New Year's Resolutions for Horse Owners

January 1st seems to be the time we reflect on what we can resolve to personally do better or change in the upcoming year. It is also a good time as horse owners to resolve to better understand our horses' nutritional needs as well.

Check out these suggestions from nutritionist Dr. Clair Thunes:  https://thehorse.com/113805/equine-nutrition-new-years-resolutions/.  By following these tips, not only may you provide better nutritional care for your horses, you may save money too!

Winter Management Tips for Horse Owners

Now that it is officially winter, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure that our horses are well cared for during these colder months.  Some of the items to keep on the winter management checklist include adequate water, good nutrition, and protection from disease.

Making sure there is adequate water for horses during the winter is an important factor in preventing impaction colic.  During the winter months, horses may not drink enough water for a number of reasons. One of those reason is that the water they drink freezes, so they can’t possibly get a drink when they want it.  There is a fairly simple solution to this, and that is to break the ice whenever necessary, or at least twice a day if you happen to live north of North Carolina.  We usually don’t have extended periods of weather cold enough to cause water to freeze solid for extended periods, but it can happen over several days now and then.  During those times, be sure to supply water or to break the ice in the water trough.  If the water fountain freezes up, supply water in a bucket or trough until the drinking fountain can be thawed.  Stock tank deicers can be used to keep water in the trough or stock tank warm enough to prevent freezing over.  These can save a lot of time breaking ice!  Frost-free waterers also save a lot of worry and time.  Remember, adequate water during the winter months reduces the risk of your horse developing impaction colic.

The second part of the management equation is to make sure the horses have adequate nutrition.  Eating and digesting forages helps to produce heat, which helps keep the horse warm. Horses need access to good quality grass hay that will meet nutritional needs, yet won’t supply too many calories.  Supply about 2% of the horse’s body weight of forage per day.  For a 1,000-pound horse, that means supplying 20 pounds of forage per day.  Some horses may need some additional feed, depending on age, exercise level, body condition, type of forage available, or frequency of feeding.  In those cases, supply concentrates at .5% of body weight, or about 5 pounds of grain per day.  Split that up into 2 feedings to avoid overfeeding.

The third part of this article is to make sure that horses are kept healthy.  Vaccinate horses on schedule for the common diseases found in your area.  Consult with your veterinarian to stay up to date on which diseases are prevalent, which vaccines to use, and to develop a year-round horse health schedule that includes giving vaccinations at the right times of the year.  Also, remember there are factors that can reduce a horse’s immune function, making them more susceptible to disease.   One of the main factors is to make sure there is adequate shelter during high winds and from precipitation.  Most of the time, a horse only needs a windbreak now and then, but the ability to withstand weather can be altered by the quality of the hair coat or extended rainy, icy, and windy conditions.  If conditions are bad, or the horse is shorn for showing, a nice, dry stall can make the difference between a healthy horse and treating an illness.

Hay Bale Volumes

Like many different things out there, folks have opinions or ideas about which is best (think Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge or John Deere vs. International vs. Massey Ferguson).  The same holds true for round bale size.  2019 was not a good year to make hay.  I hope those of you that are reading this article on the NC Horse Blog already have your hay.  If not, get it soon.  Because of the weather for the past year or so, hay is not going to be plentiful this year.  I know of many sellers who put up way less hay this year than normal.  Plus the hay was not their normal quality due to weather issues.  So, get your hay soon.  If you still need some, here are some interesting things to think about. 

Most folks with horses don’t often choose round bales to feed their animals.  Some do, but I would say not the majority.   This is probably due to quality concerns.  If mowed, baled, stored and fed properly, round bales work pretty well for horses in pasture situations.  Feeding hay from round bales to stalled horses could be done, but your help might quit.  

  

Anyhow, I went to a farm earlier in the year and he was getting his round baler ready to go to the field.  He told me he had been given a chart from a guy from “State College” that told how many cubic feet were in the various sizes of round bales.  I found that really interesting.  It’s hard to believe a foot here or a foot there will make that much difference.  I did confirm these numbers with other universities.

