| Does your horse thrive or does he merely survive | | | | vet or feed manufacturer may be able to help. The |
| through the cold winter months? Every owner would | | | | basis of any diet should be fibre to aid gut health, |
| like to keep their horse at the peak of fitness all year | | | | which is found in good-quality hay. |
| round, with a gleaming coat, bright eyes, well-formed | | | | This is especially important for maintaining body |
| topline and rippling muscles, but the fact is that many | | | | temperature over the winter. |
| horses are susceptible to loss of condition during the | | | | General supplements: |
| winter months. | | | | Most horses would benefit from a general-purpose |
| Veterans, in particular, struggle to maintain weight, and | | | | vitamin and mineral supplement in the winter. As the |
| if your horse has an ongoing condition, such as arthritis, | | | | temperature drops, horses use more calories to keep |
| his overall wellbeing will be affected. Or your horse | | | | warm. Also, as grass quality deteriorates, horses |
| may just be one of the unlucky ones prone to loss of | | | | become more dependent on processed feeds. These |
| condition due to metabolism, breed or even his | | | | often lose much of their vitamin and mineral content |
| temperament. Whatever the cause, feeding a | | | | due to heat and air exposure, and through storage. |
| well-balanced diet could make all the difference. | | | | Therefore, although a horse might be receiving |
| Before considering whether or not your horse needs a | | | | adequate levels of energy and protein, he can be |
| feed supplement, it is essential to assess his food | | | | lacking essential micronutrients. When choosing an |
| programme. Make sure he is on the correct amount of | | | | all-round supplement, read the ingredients list and make |
| forage and the right concentrates for his size, build, | | | | sure that it contains minerals, trace elements and |
| temperament and the amount of work he is in. Your | | | | vitamins, especially A, D and E. |