Is there a difference in the benefits of oil for older horses in winter?

While the search results don’t directly address the specific benefits of oil for older horses in winter, the information provided on horse feeding and nutrition can be helpful.

Horses were among the last livestock species to be domesticated, around 3000 BCE. Their nutrient needs can usually be met with pasture forage, harvested roughages, and concentrates. However, nutritional needs change based on the horse’s workload and life stage.

How Do Nutritional Needs Change for Older Horses?

Mature horses need quality grass-legume pastures and salt to maintain themselves during light work or pregnancy. Lush spring pastures may require a high-energy source like grain for horses doing medium to heavy work, while fall and winter pastures may need protein and vitamin A supplements.

What are the Best Feeds for Horses?

High-quality legume hays, like early bloom alfalfa, are great for horses, especially growing or lactating ones. Moldy or dusty feeds should be avoided because horses are very susceptible to forage poisoning and respiratory issues. Grass hays, such as timothy, prairie grass, orchard grass, and bluegrass, were preferred by early horsemen because they were usually free from mold and dust and tended to slow down the rate of passage through the intestinal tract. However, these hays are low in digestible energy and protein and must be adequately supplemented. Oats are the preferred grain for horses because of their bulk, but corn (maize), barley, wheat, and milo can be used if they are less expensive.

What Considerations Should Be Made for Stabled Horses?

A growing number of horses stabled in cities and suburbs where sufficient roughages cannot be grown provide a large market for complete horse rations, including roughage, which are tailored to the total needs of specific animals according to their particular function at a given time, such as growth, pregnancy, lactation, or maintenance. Horses will vary from the normal requirement in terms of weight, temperament, and previous nutrition. Foals will eat some pasture grass, forage, or hay when they are three days old and grain when they are three weeks old.

What About Oils?

Unfortunately, the search results do not provide information about the benefits of oils for older horses in winter.

Would you like to explore other aspects of horse nutrition or care?