| You may be surprised at how well horses can adapt | | | | the nutritional benefits to your horse. Beet Pulp has |
| to colder weather. In the wild, horses can withstand | | | | been used by many horsemen as an additional feed |
| temperatures at well below zero. However, there are | | | | source to supplement hay. The qualities of beet pulp |
| a number of things that you can do to maximize your | | | | allow it to be an easily digested feed with similar |
| horse's health and condition during the colder months. | | | | nutritional benefits as hay. Be sure that your horse is |
| Here are a few tips that will help to keep your equine | | | | receiving enough feed through high quality forages to |
| friend happy and healthy during winter months. | | | | help him or her sustain a healthy body weight |
| One important thing to remember is that although | | | | throughout the winter. |
| horses do well in colder temperatures, they can be | | | | In addition to providing extra hay, you should also |
| affected by cold winds which not only make them | | | | always provide fresh water for your horse. Although |
| extremely uncomfortable but also have a tendency to | | | | the weather is colder, horses still need enough water |
| spook the horse. You can keep your horse happier by | | | | intake to keep their digestive tracts in line. Water |
| providing some type of wind break such as a run-in | | | | prevents dehydration and is a vital part of keeping |
| shed in the pasture. If your horse does not have | | | | your horse healthy. Not only should you provide fresh |
| access to a run-in shed, a line of trees may be | | | | water, but check the water regularly for ice. You may |
| adequate to block some of the wind, but it is advisable | | | | need to either install an electric heater in the water |
| that they at least have some sort of shelter from | | | | trough or keep a rubber mallet nearby to break ice |
| potential wind, snow, and freezing rain. | | | | which accumulates in buckets. |
| In addition to a nice shelter for your horse, you should | | | | Another tip to keep in mind is to cool down your horse |
| increase your horse's hay intake during the winter | | | | after exercise. Although this is equally important in the |
| months. Hay digestion creates increased heat | | | | summer time, horses can easily chill after a rigorous |
| production which helps your horse stay warmer in the | | | | work out if they are not provided with a cooler blanket |
| winter months. Be sure that you are not increasing the | | | | to keep their body temperatures from losing heat too |
| grain intake, as increased grain intake will not provided | | | | quickly and to keep them from becoming chilled while |
| the desired results of helping your horse to stay | | | | wet with sweat. Remember to walk your horse after |
| warmer. In fact, excess grain has been linked to | | | | a work-out so that they can cool down slowly. |
| foundering and potentially colic. | | | | Winter months can be refreshing and exhilarating for |
| If your hay is not of the best quality, you should take | | | | horses as long as they are kept healthy and happy! |
| your hay to be tested so that the hay is providing all of | | | | |