11/12/2024
Myth: Grain/feed keeps my horse warm in the winter.
Fact: Hay is most effective for keeping horses warm in the winter. The act of digesting hay produces more internal (metabolic) heat than digesting corn, oats or any type of grain. Increasing the amount of quality hay offered during cold times will allow the horse to warm themselves from the inside out. This is a much more effective means for staying warm than increasing grain.
Always offer good quality immature-cut hay versus later-cut hay or straw. Feeding overly mature hay or straw can set a horse up for impaction colic because it contains a high amount of indigestible fiber and has less water holding capacity within the digestive tract. Mature-cut hay is generally evident by thicker, stiffer stems, and full heading out of the grasses (or blooming of alfalfa). Keep in mind the best indicator for maturity and quality of hay is through a simple forage test (I prefer equi-analytical).
