Trivia Challenge: Fall Horse Health
Answer the questions, then check at bottom for the key. For more great information about horses, read H&R’s ‘The Ride’ newsletter. (Not getting it? Sign up below—it’s free!)

1. True or False: During the fall, you should keep your horse on his regular health maintenance program. 

T/F

2. Why are horses more likely to colic during the Fall? 

a. Horses don’t like cold weather. 

b. The change in weather can cause them to not drink enough water. 

c. Horses don’t colic because of outside circumstances. 

3. True or False: You should be aware of your horse’s body condition before the weather gets colder so you can make any necessary adjustments. 

T/F 

4. Why is it sometimes necessary to increase your horse’s caloric intake in the fall? 

a. Horses have more energy in the cold weather so they are playing more. 

b. You should never increase their caloric intake. 

c. Horses burn calories when trying to keep warm. 

HOW’D YOU DO? (Answers below.)

1. True  You don’t want to drastically change anything in your horse’s routine without a little warning. It’s also a good idea to keep them on their same vaccination, deworming, and dental schedule to prevent any issues in the cold weather. 

2. B – In the fall your horse is more likely to eat dry hay than wet grass. If they aren’t getting enough water, their digestive system slows down, putting them at risk for colic. 

[For tips to avoid Fall colic: Your Fall Health Checklist]

3. True – Fall is a good time to make sure your health is as healthy as possible so he has a good chance of having an easy winter. Colder weather and working more during the fall can cause weight loss that will be hard to fix during the winter. 

4. C – Horses naturally burn calories to keep warm so even if they aren’t working more, they’re still likely to lose weight. It’s sometimes necessary to add a few extra pounds to their weight to prepare for the inevitable weight loss.

Don’t miss out! If you’re not already receiving H&R’s fun and informative newsletter, sign up right now for The Ride. It’s *free*!

CATEGORIES
TAGS
Related Articles
Quarter Horses at fence in winter
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
Emergency Winter Weather Prep
Horse eating hay in winter
Cold Weather Feeding
Quick Tips for Winter Feeding
H&R Monthly 1224 cover
Peek Inside for Performance Horse Tips
H&R Monthly Volume 44 | Maintain Your Performance Horse
Female Vet Examining Horse In Field With Owner
The Scoop on Medications
Decoding theD(rug) E(nforcement) A(dministration)
Newsletter
Receive news and promotions for Horse & Rider and other Equine Network offers.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Country*

Additional Offers

Additional Offers
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.