Winter Feeding for Horses: Forage, Gut Health & Weight Tips
Winter brings some of the biggest diet changes of a horse's year: less grass, more hay or haylage, longer hours stabled and shorter days. The key is planning ahead. Make forage changes gradually over around two weeks, keep forage little and often so your horse isn't left without it for long periods, manage intake for good doers without creating long gaps, and remember that forage alone rarely provides a balanced diet in winter, so most horses will need a suitable source of vitamins and minerals.
Jennifer Little BSc Hons MSc RNutr PgCert PgCert
Equinutrition® - Independent Equine Nutritionist, written 6.10.26
Winter feeding challenges
As winter approaches the thoughts of horse owners often move to considering all the challenges that winter imposes. Be that battling the cold, mud, wet rugs, or just racing around to try to make the most of the available day light. These seasonal changes also impact our horses’ nutritional needs and the unpredictability of the weather in recent years could have made ensuring your horses health and welfare more challenging. But despite these challenges we can support our horses by planning to adapt their diet and management as needed.
As Winter progresses grass growth ceases and its nutritional content decreases, this means an alternative forage such as hay or haylage is required. This change in diet can impact the gut biome, a population of bacteria housed within a horse’s hindgut. This bacterial population are responsible for digesting the fibre within the diet to convert it into an energy source for the horse. They are also responsible for modulating inflammation and the immune system, as well as influencing a horse’s behaviour. The balance of the different bacteria within this biome have adapted to a horse’s current (summer) diet and to avoid disturbing the vital system changes to the diet should be done with a transition period, which regarding forage should ideally take place over two weeks. If a horse is to be moved fields from a grazed to rested area this can be achieved by introducing the new field starting with a few hours grazing before moving back to the original field, increasing this incrementally over the two weeks till a full switch over has occurred. If a horse is to move from grass to preserved forage (hay/haylage), again this should be done with a transition phase, introducing hay in increasing amounts till a full switch over has occurred. Another method available for supporting the stability of this vital gut biome, especially during periods of change is with the supplementation of prebiotics.
As fields become water-logged it is often necessary to restrict turnout and increase the duration of stabling and the provision of preserved forage, which can impose further challenges. One such challenge is in relation to gastric health and weight management. The horse’s digestive system has evolved to move long distances to consume diverse, nutritionally poor forage, in a trickle manner. This is very different to the scenario of the static stable environment and eating diversity poor, nutritionally richer hay/haylage. If forage provisions are insufficient or fed in a manner that results in a horse being left without any for extended periods of time the risk of stress and Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) increases. However, as a large proportion of horses are overweight simply providing an unlimited adlib forage source may not be suitable solution, and methods to encourage eating little and often will be required. This could involve using small-holed hay nets, providing smaller amounts of hay/haylage fed at a higher frequency through the day, or by switching to lower calorie sources, such as replacing a third of the hay/haylage with straw. Managing a horse’s weight through winter is particularly important because there is a part of the horses’ brain called the Hypothalamic Pituitary Axis (HPA; figure 1), which is involved in controlling metabolism and weight. As daylight hours decrease the activity levels of the HPA increase, which causes an increase in appetite, reduced satiety and reduced insulin sensitivity.
Figure 1: Anatomy of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Axis in the horse
This activity evolved to support weight gains prior to winter, which would then normally be lost before Spring, returning the HPA levels to normal. This process helps to maintain a horse’s health, and owners shouldn’t panic if their horses drop some weight over winter, but not to the point where they become underweight. For those that do lose too much, providing forage ad lib is appropriate and if there are dental issues involved a hay replacer in the form of a mash maybe required. Whereas for those who need but fail to lose sufficient winter weight, they will need their forage intake controlling in a manner that won’t increase the risk of EGUS. The inclusion of nutrients such as pectin and lecithin that form a gel like structure within the stomach, alongside the prebiotics could support gastric health and help to alleviate owner concerns regarding the increased risk of EGUS.
The reduction in the nutritional content of the grass and the increased reliance on preserved forages means that forage alone will not be able to provide a balanced diet and the provision of a suitable source of vitamins, minerals and in the case of hard-working horses additional protein will be required. This could be in the form of a vitamin and mineral supplement, a suitable balancer, or a full compound hard feed ration if additional calories are required. Again, any change to a horse’s bucket feed should be done with a transition phase.
Every horse's needs are different and by considering ahead of time how your horses’ diet and management will change over winter, implementing transition phases, ensuring suitable supplemental feeding and planning for how and what forages options are suitable for your horse, you can support their health and welfare throughout the darker months.
FAQs
How long should I take to change my horse's forage in winter?
Around two weeks. When moving to a rested field, start with a few hours on the new grazing before returning to the original field, and increase the time gradually. When moving from grass to hay or haylage, introduce it in increasing amounts until the switch is complete.
Why does my horse seem hungrier in winter?
As daylight hours shorten, activity increases in a part of the brain called the hypothalamic pituitary axis, which is involved in controlling metabolism and weight. This increases appetite and reduces the feeling of fullness, a natural process that evolved to help horses gain weight before winter.
Is it normal for my horse to lose some weight over winter?
Yes. Some weight loss over winter is a normal part of that natural cycle and owners shouldn't panic, as long as the horse doesn't become underweight. Horses losing too much can be given forage ad lib, and a hay replacer mash may be needed if dental issues are involved.
Why do long gaps without forage matter?
Horses evolved to eat little and often, travelling long distances to graze. Leaving a horse without forage for extended periods increases the risk of stress and gastric ulcers, which is why the timing and frequency of forage matters as much as the amount.
How can I feed a good doer in winter without leaving long gaps?
Use small-holed hay nets, feed smaller amounts more often through the day, or replace up to a third of the hay or haylage with straw to lower the calories without reducing chewing time. Our guide to feeding good doers has more ideas.
Does my horse need a supplement or balancer in winter?
Usually, yes. With grass less nutritious and horses relying on preserved forage, forage alone won't provide a balanced diet. Vitamin E is one of the major vitamins lacking in winter forage. A vitamin and mineral supplement, a balancer or a compound feed (if extra calories are needed) can fill the gap and hard-working horses may need additional protein. Remember to introduce any change to the bucket feed gradually.
