Prepping Your Horses For Cooler Weather & Fall Feeding

As green summer pastures begin to fade and temperatures cool, fall becomes a crucial time to rethink your horse’s diet and daily care. A good fall horse feeding plan helps ensure your horses stay healthy and maintain body condition as fresh grass becomes scarce and more of their nutrition comes from hay and supplemental feeds. This seasonal shift means slowly introducing additional hay, closely monitoring body condition and hydration, and making thoughtful adjustments to feed amounts and types so your horse transitions smoothly from grazing to a forage-based fall and winter diet. Gradual changes, good quality hay, and attention to water intake are key parts of preparing your horses for the colder months ahead.

Fall Horse Feeding Checklist

Here’s a check list of items to consider with your horse’s fall feeding management:

1. What is the current BCS (body condition score)? Any change?
2. If the horse is slightly heavier than ideal, does the temperature in your area become significantly colder? If so, a BCS ½ -1 point higher than a BCS-5 may be beneficial for the upcoming winter.
3. Has the level of activity been reduced? If yes, then…
   1. If feeding a commercial formula, reduce ¼ – ½ lb. per day to a level that will maintain ideal body weight.
   2. If feeding a fat supplement, rice bran or oil, specifically for added energy then consider reducing the fat source to lessen caloric intake.
4. How much hay is being fed per day?
   1. Hay feeding base recommendation for active horses is 1.5 – 1.7% of body weight.
   2. If expecting colder climate, consider increasing daily hay. Grass hay is preferred. Long-stem (bale) forage promotes the gut to move with consistency which generates more internal body heat for warmth. This also encourages the horse to drink more water which is important for hydration, since during colder temperatures, horses drink less water.
   3. Meal feeding hay may lead to “empty gut” syndrome. Consider feeding hay more frequently, minimum 3-times per day, or provide hay via a slow hay feeder. Another option to reduce the hay net openings is to double or triple the hay nets. Be sure hay nets are not at a level for a horse’s leg(s) to be tangled.
5. Feeding hay pellets during the show/summer season?
   1. Consider transitioning from hay pellets to bale (long-stem) hay.
   2. For same reasons above, horses drink less water with hay pellets compared to long-stem hay and long-stem hay promotes more gut movement.
6. Want to feed a balanced formula during the off season of fall and winter?
   1. Depending on winter temperatures, adjusting the diet may be needed to maintain body weight.
   2. Consider Integrity Lite, balanced to complement the forage portion of the diet and contains no grains. The first two ingredients are beet pulp and soy hulls. These soluble fiber sources have an affinity for water and contribute to encourage the gut contraction; gut movement generates internal body heat and promotes gut health.

Finishing Fall Strong with Smart Feeding Choices

Taking time to review your fall horse feeding routine helps ensure a smooth, healthy transition into colder weather. By gradually adjusting feed, monitoring body condition and hydration, and prioritizing quality forage, you can better support your horse’s digestive health, energy levels, and overall well-being through the seasonal change. A thoughtful fall feeding checklist not only prepares your horse for winter but also helps prevent avoidable health and weight challenges, keeping your horse comfortable, nourished, and ready for the months ahead.