Your horse and cold weather
Generally, horses at rest in ambient temperatures of 70°F consume 2% of their body weight in roughage (hay) per day. A 1,100-pound horse will eat approximately 22 pounds of hay per day.
Roughage in the diet is the main source of heat for the horse. The bacterial fermentation of fiber in roughage, occurring in the large intestine, results in the majority of heat produced during digestion. Horses unable to consume enough hay to maintain body condition might be supplemented with grains and oils. Many horses do very well on a diet of 100% hay and should always have at least 50% of the diet as hay. Sick horses or those at increasing levels of exercise or illness might consume more calories with the addition of cereal grains (oats, barley, rye, wheat, rice, and corn).
Oats have the advantage of carbohydrate energy in addition to high fiber content for heat production, compared with other cereal grains. Oats provide one-third more digestible energy than hay (1.30 Mcal/pound of oats
A horse with a moderate hair coat starts requiring additional calories for body temperature regulation at approximately 50°F. Add about 2 pounds more hay for every 10-degree temperature drop. With wind and rain at near-freezing temperatures, the feed required increases by approximately 10-15 pounds to 32-47 pounds of hay per day!
Water is critical for digestion. Optimum water temperature for maximum palatability is 45-65°F. Horses tend to consume less if it falls outside this range, making them more prone to poor digestion efficiency, dehydration, and intestinal impactions.
Evaluating your horse’s feed regimen regularly can help reduce stress on his body from inadequate nutrition. When you can’t see your horse’s body condition through the hair or blankets, get your hands on him regularly (at least a couple of times a week). For a horse in good body condition, the back should be level (no crease or ridge), the ribs felt, but not easily seen, fat around tailhead should feel spongy, the withers should be rounded, and the shoulders and neck should blend smoothly into the body.
