Does your horse thrive or does he merely survive through the cold winter months? Every owner would like to keep their horse at the peak of fitness all year round, with a gleaming coat, bright eyes, well-formed topline and rippling muscles, but the fact is that many horses are susceptible to loss of condition during the winter months.

Veterans, in particular, struggle to maintain weight, and if your horse has an ongoing condition, such as arthritis, his overall wellbeing will be affected. Or your horse may just be one of the unlucky ones prone to loss of condition due to metabolism, breed or even his temperament. Whatever the cause, feeding a well-balanced diet could make all the difference.

Before considering whether or not your horse needs a feed supplement, it is essential to assess his food programme. Make sure he is on the correct amount of forage and the right concentrates for his size, build, temperament and the amount of work he is in. Your vet or feed manufacturer may be able to help. The basis of any diet should be fibre to aid gut health, which is found in good-quality hay.

This is especially important for maintaining body temperature over the winter.

General supplements:

Most horses would benefit from a general-purpose vitamin and mineral supplement in the winter. As the temperature drops, horses use more calories to keep warm. Also, as grass quality deteriorates, horses become more dependent on processed feeds. These often lose much of their vitamin and mineral content due to heat and air exposure, and through storage.

Therefore, although a horse might be receiving adequate levels of energy and protein, he can be lacking essential micronutrients. When choosing an all-round supplement, read the ingredients list and make sure that it contains minerals, trace elements and vitamins, especially A, D and E.