There’s certainly reasons why folks choose the size balers they do – what type of livestock will get the hay, how will the hay be fed, how far does the hay have to transported on the road, and is the hay to be sold or used for your own animals.  All of these factors play a role in deciding which size baler is best for your operation.  But, the key point, whether you’re buying or selling, is price.  All round bales are not created equal.  I’m referring to size here.  Throw quality in the mix and that’s another topic as well.  But, based on volume alone, a 4X4 and a 5X6 are nowhere near the same.  Therefore, the price should reflect that difference.  Compare apples to apples.  With this chart you can compare how much hay you will actually get if you purchase a 4X4 vs. a 5X6.

Below is a chart with bale size and volume:

Bale width, ft	Bale diameter, ft	Volume, ft3
4	4	50.2
4	5	78.5
4	6	113.4
5	3	35.3
5	4	62.8
5	5	98.3
5	6	141

Common toxic winter plants

 Most horse owners are always on the lookout for potentially toxic plants in our pastures and around the barn and luckily MOST of the time our animals steer clear of anything dangerous.  However, in the winter when there is much less green to choose from, animals are much more likely to give a toxic plant a try.  Here are a few common plants that stay green through the fall and winter that can pose a hazard to your animals:

Azalea-These beautiful, native flowering bushes are a common fixture in North Carolina landscapes.  They are also unfortunately highly toxic to all species and stay green through the fall and winter.  This plant also seems to be palatable to animals and is sometimes sought out.  The leaves and the nectar of an azalea contain toxins called grayanotoxins and are cardiac glycosides. The toxins will obstruct the natural rhythm of the heart. This can cause arrhythmias and possible cardiac arrest.  Symptoms to watch for in azalea poisoning in horses includes:

• ·         Excessive salivation that is usually frothy and green
• ·         Slow or erratic heart rate
• ·         Loss of appetite
• ·         Cardiac arrhythmias 
• ·         Muscle weakness
• ·         Colic
• ·         Gastrointestinal disturbances
• ·         Diarrhea
• ·         Acute colitis
• ·         Tremors
• ·         Seizures 
• ·         Death

Yellow Jessamine- This flowering vine is also a native of North Carolina and is sometimes used in landscaping.  It can easily be found in the winter woods, as it is oftentimes the only thing that is green aside from evergreens.  The toxin found within the Carolina jessamine can lead to neurotoxicity in your horse.  This plant contains multiple alkaloids and is what causes the paralysis.  The most abundant alkaloids found in this plant include gelseminine, gelsemine, gelsevirine, gelsemoidine, gelsemicine, gelsenicine, and koumidine.  These toxins can be found in all parts of the plant but can be found in higher concentrations in the roots.  The alkaloids build up in the system and have a cumulative effect on the nervous system.  Scientists believe the alkaloid gelsemine, most commonly found in the flower and interfere with nerve transmission. Symptoms may include:

• ·         Ataxia 
• ·         Weakness 
• ·         Incoordination
• ·         Dilated pupils
• ·         Decreased body temperature
• ·         Weak pulse 
• ·         Muscle convulsions
• ·         Respiratory distress
• ·         Respiratory paralysis

Mistletoe-European mistletoe (Viscum album) as well as American mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) are both evergreen parasitic perennials with white or translucent berries that grow on the trunks and branches of deciduous trees. They are common holiday symbols sold frequently during the winter holiday season.  Symptoms of mistletoe poisoning include:

• ·         Colic
• ·         Behavioral Changes
• ·         Diarrhea
• ·         Low Blood Pressure
• ·         Convulsions

Red Maple- The red maple is another NC native and is very commonly used in landscapes due to its beautiful fall colors.   Fresh red maple leaves are not a concern and although this tree does lose its leaves every year, it is a health concern, specifically in the fall and early winter.  Leaves that are wilted either from a heavy frost or downed limbs due to a storm or pruning have toxic properties and become increasingly palatable.  The toxin in red maple leaves has never been identified, but after eating red maple leaves, horses develop severe anemia that results in pale to yellow mucous membranes and dark brown to red urine due to the hemoglobin being released when the horse's red blood cells are destroyed.  Other symptoms include:

• ·         Increased respiratory rate
• ·         Lethargy
• ·         Weakness
• ·         Depression

