Horse blog and guide
Fit and healthy through the coldest season
Winter has arrived. While people can cosily heat up their apartments and snuggle up in front of the fire, our horses allegedly have to remain out in the cold. But can minus temperature actually hurt them? How can we best assist our four-legged darlings during the cold season?
Let's start with some calming news: In terms of their evolution, our horses are much better adapted to lower temperatures than to heat. In contrast to people, who do best at temperatures somewhere around 15 to 20 degrees centigrade, horses feel snug as a bug at 5 to 10 degrees. Lower temperatures may put a strain on a horse's body, but significantly less so than on humans. After all, for thousands of years, the ancestors of today's domesticated horses lived in Asia, on the cold steppes of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Siberia. These roots are still present in the top athletes that our horses have become, in spite of all efforts by breeders.
Human intervention
Nowadays, humans significantly impact on the nature of horses. For instance, winter husbandry may make it necessary to give a horse's immune system some additional support.
Ideally, horses should also be kept at least partially outdoors in open stables through the winter, which does not hurt crossbred or purebred horses but instead strengthens their immune system. However, such husbandry is often impossible for sports horses or riding stables. Nevertheless, it is extremely important for each horse to get some time to run around their paddock or pasture every day, even in winter. This strengthens their immune defences and the animal's well-being in general. In addition, the sunlight activates D vitamins in the body, which are essential for the calcium-phosphorus metabolism and hence for bone formation.
Light, fresh air and exercise – these are three important factors which help horses to enjoy their lives. All three are available during activities on a wintery pasture or when riding out through woodland in winter. And stables should let in as much light as possible in winter while being well-ventilated but not drafty.
Coat change and cropping as stress factors
Coat changes can start as early as the start of autumn. And when the well-known "teddy bear fur" grows sometimes more, sometimes less, the horse's immune system is put under great strain. This causes both physical and mental stress for the horse. Lethargy and listlessness often result. The addition of natural vitamins and minerals can support the horse during this process. Equi-Strath® herbal yeast is rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins, and thus offers valuable support while reducing the risk that the horse might be prone to the typical autumn diseases due to the physical change.
In most cases, sports horses are shorn either in full or in part before the indoor season starts. Each rider should apply this principle: less is more. This is because the horse's winter fur protects it against low temperatures and isolates it against rain, wetness and wind. Since the horse can raise its hairs, the fur isolates the horse's entire body by creating an air cushion. Increased sebum production in the winter fur makes sure that rainwater rolls off. This also quickly removes the horse's sweat. Horses that live in the wild therefore have no problem at all sprinting through the snow in winter. The fact that horses often sweat excessively these days is due to our heated indoor riding and other indoor areas. However, it is often enough to shear the horse in specific areas, such as the neck and chest, and to leave other areas, e.g. the saddle area, alone.
Natural addition as support
The herbal yeast produced by Bio-Strath AG has been a tried and tested method to strengthen the immune system and increase general vitality for more than 50 years. The product is manufactured in a clever process. Yeast cells are "fed" selected herbal extracts and then put through plasmolysis to prepare the ingredients for absorption by the organism. Top riders confirm that Equi-Strath herbal yeast is very well tolerated. Athletes point out the positive effect of naturally increased performance thanks to the support of Equi-Strath herbal yeast. Important for sports horses: The ingredients can also have a positive psychological effect while being free from substances on the FEI medications list. In addition, Equi-Strath® – in contrast to many other feed supplements – is free from synthetic substances and preservatives. The product contains 11 vitamins, 19 minerals/trace elements, 20 amino acids and 11 other important building substances.
Herbs etc. in winter feeding
When feeding their horse, every rider should make sure to add additional fruit, vegetables and herbs to the horse's winter diet. The body's vitamin budget of all creatures is under greater strain during the cold season. Feeding should still be based around a high proportion of roughage, but the additional soft feed components, such as apples, carrots, bananas, and even "exotic foods" such as salads, are essential.
Herbs like sage, thyme, rib grass, camomile, mint or Iceland moss often have a positive effect on the horse's health. They are particularly suited to helping with respiratory ailments. Minor ailments can often be treated entirely with natural remedies. With its balanced mix, Equi-Strath herbal yeast makes a contribution to ensuring that the horse gets through the cold season happily and healthily. In addition, treatment with Equi-Strath® thyme is particularly recommended to support bronchial and breathing function in case of respiratory ailments.
Alexandra Koch
