Our top feeding tips for horses in winter

Icy mornings, pitch black evenings and muddy paddocks that threaten to steal your gumboots – it’s definitely winter in New Zealand. For horse owners, the colder months bring a unique set of challenges. Not only are you having to manage the chill, but it can be challenging to feed your horses effectively. We’re here to help, with a few tips from the team at Golden Horse Feeds.

1. Make sure you increase roughage for warmth

A horse’s primary source of warmth in winter comes from digesting fibre, not from energy-dense feeds like grains. As the temperature drops, horses need more roughage to maintain their body heat.

Good quality hay or haylage should form the basis of the winter diet. Most horses require between 2–2.5% of their body weight in dry matter per day. In winter, aim for the higher end of that range — around 10–12 kg of hay per day for a 500 kg horse. You can also ‘pad out’ your daily feeds with chaff, which acts as an easy source of additional fibre. 

And of course, even if your horse lives out, ensure you’re supplementing with enough hay. The winter grass may look plentiful after a rainy day but it won’t always provide the complete nutrients that your horse needs. 

2. Keep up condition grading

Winter rugs can hide changes in condition, so it’s important to regularly check your horse’s body condition score. Horses in good condition will have a layer of fat covering the ribs, with no sharp bony prominences over the hips or spine.

If a horse is dropping weight, increase its forage and consider introducing additional calories through fibre-based feeds, rather than jumping straight to high-starch grains.

3. Use hard feeds wisely

For horses that need more than just hay, such as older horses or performance horses, hard feeds can help meet their nutritional needs.

In winter, opt for low-starch, high-fibre feeds, or senior feeds that are easy to chew and digest. Fibre products like our chaff pellets are a great addition, and they can be easily soaked into a mash if your veteran horse requires soft food. 

Always feed by weight, not volume, and ensure you’re feeding according to workload and body condition.

4. Provide constant access to fresh water

We know this is just common sense to many of you, but it’s worth mentioning – keep an eye on those water sources, especially if you’re in colder regions of New Zealand. Water intake often drops in winter, which can lead to dehydration and increase the risk of colic. If your horse is eating more hay and less grass, their water requirements will increase as well. 

5. Salt and minerals matter

Even in winter, horses require salt and minerals. Provide a free-choice salt lick, or better yet, include a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement in their feed if forage quality is poor.

Grass in winter can be low in essential nutrients like selenium, copper, and zinc — especially in New Zealand’s volcanic or sandy soils. Talk to your vet or equine nutritionist about forage testing or supplementation if you're unsure.

6. Adapt to changing conditions

Winter conditions can change quickly. If your paddocks are muddy or waterlogged, horses may spend more time standing in poor conditions or may not graze effectively. Keep an eye on pasture availability and quality, and ensure you’re supplementing their feed in a way that matches their living space. Strip grazing or rotating paddocks can help protect pastures and reduce mud damage.

Feeding horses effectively in winter in New Zealand requires a combination of planning, observation, and flexibility. By focusing on quality roughage, monitoring condition regularly, and adjusting feed to match environmental changes and individual needs, you can help your horses stay healthy and comfortable all season long.

You’ve got this – and the summer months are just around the corner!