As temperatures drop and pasture availability decreases, many older horses begin to struggle with maintaining condition. Winter can be especially tough on ageing digestive systems, reduced chewing ability, and horses who simply don’t regulate body temperature as efficiently as they once did.
One of the biggest challenges we see in senior horses during winter a decrease in body condition and muscling and topline” explains Pryde’s resident expert, equine nutritionist Bethanie Gagliardi.
“Older horses often need more support to maintain condition, so choosing fibre sources and supplementary feeds that are highly digestible becomes essential as the weather cools.”
Here are four practical strategies from our expert nutritionist team to help your older horse stay healthy, comfortable, and in good condition all winter long.
1. Prioritise forage - and make it easy to chew
Forage should always form the foundation of your horse’s diet, but it becomes even more important in winter when pasture availability drops. Long‑stem hay is ideal, but many older horses struggle to chew it effectively due to dental wear or missing teeth.
If that’s the case, consider incorporating softer, more digestible fibre sources such as hay cubes, chaff or fibre‑based pellets like EasiFibre. These options provide the gut‑friendly fibre your horse needs while reducing the risk of choke or undigested feed passing through the system.
2. Add a high‑quality supplementary feed for weight gain
Senior horses often need more digestible energy and quality protein than forage alone can provide. A well‑balanced supplementary feed can make all the difference in maintaining weight through winter.
Feeds such as OldTimer or EasiConditioner offer slow‑release energy, quality protein, and essential nutrients tailored to support older horses. These feeds help promote steady weight gain, maintain topline, and support overall vitality - without creating fizzy behaviour.
3. Rug strategically to reduce energy loss
Older horses can burn a surprising amount of energy simply trying to stay warm. Rugging can help reduce this energy drain, especially during cold, wet, or windy weather.
A well‑fitted, waterproof, insulated rug helps your horse conserve body heat, meaning more of their dietary energy can go toward maintaining weight rather than fighting the elements. Just remember to check rugs daily for fit, rubbing, and cleanliness.
4. Stay on top of health checks and preventative care
Even the best feeding plan won’t be effective if underlying health issues are at play. Weight loss in older horses is often linked to dental problems, parasite burdens, or unmanaged pain.
Before winter sets in, make sure your senior horse is:
Up to date with their de‑worming program
Receiving regular dental checks
Assessed for any age‑related pain, such as arthritis, that may affect appetite or mobility
A healthy horse is far better equipped to maintain condition through the colder months.
Set your older horse up for a healthy winter
Winter doesn’t have to mean weight loss for your ageing horse. With the right combination of digestible fibre, supportive supplementary feeds, thoughtful rugging, and proactive health care, you can help them stay comfortable, strong, and in great condition all season long.
If you’d like personalised feeding advice for your senior horse, our Pryde’s EasiFeed [KH1] selector found on our website can help.
Frequently Asked Question
Q. Should I feed more protein to an older horse? – Yes
Older horses often struggle to maintain muscle and topline. Providing high‑quality, easily digestible protein helps support muscle maintenance, immune function, and overall condition. Senior feeds such as OldTimer or EasiConditioner are designed to deliver this high quality protein, in the amounts aged horses require,
Q. Should I rug an older horse in winter? – Yes
Ageing horses burn more energy trying to stay warm, especially in cold, wet, or windy weather. Rugging helps reduce this energy loss by conserving body heat, allowing more of their dietary energy to go toward maintaining weight and condition. A well‑fitted, waterproof rug can make a significant difference, particularly for horses with reduced ability to regulate body temperature.
Q. Should I change my horse’s diet in winter? – Yes
Winter brings reduced pasture availability and increased energy demands, so most older horses benefit from dietary adjustments. This often includes:
Increased forage provision in the form of digestible fibre sources (e.g., hay cubes, chaff, soaked fibre pellets) if chewing long‑stem hay is difficult.
A senior‑appropriate supplementary feed to support weight gain and vitality
Monitoring and adjusting feed quantities as temperatures drop.
These changes help ensure your horse receives enough energy, fibre, and nutrients to stay healthy and maintain condition throughout the colder months.