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By Kentucky Equine Research Staff
As temperatures cool and competition season winds down for many, autumn is a good time to plan for potential changes to a horse’s routine. Nutrition, water consumption, body condition, and exercise are always important, but these factors are intertwined all year long, no matter the season. A horse’s needs are not static, thus a quick checkup can help ensure horses stay happy and healthy through autumn.
Plan seasonal activities. Is your horse continuing to compete locally, taking the winter off, or prepping for a long haul for warm-weather competition? If the workload is staying relatively constant, it is possible that few dietary changes are necessary. Lightening up training could mean lower calorie needs, depending on the horse.
On the other hand, if you are traveling to a winter circuit, training may intensify or even peak, and dietary needs may need to be adjusted accordingly. When traveling, bring along at least some hay from home to help ease the transition to whatever forage is available at your destination. Trailer travel can also affect a horse’s gastrointestinal tract, so it may be useful to add support from nutritional supplements specifically designed for gastric and hindgut health.
Watch temperatures and haircoat status. No matter the training schedule, low temperatures mean that a horse will need more energy to keep warm. A horse with a clipped coat needs some special attention in this regard. Blankets or rugs are essential for horses with clipped coats, but shorter coats mean a horse’s critical temperature (the temperature at which a horse needs more energy to stay warm) will be higher compared to a horse with a full coat. A horse with a full coat may remain comfortable at 32° F (0° C), whereas a clipped horse may need help staying warm below 59° F (15° C).
The best way to help a horse stay warm from a dietary standpoint is to increase the amount of forage in the diet through the provision of extra hay, soaked beet pulp, or hay cubes. Horses ferment fiber in the cecum, and a byproduct of fermentation is heat. The cecum is the “fermentation vat” that also serves as a horse’s internal heater, thus feeding forage is a good strategy for helping a horse stay warm in colder months.
Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research, advises, “No matter your plans for the fall and winter season, it is of key importance to keep an eye on your horse’s weight to make sure no major gains or losses occur.” This is especially true for horses that are off for the winter or that wear blankets. It is necessary to remove blankets regularly to keep an eye on body condition and monitor proper blanket fit as well.
Assess water consumption. With increased forage intake comes an increased need for water, so be sure horses are drinking enough and that water sources are accessible and free of solid ice. One study reported that in cold weather ponies drank more water when it was either continually warmed or had warm water added to the source compared to water that was at the near-freezing mark.* Horses will drink cold water, but bucket heaters or the addition of warm water once or twice daily may help encourage more intake. Restore SR (Restore in Australia) is a balanced electrolyte supplement that supports proper hydration and can help encourage water intake.
Contemplate hoof care. Work with your farrier to determine if any shoeing changes should be made for colder weather. Some opt to remove shoes while others may add snowball pads to prevent the buildup of snow and ice. Bio-Bloom PS (Bio-Bloom HF in Australia and certain other locales) is designed to provide optimal nutrition support for hooves and coat, and autumn is a great time to consider adding it to the diet.
Schedule a veterinary exam. Autumn vaccinations, dental checkups, and general health evaluations will help prepare a horse for changing seasons and potentially catch problems before they start. Your veterinarian can advise of any health concerns that may need special care in cold weather. “A dental evaluation can help ensure a horse has the proper dentition to chew the forage needed for warmth as temperatures chill,” recommended Whitehouse.
Survey turnout areas. Turning out horses has numerous benefits, foremost of which are free-choice exercise and social interaction with peers. Despite these benefits, danger lurks in some fields. “As pasture grasses become dormant, horses may be more inclined to taste-test weeds they would ignore at the height of growing season,” said Whitehouse.
Because of this, it is important that weed control measures are well established, and it is just as crucial that horses are provided an alternative forage source when on pasture during autumn and winter. Further, any dead branches that have fallen from trees should be picked up immediately. The dried leaves of certain species, particularly some maple trees, are toxic to horses and definitively linked to an atypical muscle disorder.
In summary, a horse’s dietary needs are not constant and should be evaluated seasonally to ensure all calorie and nutrient needs are being met appropriately. For dietary help, reach out to a nutrition advisor at Kentucky Equine Research.
Mette Moe Mannseth is one of 5 Master Trainers in the Icelandic horse world. Horses of Iceland visited Mette at her farm, Þúfur, in North Iceland to hear the story of how a young girl in Norway became one of our most influential trainers and riding instructors. Mette discusses her passion, thoughts on training, breeding Icelandics and much more!
Read more: Get to know...Mette Moe Mannseth, Master Trainer (11:26) - Horses of Iceland
Horse facilities can provide more than just dung and hoof prints. Equine-assisted programs offer unique educational benefits that could enhance students’ experiences and improve their lives. Are you wondering about the specifics? Take a look.
Working with horses gives students more confidence and raises their self-esteem, as learning to groom and ride such proud, noble creatures promotes a sense of achievement.
Horses are observant beings who react to non-verbal communication elements by observing one’s body language. Dealing with them helps students understand the value of expressing one’s feelings. Besides, students must work together, communicating with the horse and each other to achieve mutual goals. Such activities help enhance their social skills and foster relationships with their peers.
By caring for horses, students learn sensitivity and gentleness. It fosters a unique environment where emotional and social skills can flourish.
Spending time with horses helps reduce stress levels. It also facilitates emotional regulation, assisting students to manage anxiety and improve their mood.
Horse riding is a vital part of teaching and training horses. It involves such physical activities as grooming, saddling up, and riding, which promote an active lifestyle and urge students to remain fit.
Mental stimulation sharpens our skills. What do you do when you can’t solve an academic problem? You contact the best essay service, Top Essay Writing, and ask them for help. You gain new insights once you see their work, stimulating your knowledge and critical thinking. The situation with horses is rooted in the same principles. Cognitive abilities are developed when equestrian practitioners learn to identify and remove obstacles, such as figuring out how to jump a fence and providing commands to their horses. It involves thinking critically, locating solutions, and analyzing situations.
Of course, equine-assisted learning can help any student, but those with special needs can benefit from the controlled environment the horses provide. When horses are understood and treated with respect, they become focused and obedient. Spending time with them can help improve students with special requirements' focus, motor, and sensory skills.
You can’t just forget about a horse. It is what students should do daily:
A sense of responsibility connects the dots for many students, so they understand that they can’t just show up to use horses for practice and do nothing in return. The sense of consistency, responsibility, and reliability is what they will take into the other parts of their lives.
By learning about horses and how to care for them, students are introduced to sustainability practices related to animal welfare and the conservation of the environment. They learn to value nature and discover how to preserve it.
Inspiration comes in the most unexpected shapes. Seeing the base of sample essays on different topics can help you understand your subject better, allowing you to discover something new about it. Similarly, by spending time with horses, students might decide to study veterinary sciences, animal behavior, or agriculture. Equine-assisted programs can help inform your future career.
Plenty of art activities, such as drawing and painting, can be centered on horses. Students can express themselves visually after spending a day with their creature.
There are more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.
For years, Kathy sought healing from an emotionally destructive relationship. Through working with horses in a mental health therapy program she was finally able to uncover and confront the root cause of her suffering. Kathy’s interactions with horses served as a catalyst for her to find healing within herself. Watch the video below to see how horses helped Kathy uncover a 30-year secret.
As part of our mission to spread awareness of the healing power of horses, we seek to share stories of transformation that illustrate the healing journey and personal growth people can experience through the involvement of horses in mental health programs and services.
Read more: Uncovering Secrets | Seen Through Horses Campaign (2:56)
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