Providing hay at night will keep the “burning” process going, so try to make sure that there is some forage available then. It is amazing how much nutrition horses get from pasture during the warmer months and owners are often very surprised by how much hay is needed to make up the difference in winter.
For a 1000 lb horse that is 20 lbs of hay. In winter, you probably will need to increase that amount. Hay is the best way to produce heat. The process of breaking down hay takes a long time and creates more heat over a longer period. Feeding as much hay as a horse will consume without waste is the best way to help keep him warm. Most horses will consume 2% of their body weight in hay a day. Making sure that they are consuming adequate calories to maintain what they have and have enough to keep warm is paramount to maintaining your horse’s weight in winter.
#Horse bit severity chart free
Just like with younger horses, it is critical to make sure that an older horse is drinking enough water during the colder winter months. Water is important for temperature regulation and also for helping digestion. Too little water consumption can result in impaction colic. Older horses who do not chew their grain or hay thoroughly may already be slightly more prone to digestive disturbances and too little water lead to impaction colic. Provide clean, warm, ice free water to your horse. If you are uncertain about the amount of water he is consuming, you can always add warm water to his grain. This will help to ensure a certain amount of daily water consumption.įeed itself and the fat layer that results from it help to keep your horse warm. Within minutes of eating a meal, the horse’s digestive processes begin to generate heat and warm the body. Over time, calories that are not immediately used are stored as fat that acts as insulation against the cold. Older horses are usually leaner with less fat and thinner muscles. Adding to the problem of trying to get adequate calories into your horse is the fact that older horses don’t utilize calories as well as younger horses. It has been shown that older horses have a 5% decrease in their ability to digest fiber and a 15% lower ability to utilize protein. Make sure that food and water sources are easily accessible for horses with mobility issues. An often-overlooked condition in older horses is cataracts. The glare of the sun off of the snow can make it difficult for horses with cataracts to see. If your horse has cataracts, consider putting a dark fly mask on him to help reduce the glare. A thorough dental exam should also be performed at this time. Untreated dental issues will affect your horse’s ability to properly chew hay and grain. If your horse wears shoes, consider providing a little traction with borium. Remember that it may be more difficult for an older horse to get around on frozen terrain due to arthritis, foot problems, or neurological disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help make achy joints feel a little better in the cold weather. Keep feet properly trimmed and pick them out regularly to prevent snowball formation.
Many conditions will increase your horse’s caloric needs, so knowing if your horse is affected before the cold arrives will help you to send him into the winter in better condition. Your veterinarian can assess you horse’s weight and make specific recommendations for nutritional needs. Old and new conditions such as Cushing’s disease, arthritis, heart murmurs, or lung conditions like Heaves can be discovered and addressed before the cold weather makes them more difficult to deal with. Many owners talk about getting their geriatric horse “through just one more winter.” With a little bit of knowledge and planning, your older horse can stay comfortable and healthy, and getting through winter doesn’t have to be an ordeal.Ī pre-winter veterinary examination is a good way to start getting ready for the cold weather. This exam can be conducted at the same time that your TEVA veterinarian does fall shots if you do those later in the season. If not, it is money well spent to have your TEVA vet out to check your horse out and discuss any issues that might need to be addressed before and during the cold weather. Older horses are affected more by the cold weather than their younger companions.
0 kommentar(er)
