After
the coldest spring in 50 years, the recent warmer weather has been a welcome
change, but how might this change in temperature affect your horse’s diet? Here
are a few tips for ‘hot weather feeding’.
Water
Water
is the most important, yet often the most overlooked nutrient in the horse’s
diet. Daily intake varies between individuals but on average, is approximately
50ml/kg BW for ‘idle’ horses (25l per day for a 500kg horse). However increased
heat, humidity and exercise results in increased demand, so ensure ample supply
is maintained. If you are concerned that your horse is not drinking enough,
buckets rather than automatic drinkers can help to monitor intake. Flavouring
water with apple juice may help to encourage drinking and if possible, taking
your own water to shows may be useful for those to reluctant to drink ‘strange’
water.
Electrolytes
When
horses sweat they lose electrolytes (mineral salts), the main ones being
sodium, potassium and chloride. For most leisure horses and those in light
work, free access to a salt lick, water and plenty of forage is more than
sufficient for replacing these losses. For horses sweating heavily and on a
regular basis, table salt and in harder work a combination of table salt and
Lo-salt, is a cheap and effective replacement (ask a nutritionist for more
advice on this). In addition, pre-prepared electrolyte solutions combining
minerals salts and sugars can help to support hydration and glycogen recovery
following exercise.
Hay soaking
Whilst
studies have shown that soaking hay for 12-16 hours in tepid water is the most
effective method for reducing sugars, soaking for long periods in hot weather
is not recommended. This considered, reduce your soaking time to 3-6 hours and
remember that soaking for any length of time cannot guarantee safety for
laminitics – speak to a nutritionist for more advice.
Grass
It
is easy to assume that short, sparse or drought damaged grass has little
nutritional value but in truth, levels of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC=starch,
sugars and fructan) may be higher than in longer, greener pasture. Stress
caused by overgrazing, drought, poor management and lack of nutrients can result
in higher levels of NSC, posing a potential increased risk for laminitics. Fructan
(storage sugar) may be higher in the stem than the leaf, so avoid grazing
laminitics on hay stubble.
Safe feed storage
This
is important at any time of year, but soaring temperatures may increase the risk
of mould and grain mite. Feed should be stored in cool (12 degrees Celsius or
below), dry and preferably dark conditions. Un-opened feed should be raised off
of the floor i.e. on a pallet to allow air to circulate, have all shrink
wrapped removed to prevent sweating and be kept away from walls (allow a gap of
0.5m). Try to avoid leaving your feed in a hot car for long periods and if
feeding small amounts, avoid buying in large volumes to help maintain
freshness.
Summer
will sadly soon be over so enjoy the hot weather while it lasts; but spare a
moment to think about how this may affect your horse’s feeding regime.
