Using Winter to Your Advantage – Supporting Healthy Weight Loss in Horses

Written by Briony Witherow MSc RNutr. FHEA

For many horses, winter is a time when the natural drop in pasture quality and the extra energy needed to keep warm can work in your favour. For good doers and those at risk of laminitis, the colder months can be an ideal opportunity to support gradual, healthy weight loss — but it still needs a plan.

Start with a Baseline

Before making changes, assess:

• Body condition score (BCS) and, if possible, weight using a weighbridge or weigh tape.
• Current ration – type and amount of forage and hard feed.
• Facilities – turnout options, stabling, forage storage, and ways to feed more slowly.

Having accurate starting information means you can set realistic goals and measure progress over time. Weekly BCS checks and monthly weight estimates help keep you on track.

A Forage First Approach

Forage will form the bulk of your horse’s diet, but for weight loss it needs to be:

• Low in energy (≤ 8 MJ/kg DE) and low in sugar (non-structural carbohydrates ≤ 10–12% DM).
• Mature or late-cut hay is often ideal; if unavailable, mixing up to 30% clean straw with forage can help reduce calories while maintaining chew time.

Note of caution: Coarser hay or straw-based diets require more chewing and are digested more slowly. In winter, when movement may be reduced due to turnout restrictions or weather, this combination can increase the risk of sluggish gut motility and impaction colic. Always consider the whole management picture — including water intake, exercise levels, and forage type — when employing these strategies. Ensure fresh water is always available, provide salt to encourage drinking, and monitor droppings for any changes in consistency or frequency.

Weigh forage dry, aiming for around 1.5% of bodyweight (dry matter) per day, adjusting as necessary if weight loss stalls. Soaking hay for 1–12 hours in cool water can help reduce sugar content further — but always feed immediately after soaking. The additional water added through soaking (or even steaming) can also help to promote good gut motility, which is particularly valuable in colder weather when water intake may be lower.

Feeding Management – Slowing Down Intake

Extending “chew time” supports digestive health and helps horses feel more satisfied on a restricted ration.

• Use small-holed nets or double-netting.
• Split the ration into several smaller portions spread throughout the day.
• Offer forage in multiple locations to encourage movement.
• In stabled horses, add enrichment such as safe browse or a hedgerow haynet.

Hard Feed – Keep It Simple

Most good doers will only need a low-calorie balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement alongside forage to meet micronutrient requirements.

• Avoid high-calorie “pasture replacer” chops unless needed for other reasons.
• Salt (about 30g/day for a 500kg horse) should be provided, especially when stabled.

Pasture Access – Be Strategic

Winter grass still contains calories, even when short. Restricting access can be key to steady weight loss:

• Use strip grazing, track systems, dry lots, or restricted turnout hours.
• If using grazing muzzles, ensure a good fit and monitor for rubs. Be aware of minimum grass length – if grass is too short, the horse may be unable to eat effectively, increasing frustration and risk of reduced forage intake. Also follow maximum wear time guidelines (typically no more than 10–12 hours in a 24-hour period) to allow for breaks, normal social behaviour, welfare monitoring, and to prevent excessive restriction.
• Avoid compensatory grazing by pairing restriction with access to low-calorie forage in a stable or dry lot.

Keep Moving

Where possible, maintain or increase exercise to help create a calorie deficit. For some horses, this will be ridden work; for others, groundwork, in-hand walking, or turnout in a varied environment.

Set Realistic Expectations

Healthy weight loss is gradual — often just 0.5–1% of bodyweight per week. Build in regular review points to assess progress and make changes. If weight loss stalls despite following the plan, work with your vet or nutritionist to reassess forage type, total intake, and workload.

Take-Home Messages:

• Winter can be a natural ally for weight loss — but only if managed carefully.
• Base the diet on low-calorie, low-sugar forage and control portions by weight, not guesswork.
• Slow feeding methods, enrichment, and strategic pasture restriction all help maintain welfare on restricted diets.
• Monitor progress regularly and adapt the plan as needed.