Winter Weight Gain
Some horses gain weight when given a winter break from trail riding, training, and/or showing. The extra weight can make getting them back in shape much harder come spring.
Monitor your horse’s weight carefully during breaks and if necessary back off on high-energy feeds. Remember that when you feed less than the recommended amounts of a commercial feed, you need to supplement with a complete vitamin and mineral pellet to ensure your horse’s nutrient requirements are still being met.
Never cut back on hay to reduce calorie intake; instead, change to a more mature grass hay that will provide plenty of fiber but less energy.