Many yards make adjustments to their daily routines when the clocks change at the end of October, when those wintery nights really start to draw in. It is important for the horse's digestive health and their mental well-being that any changes are made gradually - over the course of a week or more.
This applies to management routines as well as to feeding ones!
Making gradual changes allows the hindgut microbes to adapt accordingly, reducing the risk of an imbalance - and with it behavioural and digestive upset - which can lead to issues such as colic.
Some of the changes that can impact horses at this time of year can include:
If you require advice to help support your horse during a period of change, you can call the Simple System Feed Line on 01728 604 008 or email info@simplesystem.co.uk
Our advice is free and the nutrition team will consider the whole diet, not just what goes into the feed bowl. They are also experienced horse owners who can offer sensible management suggestions - which can be just as important.
If you know your horse is particularly sensitive to change, you may wish to pre-empt a routine adjustment. Consider adding Lunar Eclipse to the diet, or you may wish to switch your horse's existing balancer to Calm Balance +. Both are designed to support anxious, stressed or reactive horses and can be utilised year-round, or during times of greater need.
In the wild, with unrestricted access to pasture, horses would spend the summer “stocking up†by eating nutritious grass - and plenty of it - to aid them in building a thick coat and laying down excess weight...
Horses’ teeth change throughout their lives - they are continually growing and continually wearing, as they chew and grind their grazing and forage.
Grass has the potential to grow all year, which is different from many other plants. Certain things are necessary for this growth, but if they are not met, the grass will be dormant, waiting for conditions to improve.Â
