The Ranch Horse ~ Winter to Spring

by Marijke van de Water. Originally published in Alberta Beef Magazine, 2011

The cold winter climate impacts and determines the unique lifestyle of our horses that live here. The often inconsistent growing conditions mean that many horses must tolerate wide fluctuations in their diet and nutrition over the annual seasons. However, there are many ways in which we can help manage their over-all health through some common sense horse-keeping, especially in the winter and spring. The most common types of winter horse-keeping are as follows:

1) Paddock or field with scheduled hay feedings but no foraging. This method provides for a closely monitored feeding program whereby the horses can be fed measured quantities of hay and rations, with or without supplements. In an optimum program these horses should be fed several times per day; the stress created by infrequent feedings results in a constant secretion of hydrochloric acid (HCL) in the stomach and a decrease in the production of saliva which serves to buffer stomach acids. Infrequent feedings distress normal digestion and eventually damage the stomach lining leading to stomach pain, indigestion, cribbing and/or ulcers. Use slow feeding hay bags to slow their eating down, maintain adequate weight levels and alleviate stress and boredom.

2) Field feeding from a round bale which allows the horses to eat 24/7. This type of feeding provides for free choice feed, however problems can arise for certain horses (sedentary, aged or metabolic for example) if the hay is high in sugars or starches. As well, horses that eat from round bales or highly tied hay bags hold their heads up higher – this misaligns the jaws while chewing causing uneven wear on the molars eventually affecting how well they can chew. Horses on round bales also have a higher incidence of allergies since the unnatural head position exposes them to more dust and mold particles but doesn’t allow for nasal fluids to drain and flush out irritants. Similar to horses on scheduled feedings, horses on round bales should be regularly exercised.

3) Range grazing as the horses dig through the snow for dried grass and forage. These horses are generally not supplemented with grains, grain alternatives or added nutrients. Range grazers have the least human supervision but tend to be the healthiest as their lifestyle most closely resembles that of their equine ancestors. While we would consider the winter grasses as sub-optimal nutrition the dried grasses seemingly provide adequate amounts of protein, starches and of course, fibre. It is fibre from where horses receive 70% of their energy, used for weight maintenance and for performance. Most of these horses are also foraging dried weeds (read herbs) from where they are extracting extra nutrients and benefiting from their medicinal properties which contribute to the horses’ wellness. The combined activities of searching, chewing and the constant movement of walking and pawing contribute to a well balanced horse living a natural life. And even though it may be argued that many of them come into spring on the lean side, this has been the natural cycle for centuries of “natural range horses” as they prepare for the richer grazing on the sweeter spring grasses.

Range grazers use very little energy to actually digest the winter grasses leaving more energy available for weight maintenance and exercise. This is in contrast to domestic horses with diets higher in protein and starches; these food groups require a lot of energy for digestion leaving less energy available for weight regulation and performance. This is one of the main reasons why domestic horses often have to eat more. And this is also why forcing high energy foods into an underweight horse doesn’t always help them gain weight.

One of the most challenging times for all horses is the change in nutrition from the winter to spring feeding transition. No matter the winter environment or the type of feeding program, the introduction of fresh spring grass can be the beginning of many health problems. Many horse owners report that their horse’s health issues mysteriously disappear over the winter only to reappear in the spring, usually during the season’s diet changes. The underlying cause for most of these problems is due to the introduction of grass, particularly domestic pastures as opposed to wild range grasses. The higher levels of starches (fructans) and sugars in our grass fields cause excess fermentation in the hindgut which negatively affects the whole body.

The equine hindgut is equipped with billions of units of friendly bacteria meant to ferment fibre - not sugars or starches. Sugars and starches, when fed in moderation are efficiently digested in the small intestine. However, when the equine digestive system is overloaded, sugars are forced into the hindgut cecum where they begin to produce abnormal levels of gas, heat, acid and unfriendly bacteria. This cocktail of toxic factors is known as cecal acidosis causing a number of digestive conditions including diarrhea, bloating, gas and colic. Perhaps more significantly these toxins damage the intestinal lining making it abnormally permeable and then allowing the migration of bacteria, yeast, acids and toxins to leak across the membranes, out of the cecum and into the general circulation. The condition is known as “leaky gut” (and is also a common problem in unhealthy people). Leaky gut can be responsible for arthritis, soreness, low energy, skin conditions, poor immunity, digestive disorders and the all-time epidemic laminitis. Almost all laminitic horses are suffering from dietary problems and leaky gut, often combined with poor hoof mechanism. Some “leaky” horses can become so sensitive to grass that only a few handfuls are capable of laming them.

Any horse that appears to have health problems on grass should first of all be restricted from grazing completely or be given limited grazing - preferably during the night or early morning when grass is lower in sugars. For sensitive horses or easy keepers it may also be necessary to also ensure low-sugar hay with no alfalfa. Secondly, these horses should be given a three to four week course of probiotics to replenish the friendly bacteria. Different strains and higher quantities of probiotics are required for digesting grass than hay which is why all horses require a slow transition from hay to grass. Probiotics will re-balance the hindgut ecosystem resulting in lower levels of acids, discouraging the growth of unfriendly bacteria and yeast levels, and improving immunity. It is also recommended to use appropriate herbs such as psyllium seed, comfrey leaf and/or slippery elm to cleanse and soothe the cecum and to heal the damaged membranes. Specific health problems should also be addressed with a specific nutritional program. Always ensure that your horses have room to run and play, exercise them regularly and, above all, spend time with them.

Marijke van de Water, B.Sc., DHMS is an Equine Health & Nutrition Specialist who has a natural health practice for horses (and their people). She is an avid horse-woman, teacher and author of Healing Horses: Their Way! and the founder of Riva’s Remedies, a natural health product line for horses.

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