Feeding Horses in Winter: What to Feed, Gut Health & Colic Prevention

As daylight shortens and temperatures drop, many horses move from pasture to conserved forage, turnout reduces and workloads change. That shift brings new challenges for gut health, colic risk, weight maintenance, hooves, joints and coat. Our winter feeding guide explains what to feed horses in winter, how to maintain condition through winter, options for the best horse feed for weight gain and evidence-led choices that support colic prevention.

Winter feeding basics: forage, water, salt (the non-negotiables)

• Forage first. Start with 1.5–2% of bodyweight/day (dry matter) as hay or haylage for horses in healthy condition. Those needing to gain weight will need a higher % and those needing to lose weight will need a lower %. If you can, test your forage to inform mineral balance and sugar/NSC - vital for laminitis-prone horses.
• Water & salt. Many horses drink less in cold weather, raising the risk of impaction colic. Offer warm water, free-choice salt and add 25–50 g/day plain salt to feeds for working horses (adjust for size and sweat levels).
• Soaked fibre mashes. Warm, soaked unmolassed beet pulp or a high-fibre mash can boost hydration and support the hindgut. Remember to introduce any new feeds gradually and keep it part of their normal routine.

These fundamentals underpin what to feed horses in winter and the best feed to prevent colic because hydration + fibre = better gut motility.

Maintaining condition through winter (and safe weight gain)

Horses often lose weight in colder months due to increased energy demands. Here’s how to maintain condition through winter and identify the best horse feed for weight gain when needed:

• Energy from fibre & oil. Start by maximising your forage quality; add digestible fibre (beet pulp, soya, oat hulls, grass nuts, sainfoin, alfalfa are all good fibre sources) and, if needed, add oil for calorie density with low starch/sugar.
• Protein quality. To keep or build topline, ensure firstly that you are feeding sufficient calories for workload and that you are feeding sufficient quantities of the essential amino acids - especially lysine, leucine and methionine. For the more sensitive horses or overweight horses/ponies, a low-starch balancer or higher-protein, low-calorie feed or supplement can help meet amino acid needs without fizz.
• Omega-3s. Cold-pressed linseed supports coat condition and normal inflammatory balance. If feeding linseed meal/seed at higher levels, it is important to balance the calcium phosphorus ratio. Adding 3-4g of calcium carbonate per 100 g linseed or using calcium-rich forage like alfalfa can help to balance the ratio. This is not required if feeding linseed oil.
• Weight tracking. Try to enter winter at a body condition score of 5–5.5 out of 9 to give a small buffer without putting excess strain on joints and health. Use a weigh tape monthly (or a weighbridge if you have access to one!) and note feed/work changes to correct any weight drift early.

Gut health in winter: prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics - how to identify the best gut balancer

A resilient hindgut microbiome is central to winter feeding success and colic prevention. If your horse's gut is not operating efficiently, then important nutrients may simply be passing through your horse and going onto your muck heap! With hay prices rising and the cost of living tightening our purse strings, it is essential that our horses can extract maximum benefit from every gram of feed we give them. If their hindgut is in optimal health, they are better able to extract and utilise the nutrients from any feed we give them - meaning that there is less waste and therefore less cost to us as owners.

• Prebiotics first. Diverse prebiotic fibres (MOS, FOS, inulin, mixed plant fibres) feed beneficial hindgut microbes to allow them to thrive and multiply in numbers - the foundation of the best gut balancer strategies.
• Probiotics, used wisely. Specific Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains can help rebuild bacterial colonies in the hindgut after antibiotics, worming, or illness - but they work best when prebiotic “fuel” is present and may be unnecessary in horses with healthy existing colonies.
• Postbiotics (emerging). Microbial fermentates may support the gut barrier and immune signalling; they complement, not replace, core fibre and prebiotics. A healthy bacteria colony will produce their own postbiotics, so keep them well fed with prebiotics!
• Vitamin & mineral cover. Copper, zinc and selenium can be low in winter forage; natural vitamin E supports antioxidant balance - especially when oils are fed.

Looking for the best gut balancer? Choose products that contain diverse prebiotic fibres and include antioxidants to maintain healthy cells and tissues, as well as supporting the immune system. The better the prebiotic food source that a microbial colony has access to, the better their activity and efficiency in digestion will be. 

Colic-aware winter routines: what to feed for colic prevention

If you’re asking what to feed for colic or what the best feed to prevent colic is, focus on your management as well as what is in your bucket feed:

• Gradual changes. Introduce new hay/haylage into the diet over 7–10 days where possible and increase access to richer pasture slowly, increasing grazing time over a few days.
• Little and often. Split hard feeds across the day; feed forage before work (feeding hay will create a fibre raft in the stomach to guard against acid splash); avoid your horse going more than 4 hours without fibre by either feeding ad lib or by pacing rations throughout the day and using small hole nets to slow intake in good doers.
• Hydration levers. Lukewarm water, soaked mashes and salt all help to support drinking and gut motility.
• Low-NSC for sensitive horses. For laminitis-prone/insulin-dysregulated horses, use low-NSC forage (soak hay if appropriate to reduce sugars), avoid cereal-heavy mixes, and prioritise fibre and oil as a source for calories.
• When to call the vet. Recurrent mild colic, girthiness, persistently dull coat or poor appetite warrants a veterinary visit (and possibly gastroscopy for gastric ulcers where indicated).

