If your filly has no other health issues and has experienced extreme cold temperatures at or below 20 degrees Celsius, then we could speculate that this weight loss may be due to her increase in calories burned to stay warm over more temperate temperatures. Horses tolerate the cold very well, especially if they can be kept dry and have a windbreak. The horse can generate heat and manage very well in extremely cold weather. A horse's ability to stay warm is compromised if it gets wet and cold. Horses do quite well in temperatures in the 20s or higher. Horses need hay and/or pasture, good clean water, and possibly a concentrate (grain) to maintain optimum body weight depending on the age, stage, and work level of the horse. Hay/pasture helps a horse generate and maintain body heat, so if your filly did not have adequate quantities of good-quality hay available during this cold period, this may be a cause of her weight loss. If she was receiving an appropriate quality and volume of hay, she may have also needed a grain concentrate. Overall, it is helpful to understand how to adjust your equine feeding program based on the health and body condition of your horse. Please take a moment and review our "Body Condition Scoring" lesson for more details.

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