a thirst response once travel has ceased and they have settled into their new location. It is advisable to supplement horses with electrolytes (paste forms are helpful for this) once they are drinking freely.

The horse’s energy reserves might need to be replenished following a journey, especially if the horse did not eat during travel. This can be accomplished by feeding slightly larger meals, preferably four or more times per day at approximately 4-6 hour intervals rather than one or two large grain meals.

Remember when travelling your horse for long periods you can minimise the stress and impact of the journey by correct preparation, maintenance and replenishment of your horse’s energy, nutrient and water requirements pre, during, and post transport.

This article is reproduced with the permission of Kentucky Equine Research.

In defining “lush,” the dictionary uses words like “growing vigorously; lavishly productive; thriving; plentiful; delicious; savory.” Lush pasture, then, is a grazing area with plenty of abundant green forage that tempts horses to graze enthusiastically for hours on end.

Lush new spring grass, mature summer grass, and dried autumn grass contain the same basic ingredients–water, vitamins, minerals, protein, starch, and structural fiber among other things—but the proportions of these ingredients are far different depending on season. Spring grass grows very rapidly, containing a large proportion (up to 80% or more) of water. This grass is generally soft and easy to chew because the amount of indigestible fiber is less than in mature grass.

Because there is so much liquid in new spring grass, all the other components are found in lower proportions compared to mature grass, so the horse gets less starch per mouthful of grass than when grazing in the summer. However, because this soft grass is so palatable, horses tend to ingest a larger overall volume of forage, so their intake of all nutrients may actually be fairly similar in spring, summer, and early fall.

Fructans are specially adapted sugars that are found in cool-season forages. Fructans are produced by photosynthesis that occurs in the leaves during daylight hours. During the dark (overnight) phase of photosynthesis, plants use the sugars to grow more leaves and stems. Extra sugars that are not used for growth are stored within the plant tissues. Many cool-season grasses store fructans in the lower two inches of the stem just above the soil line.

Temperatures at night are critical in determining sugar content of the grass blades. If the temperature is not above 40° F (4° C) at night, the plant will not grow, and sugars remain in the leaves in high concentrations. Research has shown that under certain climate conditions and at some growth stages, fructans may reach very high concentrations (as much as 50% of dry matter). Pastured horses relish the sweet taste and will search out and preferentially graze plants with higher sugar content.

The unique chemical structure of fructans prevents breakdown in the stomach and small intestine. For this reason, these easily fermented sugars pass into the hindgut, a situation that leads to rapid production of lactic acid and an accumulation in the hindgut. This accumulation of lactic acid is a direct cause of colic and laminitis in pastured horses.

Virtually all horses are subject to some digestive upsets associated with lush spring pasture. The content of highly fermentable carbohydrates in lush pasture can be overwhelming to the digestive system. Horses and ponies that are overweight with insulin resistance and associated high levels of circulating pro-inflammatory agents produced by fat (equine metabolic syndrome) are particularly susceptible to pastures with high fructan content. However, many horses are able to handle some amount of pasture turnout if their digestive tracts are allowed time to adapt gradually to the dietary change and if a hindgut buffer is used to help neutralize lactic acid.
How can horse owners minimize the health challenges associated with lush pasture?

• Continue to offer hay even though the grass is growing well. New grass contains a lot of water and little fiber, and horses may crave the fiber found in hay.
• Monitor horses as grass begins to grow in the spring. To allow the digestive system to adapt to lush grass, begin with short periods of grazing and gradually increase time on pasture.
• Check frequently (several times a day) for signs such as warm hooves or horses walking as though their feet may be painful. Horses that have been grazing through the winter and early spring are at somewhat less risk than horses that have been stalled and are suddenly turned out into lush fields.
• Use a grazing muzzle to restrict intake, and consider the use of a hindgut buffer to neutralize lactic acid.
• Overweight horses, horses with known metabolic problems such as Cushing’s disease, and pony breeds may be at increased risk, but any horse may develop problems after grazing lush pasture.
• Spring grass is a known danger, but stressed grasses may store large quantities of fructans during other seasons due to drought, overgrazing, temperature fluctuations, and other conditions. For susceptible horses, there is no safe time to allow unlimited pasture access.
• If grazing horses show signs of problems (colic, warm hooves, reluctance to move because of hoof pain), remove them from the pasture and call a veterinarian.

  This article is reproduced with the permission of Kentucky Equine Research.

Handling and storing horse feed during the hot and muggy summer months can be a challenge. The equine nutritionists at Barastoc and Kentucky Equine Research offer the following tips:

Don’t buy more feed than you can use up in 10 to 14 days.

It may be difficult to resist but try to avoid taking advantage of specials that give a free bag if you buy a certain quantity (e.g., buy 10 get one free). It’s not a bargain if you lose several bags to spoilage.

Store feed in a cool, dry, well ventilated place, away from direct sunlight.

If there is a window in your feed room, consider putting in an air-conditioner over the summer months. Alternatively, if you don’t have a window but have a door that shuts tightly, you could run a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.

Allow air to circulate around the bags to avoid a build-up of internal heat.

Never set bags directly on the floor, especially concrete, as the bag will draw moisture and spoil the feed. Pallets are ideal because they allow air to circulate underneath. If possible, set the bags up on end and slightly apart to allow added circulation all the way around (top, bottom, and sides). In areas with a lot of heat and humidity, the bags should not be stacked more than four high. Leave space between the stacks for air circulation. Additionally, allow any heat within the bags to be released by giving them a good shake.

If you have space issues or prefer to use storage bins, try to avoid plastic bins, as they restrict air movement or galvanised steel bins as they have a tendency to sweat on the inside. If bins are used, be sure to clean out any remains of older feed before adding new feed.

Many feeds, including all those formulated by Barastoc and Kentucky Equine Research, contain sufficient mould inhibitor and antioxidants for protection during the summer months.

However, sometimes summer heat and humidity can cause spoilage in stored products. In general, pelleted feeds keep longer than textured (sweet) feeds. The molasses in sweet feeds may become spoiled, and pelleted feeds can mould. Feeds that are higher in fat can develop a rancid odour fairly rapidly in the heat and must be used up quickly.

Always check any feed before offering it to your horse.

Horses have a very sensitive sense of smell. If you can smell that something is going bad, you can be sure that your horse can, too. If the horse won’t eat it, dispose of it, if it’s too late and your horse has eaten spoiled feed, you may see signs like diarrhoea or a loss of appetite. Most importantly, watch for indications of colic (horse looking at its flanks or kicking at its belly, patchy sweating, lying down and getting up repeatedly). Call a veterinarian if the horse seems uncomfortable.

Barastoc feeds are bagged in breathable polypropylene, contain mould inhibitors and antioxidants and should be stored in a cool, dry, well ventilated place, away from sunlight. For more information contact Ridley AgriProducts on 1300 666 657.