Adjusting Your Horse’s Diet in Winter: Is It Necessary?

As the temperature drops and paddocks begin to change, many horse owners automatically reach for extra feed. Winter is often associated with weight loss, increased energy requirements and the need for more hay—but does every horse really need a dietary change?

The answer is not necessarily.

Some horses require additional feed during winter, while others maintain their condition easily or may even gain weight. The right approach is to assess the individual horse rather than changing the diet simply because the season has changed.

Does cold weather increase a horse’s energy needs?

Horses use energy to maintain a stable body temperature. When conditions become sufficiently cold, their daily energy requirements can increase. However, temperature alone does not tell the whole story.

A healthy horse with a good winter coat, adequate body condition and access to shelter may cope comfortably without a significant increase in feed. A clipped horse, an older horse, a horse in poor condition or one exposed to persistent wind and rain may use considerably more energy to stay warm.

Wet and windy weather can be particularly challenging because a wet coat provides less insulation. Providing shelter or an appropriate rug can reduce heat loss and may prevent the horse from needing as many additional calories.

This is especially relevant in many parts of Australia, where winter conditions may be wet, windy and muddy rather than extremely cold.

Begin with body condition—not the calendar

Before changing your horse’s diet, assess their current body condition.

A thick winter coat can hide changes in weight, making a horse appear rounder than it really is. Run your hands over the ribs, withers, shoulders, spine and tail head rather than relying only on visual appearance. Regular use of a weight tape and body-condition scoring system can help identify gradual changes before they become significant.

If your horse is maintaining an appropriate condition, has adequate forage and appears healthy, there may be no reason to add more calories.

If the horse is beginning to lose condition, the diet should be reviewed. Conversely, an easy keeper that is gaining weight should not automatically receive extra feed simply because it is winter. Horses should be fed according to their bodyweight, health, workload, environment and stage of life.

Has the paddock changed?

One of the most important winter considerations is the amount and quality of available pasture.

After winter rain, a paddock can look beautifully green while still providing very little actual feed. Short, sparse grass may not supply enough dry matter to meet the horse’s forage needs. 

The opposite can also occur. Actively growing winter pasture may contain substantial energy and protein, particularly in improved pasture systems. Therefore, a horse grazing green winter grass may not need additional concentrate feed and could gain weight if its normal ration continues unchanged.

Inspect the paddock closely. Consider how much grass is actually available, whether the horse can take a full mouthful and whether the pasture is being shared or heavily grazed.

Make forage the foundation

When additional winter feed is required, start by reviewing forage.

Hay, pasture and other suitable fibre sources should form the foundation of the diet. Fibre is fermented by microorganisms in the horse’s hindgut, and this fermentation produces heat. For this reason, increasing forage is generally more useful for supporting warmth than simply adding more grain.

Providing additional hay can help:

• replace declining pasture;

• maintain digestive health;

• support normal grazing behaviour;

• provide slow-release energy; and

• keep the digestive system active during long winter nights.

The amount required depends on the horse’s bodyweight, condition, workload and access to pasture. Australian guidance generally recommends that roughage make up the clear majority of the ration, with individual intake calculated according to bodyweight and nutritional requirements.

Hay quality matters as much as quantity. Coarse, weather-damaged or very mature hay may provide fibre but not enough usable energy or protein for a horse with increased requirements. A forage analysis is the most reliable way to understand what the hay contributes to the overall diet.

Does your horse need more hard feed?

More hard feed is not automatically necessary in winter.

Before increasing pellets, grain or other concentrates, ask:

• Is the horse losing condition?

• Has the workload increased or decreased?

• Is sufficient forage available?

• Is the current forage good enough to meet energy and protein requirements?

• Is the horse actually consuming the full ration?

• Could dental issues, parasites, illness or competition from paddock companions be contributing to weight loss?

Many horses are exercised less during winter because of shorter days, wet arenas and poor footing. If workload decreases, their exercise-related energy requirements may also decrease. This can partly or completely offset any additional energy used for staying warm.

When forage alone does not maintain condition, a suitable fortified feed or higher-energy fibre source may be introduced. Horses that need additional calories may benefit from digestible fibre and fat-based feeds rather than relying heavily on cereal grain.

Any new feed or increase in quantity should be introduced gradually. Sudden dietary changes can disturb the digestive system and increase the risk of problems such as colic or laminitis.

Do vitamin and mineral needs change?

Cold weather does not necessarily cause a major increase in every vitamin and mineral requirement. However, the balance of the diet can change when pasture declines and more conserved forage is fed.

Hay loses some vitamins during storage, and its mineral content varies according to the soil, plant species and stage of harvest. A horse maintained largely on hay may therefore require a balancer pellet or carefully selected vitamin and mineral supplement.

This can be especially important for easy keepers. These horses may receive plenty of calories from hay or pasture but too little fortified feed to obtain the recommended amount of essential nutrients. A low-intake balancer can help provide protein, vitamins and minerals without unnecessarily increasing energy.

Don’t overlook water and salt

Water intake deserves particular attention during winter.

Horses may drink less when the weather is cold, yet winter diets often contain more dry hay and less moisture-rich pasture. Inadequate drinking can reduce feed intake and increase the risk of dry manure and impaction colic. Providing clean, palatable water and checking troughs daily are essential. Some horses drink more readily when water is not extremely cold.

Salt should also remain available. Horses still require sodium in winter, even when they are sweating less. Monitor whether salt blocks are actually being used; loose salt added to the ration may be more reliable for some horses.

Which horses need closer monitoring?

Some horses are more likely to require winter dietary adjustments, including:

• senior horses with reduced chewing efficiency;

• young, growing horses;

• pregnant or lactating mares;

• horses in moderate or heavy work;

• horses with poor body condition;

• clipped horses;

• horses living without adequate shelter;

• horses with dental problems; and

• horses with metabolic or digestive conditions.

Older horses that struggle to chew hay may need soaked fibre feeds, chopped forage or a complete senior ration. Unexplained weight loss should not simply be treated by adding more feed; dental disease, parasites, pain and other health conditions should be investigated.

The bottom line

Winter does not automatically mean feeding more.

The goal is to maintain a healthy body condition, support digestive health and ensure the ration remains nutritionally balanced. Begin by assessing your horse, its pasture, workload and environment. Increase forage when declining pasture or cold exposure creates a genuine need, and only add concentrated calories when forage is no longer sufficient.

Monitor the horse throughout the season rather than making one change at the beginning of winter and assuming it will remain suitable. A diet that works in early winter may need adjusting later as pasture availability, hay quality, workload and weather conditions change.

The best winter feeding program is not the largest ration—it is the one that continues to meet the individual horse’s needs without creating unnecessary weight gain or nutritional gaps.