Summer Horse Health, Feeding Tips, Foundations of Good Nutrition, Horse Health, Nutrition

Feeding Horses Through Summer: Tips for Managing Pasture, Supplements, and Hydration

Feeding horses through summer: tips for forage, feeds, hydration

Australian summers pose significant challenges for horse owners due to soaring temperatures and diverse climate conditions. Adapting feeding strategies based on regional climates is essential to ensure horses remain healthy, hydrated, and well-nourished.

Whether you’re managing horses in the dry, temperate regions of the south, arid regions of central Australia or the humid, tropical north, the unique climate conditions of each region require tailored approaches to feeding and pasture management.

In this article, Equine Nutritionist, Larissa Bilston, explores regional pasture and supplement requirements, the importance of electrolytes, and how to ensure proper hydration for horses during a hot Australian summer.

Impact of Climate on Pasture Quality and Availability

Feeding Horses in Hot, Dry Regions 

In southern and central Australia, summer brings high temperatures and minimal rainfall, causing pastures to dry out and lose nutritional value. Challenges include:

  • Reduced Digestibility: Mature, fibrous pastures are tough and low in nutrients. The digestibility of the forage declines, meaning horses need to consume more to meet their nutritional needs. Adding live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can improve digestion of stalky forage. Live yeast can be sourced in most Equine Vit&Min supplements and in Farmalogic Rejuvenate probiotics.
  • Nutritional Deficiencies: Dry pastures often lack protein, vitamins, omega-3 fats and minerals like copper, zinc, and selenium, leading to deficiencies that affect overall health. Utilising hay or hard feeds with good quality protein high in the most limiting amino acids (lysine, methionine and threonine) along with omega-3s and a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement are needed to balance the diet.
  • Forage Shortages: When pasture is sparse or over-grazed, provide free-choice grass/meadow hay – this is the best replacement for fresh pasture*. Add up to 30 percent lucerne or cereal hay to provide protein variety and some minerals to help meet nutritional requirements. Hay can be fed in multiple piles around the paddock to stimulate more natural grazing (preferably on a mat to prevent sand ingestion), in large round bales offered free choice or in slow feeder haynets to help make the hay last between feed times.
  • Special Cases: *Note that insulin resistant, overweight or laminitis-prone horses should not have free choice access to hay, and care must be taken to select appropriate low carbohydrate forage for these animals.

Feeding Horses in Tropical Regions

In tropical, sub-tropical and coastal areas with high humidity and frequent rainfall, challenges include:

  • Rapid Growth of C4 Grasses: These grasses mature quickly, reducing their nutrient levels as plants become more stalky. Rotational grazing or slashing pastures promotes leafier, nutritious growth. Supplementation with live yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii) such as that found in Farmalogic Rejuvenate can help manage any scouring that occurs with the sudden change in feed when rains first arrive or horses are moved into a fresh paddock.
  • Oxalate Issues: Many tropical grasses contain oxalates, which can cause calcium deficiency and lead to “bighead” disease. Calcium supplementation is crucial for horses grazing these pastures. We strongly advise accessing personalised expert nutritional advice to calculate your horse’s supplement requirements.
  • Nutrient Imbalance: Tropical grasses may lack protein and minerals. Adding a biscuit or two of lucerne hay and a quality mineral supplement can help balance the diet. Use our supplement selector to help find the Equine Vit&Min supplement best suited to your horse’s needs.
  • Environmental Risks: Prolonged wetness increases the risk of fungal and bacterial conditions like rain scald and thrush. Reduce susceptibility by providing dry loafing areas and balanced trace minerals, including zinc and selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids which work together to support skin and hoof health.
  • Mycotoxins: Warm, wet climates encourage fungal growth on pasture and feeds, potentially exposing horses to harmful toxins. Symptoms of mycotoxin exposure include itchiness, head flicking, lethargy or uncharacteristic spookiness, greasy heel, blistered pink skin, cough, lameness, puffy legs and muscle stiffness. Symptom severity depends on the type and amount of toxin present and the individual’s immunity or tolerance to mycotoxins. It is not unusual for one horse in a paddock to be much more affected than others on identical feeds. Affected horses need the help of a broad-spectrum mycotoxin binder and in some cases, removal from the infested pasture, to stay in top health.

Supplementing With Hay and Hard Feed

Regardless of whether you’re in a hot, dry area or a tropical region, supplemental feeding with hay will often be required in summer, and many horses also need a hard feed. However, the choice of feed and the quantities required will depend on local conditions and individual horse requirements.

In dry regions, grass/meadow hay should make up most of the forage, with a small amount of lucerne or cereal hay for variety.

In the tropics, whilst forage may be abundant, its quality can vary. Horses in these regions often benefit from access to hay (such as lucerne to boost protein quality, and some horses seek dry pasture hay to balance out the higher-water content of fresh pasture).

Summer conditions can cause weight fluctuations in any climate, so regular checks on your horse’s body condition are crucial. Make adjustments to their hard feed intake as necessary to prevent weight loss or gain.

Regardless of forage source, all horses need to have minerals added to balance their diets (especially copper, zinc, selenium, iodine and often calcium, phosphorous, salt and magnesium so be sure to provide a balancer supplement if you have an easy keeper or reduce the feeding rate of a fortified hard feed.

Electrolytes and Hydration

Maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance is vital during summer, as horses can sweat out as much as 10–15 litres of fluid per hour.  If not replenished, electrolyte imbalances can lead to decreased performance, muscle cramping, and more severe health issues, such as colic or heatstroke. An average 500 kg horse can drink between 30 to 50 or more litres of water a day, but it is important to replace electrolytes as well as water to maintain hydration.

Importance of Electrolytes

Electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium) are essential for cellular hydration and blood volume. After sweating, horses need to be rehydrated with the right balance of water and electrolytes. Dehydration can worsen with too many electrolytes but not enough water as well as from too much water when electrolytes are depleted.

A simple homemade electrolyte mix can be made with 45 grams table salt and 45 grams Lite salt mixed into 10 litres of water, optionally flavoured with apple juice. Horses who work every day, are living in hot and humid environments or are competing over a number of days will benefit from a well-formulated commercial electrolyte supplement which may contain additional electrolytes (calcium and magnesium), amino acids and vitamins to aid recovery along with sweeteners to improve palatability. A quality electrolyte supplement will not contain more than 20% sweeteners or fillers.

Encouraging Water Intake

To promote adequate hydration:

  • Add salt to the feed or sprinkle over hay to stimulate thirst. As a rule of thumb, ponies need 1 tablespoon (20 grams) and horses need at least 2 tablespoons (40 grams) daily for maintenance. Extra salt is needed in hot weather.
  • Soak hay or hard feeds to increase water intake. Discard any uneaten damp feed after a few hours to avoid fungal contamination.
  • Keep water cool and clean with a cover, especially if bat or bird droppings are likely to contaminate it. Warm water is not as palatable in hot weather.
  • Provide multiple water sources to to reduce competition and ensure every horse has access.

Tailored Feeding Strategies

Feeding horses through an Australian summer demands climate-specific approaches. Understanding the unique challenges of dry and tropical regions, providing balanced supplementation, and prioritizing hydration will help horses stay healthy, hydrated, and resilient during the hottest months.

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