Tag Archives: winter

Digestive Issues in Horses on Dry Diets

Posted on March 7, 2020 by

When horses can’t have fresh pasture, either because of stall confinement or the season, the logical next best thing is hay. After all, hay is just dried grass. All the major nutrients – fiber, protein, carbohydrate – are basically the … Continue reading →

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Growing Horses in Cold Weather

Posted on December 28, 2019 by

Hoof growth isn’t the only thing that slows down in cold weather. The growth of young horses can too [Onoda et al 2013, 2014]. Several studies have now documented a slowing down of growth rate in the winter with a … Continue reading →

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Vitamin Concerns in the Winter

Posted on December 14, 2019 by

Your horse’s vitamin needs don’t really change in the winter – but the supply available from the diet does.  This is because there is a big  difference between fresh grass versus hay and also because hay vitamin levels decrease with … Continue reading →

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Winter Respiratory Health

Posted on January 28, 2019 by

An elevated concentration of irritants in the air causes measurable lung inflammation in all horses. There may or may not be a true allergic component. Continued exposure can lead to IAD (inflammatory airway disease) or RAO (recurrent airway obstruction) in … Continue reading →

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Mid Winter Check List

Posted on January 19, 2019 by

With all the chores to do, you probably spend as much time at the barn in winter as during warmer weather but you probably don’t interact with your horse in the same way. This can result in some things creeping … Continue reading →

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Can EMS Horses Graze Dead Winter Pastures?

Posted on January 6, 2019 by

Unless you are living in an area with very mild winters, your pasture grasses will shrivel and turn brown over the winter. However, that plant is not dead and horses will be more than happy to eat it. This could … Continue reading →

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Winter Laminitis

Posted on December 16, 2018 by

Veterinarians working with many laminitic horses are well acquainted with the problem but others may be unfamiliar with it.  It’s a laminitis-like syndrome triggered by cold weather. Horses normally have a very high tolerance for cold.  In all species, cold … Continue reading →

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Preventing Colic in Winter

Posted on November 25, 2018 by

You have probably seen this topic appear several times and in many places – with good reason. Colic is more common in winter (and fall), and the risk factors can be mitigated for the most part. vetmed.illinois.edu Impaction colic is … Continue reading →

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Winter and Stiff Joints in Older Horses

Posted on November 18, 2018 by

Retired seniors that are holding weight and getting around comfortably in the warmer months can experience greatly reduced strength and mobility in the cold, to the point they may have difficulty getting up. The explanation for this is multifactorial. Reduced … Continue reading →

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Cold Weather Feeding

Posted on November 11, 2018 by

As the country rapidly slips into winter, questions on cold weather feeding increase.  People want to know what to feed and how much more in winter. The short answer is, it depends. If you have done any reading on this … Continue reading →

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