Comfort food

Winter is expensive for horse owners, but feeding the right diet pays dividends. Stephanie Bateman ask experts how to save without skimping

“THE aim of winter feeding is to ensure horses maintain good condition and stay healthy,” says Baileys Horse Feeds’ senior nutritionist Emma Short. “Due to poor weather conditions, horses require a good balance of nutrients and energy to support them, particularly as the grass quality declines.”

But each breed, height and type of horse has very different needs. Here, we take a look at four different categories to find out what they typically require in terms of hard feed and forage, and what the priorities are.

As grass quality declines and the weather takes a turn for the worse, it is important owners consider their horses’ individual needs when it comes to feeding