Seniors & good-doers: two ends of the winter spectrum

• Older horses. Ageing can reduce chewing efficiency and impact digestion. Use easily chewed fibre mashes, ensure you are feeding sufficient, quality protein and omega-3s, and cover vitamins/minerals by feeding a suitable daily balancer without excess starch.
• Good-doers/overweight. Choose a low-calorie balancer, control hay with slow feeders/small-mesh nets, maximise movement, and avoid starvation - always provide fibre but utilise strategies to reduce calories by soaking hay, bulking out with good quality straw, pacing rations throughout the day and using small mesh nets. A gut balancer with antioxidant support, prebiotics and essential vitamins and minerals typically lacking in the diets of those on restricted diets (including vitamin E and copper) can help support a steady metabolism while you manage calories.

Joints, hooves & coat: winter nutrition touches everything

• Mobility. Combine weight control and movement with adequate provision of omega-3s. Not all omega 3’s are equal. ALA comes from linseed whilst DHA/EPA comes from algae/fish sources - DHA and EPA are the only proven forms of omega 3 for joint health. Other top joint supplement ingredients including glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, HA, collagen etc can vary in inclusion levels - trial any joint supplement you decide to use for 6–8 weeks and track outcomes before deciding to continue use.
• Hooves. For hoof health and in particular hoof nutrition through targeted supplements, think months not days. Biotin (15–20 mg/day for a 500 kg horse), balanced zinc/copper, methionine, adequate protein/energy, plus consistent farriery and dry footing all contribute to overall hoof health. Adjust your trim cycle if required to avoid hooves getting out of balance.
• Coat/skin. Shine reflects a horse’s overall diet as well as responding to regular grooming and appropriate rugging or shelter from the elements when necessary. Ensure you are providing a balanced diet for healthy skin. Amino acids (particularly lysine & methionine), omega-3’s, appropriate copper/zinc levels and added vitamin E when pasture is limited (as levels in cut forage are extremely low) will all help maintain a healthy glow on your horse’s coat.
• Gut health & Immune system - Don’t forget gut health. 70% of your horse’s immune system sits in the hindgut, so providing natural prebiotics and a variety of fibre types will feed the hindgut microbiome - keeping their colonies healthy and thriving. Equell Gut Food (or UltraMet for metabolically challenged horses and those preferring alfalfa free feeds) provides a wide variety of natural prebiotic fibres and antioxidants to keep the hind gut healthy. Optimal digestion allows your horse to extract the maximum benefit and nutrients from every gram of feed you provide – especially important this winter when we may be facing increases in hay prices due to shortages after reduced yields in summer droughts.

Reading feed & supplement labels like a pro 

1. Active amounts, not “contains.” Look for stated grams/mg per kg or per daily serving to compare products when searching for the best gut balancer or joint/hoof products.
2. Forms matter. Chelated minerals improve consistency of absorption, natural vitamin E is more bioavailable than synthetic (meaning lower amounts are required to be fed), and be clear on omega-3 types (look for added DHA/EPA in joint supplements, not just linseed).
3. Safety for competitors. Prefer UFAS/BETA NOPS accredited products to reduce the risk of potential contamination and keep batch numbers of any products used when competing under rules.
4. Realistic timelines. Allow at least 2-4 weeks to see changes from feeding gut/joint supplements (severely compromised guts can take much longer to show meaningful change) and 3–6 months for hooves.
5. Whole-diet view. Avoid stacking selenium/iodine/copper across feed sources, as upper daily limits of these can be critical. Start with one comprehensive balancer then add targeted extras depending on your individual horse’s needs. Consult an equine nutritionist if you are unsure.

Winter feeding checklist:

• What to feed horses in winter: Fibre first! Good-quality forage and a comprehensive balancer that provides necessary protein levels and covers the RDA of required vitamins/minerals. Add fibre mashes for gut hydration and omega-3s for coat and skin – remembering to make any changes gradually and balance linseed meal with calcium carbonate if feeding high levels.
• How to maintain condition through winter: Optimise forage intake; add digestible fibre and oil for extra calories if required; ensure they are receiving sufficient, balanced amino acids; monitor BCS monthly and adjust early.
• Best horse feed for weight gain: Forage first; then use feeds like beet pulp, linseed, soaked fibre, oil and adequate protein. Use low-starch options when feeding large amounts of concentrates to support gut health and behaviour.
• What to feed for colic / best feed to prevent colic: Preventing colic in winter is key. Feed plenty of good quality fibre (provide chopped forage for older horses who struggle to chew), offer lukewarm water when temperatures drop, add water to hard feed and include salt in daily rations to encourage drinking. Use soaked mashes as part of their normal diet/routine with slow transitions, frequent small meals and low-NSC choices for sugar sensitive or metabolically challenged horses; consult your vet if you are concerned.
• What is the best gut balancer for horses: Look for diverse prebiotic fibres to feed the hindgut microbiome. Look for declared active amounts and consider added vitamin E and trace minerals common to UK forage gaps.

 

Bottom line

The best strategy for feeding horses in winter is simple and evidence-led: prioritise forage, water and salt. Keep gut health front-and-centre by feeding diverse prebiotic fibres to keep the hind gut in tip top condition and operating efficiently. A healthy hindgut will mean your horse extracts more benefit from each gram of feed he eats - meaning less waste and cost for you.

Tailor calories via digestible fibre and oil (rather than starch) to maintain condition through winter. Build from a low-starch, well-mineralised base, choose products that declare active amounts, that are BETA NOPS accredited and give any changes sufficient time to work. That’s how you support steady weight, a comfortable gut, a shiny coat, fewer colic risks - and a healthier horse until spring.

 The Equell Team, 9th October 2025