Yew- Although this plant is not native to NC it is commonly found in NC landscapes because of its unique look and evergreen properties.  Yew species contain a number of toxic alkaloids, the most toxic of which are taxine A and B. They are collectively referred to as "taxine" and mainly affect the heart. Horses are commonly poisoned by eating yews when they wander into an area around a house or barn that has yews planted in the landscaping. Livestock are accidentally poisoned when yew trimmings, or wreaths made of yew, are thrown onto manure piles or over a fence, where they are easily accessible to horses, cattle, sheep and/or goats.  Symptoms of yew poisoning include:

• ·         Death
• ·         Muscle trembling
• ·         Incoordination
• ·         Nervousness
• ·         Difficulty breathing
• ·         Slow heart rate
• ·         Vomiting
• ·         Diarrhea
• ·         Convulsions

If you suspect your horse has consumed any of these plants or any other potentially toxic species, contact your vet IMMEDIATELY. 

If you think you may have these or any other potentially toxic plants on your property but would like help identifying them contact your local extension agent.

References:

https://wagwalking.com/horse/condition/azalea-poisoning-

https://wagwalking.com/horse/condition/carolina-jessamine-poisoning

http://www.horsedvm.com/poisonous/mistletoe/

https://aaep.org/horsehealth/red-maple-poisoning

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/07-055.htm

Maintaining Your Horse's Weight During Winter

Winter conditions vary drastically depending on what part of the country you live in and how your horse responds to those conditions also vary drastically. And because of that, there is not one set recommendation for feeding horses during the winter months. The information below was prepared by Dr. Robert A. Mowrey, Extension Horse Husbandry Specialist. Contact your local Extension agent if you have any additional questions!

As the temperatures begin to fall in the early winter months, horses require additional energy to stay warm. This additional energy requirement usually calls for changes or alterations in feeding practices. This article explains how cold weather can impact your horse and what you can do to make your winter feeding program more efficient.

The Impact of Cold Weather

During cold weather, the horse requires additional energy to maintain its internal body temperature and keep warm. The exact amount of energy depends on the severity and extent of the cold period. In the Carolinas, horses typically experience a dramatic drop in temperature for one to three days, followed by a return to moderate, normal temperatures. When environmental temperatures, including wind chill, drop below 45 degrees F (the critical temperature), significant amounts of energy are used by the horse to maintain its internal body heat.

 

The amount of energy required by the horse to meet daily energy needs is measured as digestible energy (DE) in calories. The critical temperature can be used to estimate increased energy needs which the horse must obtain from its diet. For each 1 degree F decrease below the critical temperature, the horse requires a 1 percent increase in digestible energy to maintain a consistent body temperature. Wind chill, moisture, and coat thickness will affect the critical temperature. The horse’s thick winter coat has an insulating effect against cold and wind. If the coat becomes wet, the critical temperature will increase by 10 to 15 degrees F.

 The following formula is used to calculate the increased DE requirement for a horse as a result of cold temperatures and wet, windy conditions: critical temperature – actual temperature = percent increase in DE required.

Adjusting Energy Intake: An Example

The following example clarifies how to adjust energy intake for a dry environmental temperature of 30 degrees F with a wind chill that results in an actual temperature of 25 degrees F. The example applies to a 1,100-pound horse at maintenance.

Step 1. Subtract the actual temperature, including the wind-chill adjustment, from the critical temperature, accounting for wet conditions if necessary: 45 degrees F – 25 degrees F = 20 percent increase in DE requirements.

Step 2. Because a 1,100-pound horse at maintenance requires 16.4 Mcal of DE per day (see AG-558- 1) and because the horse in this example requires a 20 percent increase in DE, you multiply as follows: 16.4 Mcal x 20 percent = +3.28 Mcal increase. The requirement thus increases as follows: 16.4 Mcal + 3.28 Mcal = 19.68 Mcal DE/day.

Step 3. Next, you need to determine the amount of feed necessary to supply these increased calories. A 1,100-pound horse typically consumes 19 pounds of ration daily, or 1.7 percent of its body weight. Because the recommended DE level of the ration (concentrate mix plus forage) fed to a horse at maintenance is .90 Mcal DE/pound of feed, we can calculate the increase in feed as follows: 3.28 Mcal ÷ .90 Mcal = 3.64 pounds of additional feed to provide 19.68 Mcal DE/ day.

