Feeding Horses in Autumn & Winter

As the days shorten and we feel that chill in the air, we are already in autumn. Whether it’s fun rides or simply the joys of a stubble field, for many of us it is our favourite time of year. However, we also need to consider our horse’s regime change. Whether wintering out or spending time stabled, there will be changes ahead.

Winter is often seen as a challenging time for equine health, particularly digestive stress, and there are a number of reasons for that:

Winter Gut Stress

Reduced water intake

- Horses typically drink less over winter
- Provide a salt lick to encourage drinking
- A short hay soak, fed still wet, encourages intake without compromising feed quality

Dietary changes

- The change from fresh grazing to preserved forages is a particular stress

Reduced exercise

- Stabled horses take far fewer steps, which compromises gut health

Environmental stressors

- Severe weather may mean a short-term change of plan, and any sudden change can upset gut stability

The season this year is likely to be particularly challenging, with widespread reports of forage shortages following the summer drought conditions over much of England. NAF recommend securing your winter forage source as soon as possible. If necessary, consider partial forage replacers, such as chaffs, grass nuts or mixing good quality clean straw into their hay or haylage.

By supplementing with daily digestive support from NAF Five Star GastriAid we can help maintain healthy digestion right along their digestive tract, from teeth to tail! GastriAid is a unique complex of key actives working in synergy right along the digestive tract.

Only NAF GastriAid provides all of the following in one hard-working complex, to support your horses’ digestive function from all angles.

NAF GastriAid provides

Prebiotics, live probiotic yeast, postbiotic metabolites for a healthy microbiome
Psyllium husks and L-Glutamine working for the health and integrity of the mucosal lining
Natural bentonite clay whose large surface absorbs excesses and toxins to harmlessly maintain a clean gut
Sodium and calcium carbonate supporting a natural pH balance in the stomach

GastriAid can be introduced to the daily diet as you prepare to change your horse to their winter regime, continuing daily through autumn and winter.

Remember to feed little and often, ideally alongside trickle feeding forage, to avoid their gut becoming overwhelmed and challenged. Any concentrate feeds should be split between multiple small feeds, and we recommend also splitting their GastriAid between three feeds a day.

One of those feeds can be the small pre-exercise high-fibre feed recommended to provide a protective gastric mat in the stomach whilst exercising. Remember, it is imperative that the pre-exercise feed is small and fibrous, as we should avoid exercising directly after concentrate feeds.

By following a few simple rules we can help ensure our horses, and their digestive tract’s, stay happy and healthy through autumn and into winter.