02/17/2026
How do I give my horse a boost of energy to help withstand the colder climate without completely changing my feeding program?
Some easy ways to maximize your feeding program and provide additional calories without making huge changes:
1) Feed hay prior to grain and supplements. This slows the rate of passage of the feed through the digestive tract; allowing more time for digestion and absorption of nutrients.
2) Add a bit of alfalfa to the diet. While alfalfa tends to be lower in sugars and starches than grass, hays also tend to be more calorically dense.
3) Consider adding a fat supplement such as a rice bran oil or high fat concentrated extruded nugget or pellet. These fat supplements give an aditional boost of calories without the sugars and starches. Just take care to not overdo it. Too much fat in the diet can back a horse out of the feed tub and cause diarrhea.
