The transition from pasture to stables and paddocks is significant for the horse both physically and mentally. On pasture, the horse moves and wanders more and eats continuously throughout the day. When the grazing season ends, feeding times become less frequent and the composition of the diet changes. Pasture grass contains more than dry hay, not only many nutrients but also water. In addition, horses often move less in the paddock. All of this affects, among other things, how digestion functions. These changing factors are worth taking into account.
From grass to hay
On pasture, the horse eats fresh, highly digestible grass that contains a lot of water. Over the summer, the horse’s gut bacteria have adapted to fresh forage and continuous digestion. The amount of exercise the horse gets also has a major effect on digestion and gut function. Dry forage slows the moisture content and passage speed of the feed mass moving through the gut. Moving to dry hay and any concentrates also requires a change in the gut bacteria.
Gradual changes reduce the risk of stomach and gut issues
During transitions, various digestive disturbances such as loose manure and colic also tend to become more common. Gradual dietary changes help the gut microbes adapt to breaking down the new type of feed, and planning an optimal diet supports horses’ health and wellbeing. If the horse has been on pasture 24/7, it is a good idea to bring small amounts of hay to the field for the horses to nibble a few weeks before moving indoors. This allows the gut microflora to adjust calmly to the new feed and helps prevent many stomach and gut problems.
The amount of concentrates is recommended to be increased by a maximum of about 200 g per day. The gut micro-organisms react most sensitively specifically to changes in the sugar and protein content of the diet. At the same time, it is also a good idea to check the horse’s water intake and ensure adequate salt intake.
You can ease the transition not only through gradual feed adaptation, but also by offering the horse gut-friendly feeds that help the microbial shift. Examples include dandelion root, inulin, lactic acid bacteria, or feeds containing beneficial yeasts, such as Tummy Saver, Gastro Control, Gastro Clay B, brewer’s yeast, or Protect That Tummy.
Protect that Tummy for horses from 55.90 (2 kg)
Products for the indoor feeding season!
Vitamin needs increase
For some horses, the indoor feeding season may also mean heavier work, and the energy requirement must therefore be adjusted according to the amount and type of work. Feeding should be built around the horse’s basic foundation—hay. Check at least sugar, protein, and energy values. If the horse has become too rounded on pasture, it is worth starting the return to a normal body condition already in autumn.
When moving to dry hay, it is also a good idea to review the horse’s vitamin and mineral needs. In dry hay, the proportion of vitamins and other nutrients is lower than in fresh grass, because storing hay over winter inevitably affects the vitamin content of hay. A horse’s natural feed—fresh grass—contains plenty of precursors of vitamins A, E, and K. When a horse does not eat green grass daily, it needs an E vitamin supplement. An E vitamin supplement is particularly important for foals and growing horses, broodmares, and competition horses in heavy work. E vitamin is often recommended to be given frequently in small amounts, so that tissue E vitamin levels remain steady.
A B vitamin supplement can be beneficial for all horses during the phase of growing the winter coat, and also for the metabolism of normal energy nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. In addition, stressed horses and horses with gut issues often need a B vitamin supplement, because in these cases the production of B vitamins in the horse’s gut may be disrupted. Brewer’s yeast contains all the B vitamins a horse needs, and at the same time it also helps balance stomach function.
A D vitamin supplement is often needed during the winter season, especially if the horse spends little time outside or wears a rug. D vitamin stores built up during summer satisfy the horse’s needs for 1–2 months. A precursor of vitamin D is found, for example, in Iceland moss. Vitamin A is linked especially to immune defence and the wellbeing of the skin and mucous membranes. Vitamin A is obtained from, among other sources, pasture grass and carrots.
How efficiently vitamins from feed are converted is related, among other things, to the horse’s vitamin stores. If the body already contains plenty of vitamins, less of the precursors are converted into active vitamins for use. Therefore, a high intake from natural feeds is never harmful for the horse. With synthetically produced vitamin supplements, you must be more careful.
During the harvesting of forage, up to 80% of vitamins can be destroyed, after which concentrations decline during preservation by 6–10% per month. In particular, E and A vitamins are destroyed in hay during winter storage. During the indoor feeding season, you should therefore ensure the horse receives sufficient nutrients and vitamins.
Tummy Saver 1.8 kg, 52,90 €
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