Winter Nutrition for Working Horses

"Heading out to do barn or farm chores in winter means bundling up with layers to fend off penetrating cold. Horses have their own “built-in” insulation of a winter hair coat and a layer of fat to protect against cold temperatures. As keepers of our horses, we also often provide shelter and/or blankets to help them conserve warmth in their bodies. But what other strategies can we implement to help our horses stay warm?'

photo credit: istock.com
'Not all cold weather conditions sap energy from horses if they are sufficiently protected with hair and at least a thin insulating layer of fat. The point at which a horse uses more energy to maintain body warmth beyond normal metabolic needs is called the lower critical tempera­ture (LCT). Generally, this is around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit below this critical temperature, a horse needs to consume approximately 10% more calories to stay warm without losing weight. For a horse that eats 20 pounds of hay per day, adding another two pounds of hay each day helps him better manage a cold snap (stablemanagement.com)."

To read more about how to properly help your horse's nutrition during colder temps this winter visit the article link here.

Learn more about keeping yourself safe while working around the barn by wearing a Ride Safe Medical ID Bracelet! Ride Safe bracelets can help keep you prepared in an event of an emergency. Get yours today at: www.teamridesafe.com!


Comments

Popular Posts