Step 4. Determine the total amount of feed the horse requires by adding the 3.64 pounds of additional feed to the 19 pounds of feed the horse requires under normal conditions: 19.0 + 3.64 = 22.64 pounds per day of total ration.

The Importance of Hay and Fat

Feedstuffs vary in the amount of internal heat produced when digested by the horse. Forages, which are digested by microbes located in the cecum and large intestine, produce more heat than concentrate mixes, which are digested by enzymes in the small intestine. Although concentrates contain more total DE per pound than hay, the amount of actual heat given off by the digestion process is significantly less. Thus, the best way to increase internal body heat while maintaining a safer, more consistent energy intake is to increase the intake of hay.

• A horse should consume at least 1.5 to 1.75 percent of its body weight as hay during cold periods. Thus, a 1,000-pound mature horse should consume 15 to 17.5 pounds of hay daily to meet critical temperature needs during cold weather.

During prolonged periods of cold temperature — several days below the critical temperature — both the concentrate and forage portion of the diets should be increased in equal proportions. The energy density of the concentrate mix can be increased by adding fat in the form of 4 to 8 ounces of a vegetable oil per day, or by the addition of a commercial fat supplement according to label recommendations. Feeding of additional amounts of concentrate or increasing the energy density of the concentrate is especially important if the horse is in poor body condition with low body fat, or is a “hard keeper.” The extra body fat provides an additional insulating effect against wind and also serves as an energy reserve that can be used when the horse is fed an energy-deficient diet.

The Importance of Water

Maintaining ample water intake is the most critical part of ensuring the health of your horse during cold weather. The horse prefers a water temperature of 45 to 65 degrees F. Under normal conditions, the horse will consume 1 gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight. A 1,100-pound horse will consume 10 to 12 gallons of water daily. As the water temperature decreases, the horse will consume less water. The same 1,100-pound horse may consume as little as 1 to 3 gallons of water daily when water temperature is 32 degrees F.

Low water intake is directly related to the increased incidence of impaction colic. Water intake can be encouraged by increasing the amount of forage being fed prior to a drop in temperature. The resulting increase of dry matter encourages the horse to drink more water.

Concentrate mashes should be fed during the actual cold period when water temperature is below 45 degrees F. Feeding 2 to 3 gallons of hot water daily mixed into a mash with a textured or pelleted concentrate mix will provide additional water intake. To avoid gas colic, allow the mash to sit for 15 minutes; this will permit the feed to expand prior to feeding. If possible, offer 10 gallons of water, at 65 degrees F or warmer, twice daily. Break and remove ice from water tubs, making certain to provide water that is available free-choice.

Ten Steps to Effective Cold-Weather Management

• Monitor weather forecasts to determine cold periods in advance.
• Increase the dry-matter content of the diet 24 hours prior to forecasted cold conditions.
• Strive to keep your horse in good body condition prior to winter months.
• Determine your horse’s critical temperature and adjust DE intake accordingly.
• Increase hay intake to horses in good body condition and “easy keepers.”
• Increase forage and concentrate intake for horses in poor condition and “hard keepers.”
• Supplement fat to increase the energy density of concentrates.
• Feed the same concentrate as a moist mash during cold periods.
• Offer 10 gallons of warmed water daily.

Subscription Boxes for Horse Owners

As animal lovers, our emotions sometimes get the best of us and we tend to spoil our furry friends. . .including the big, hooved ones.  I myself am guilty of this.  I have never walked into a barn when I didn’t have an apple, a carrot or a molasses flavored “cookie” in my hand for any of the beasts within.  Certain subscription box companies have taken off over the last few years for humans, pets and horses.  If you like getting mail once a month with “new stuff” to try, imagine getting “new stuff” to try with your favorite horse or horses!  Here are a few options:

A Horse Box

This box arrives packed with several items for rider AND horse!  Most boxes are around $25.99/month and include grooming goodies, wellness supplies AND treats.

Saddle Box

Saddle Boxes have FREE SHIPPING which is huge, this day and time.  It also has treats and items for you and your horsey.  The special thing about Saddle Box versus other companies is that the sales of boxes benefit horse rescues and shelters.  Did I mention that they have FREE shipping in the United States?

So, with the Holiday Season fast approaching, if you are stuck and don’t know what to get that special horse lover in your life, don’t be afraid to try something new and try a year’s subscription to one of the above.