How Is Climate Change Affecting Horse Ownership? | Equine Science Matters™

Climate change is affecting many aspects of our lives, and horse owners are increasingly seeing its effects in something as fundamental as how we feed and care for our horses. 

Hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters are changing growing conditions and forage availability, while periods of extreme weather can make it more difficult to maintain normal routines. These changes can have a knock-on effect on our horses’ nutrition, digestive health, exercise and joint health. 

While we cannot control the weather, understanding the challenges it creates can help us adapt our management and reduce the potential impact on our horses. 

Forage availability 

One of the most obvious challenges is forage availability. Wetter winters can leave fields waterlogged and unsuitable for turnout, meaning horses may spend longer periods stabled and rely more heavily on hay or other conserved forage. 

At the other extreme, hotter, drier summers and periods of drought can reduce grass growth and affect hay production. If grass is in short supply, owners may need to start using stored hay earlier in the year, potentially placing additional pressure on already limited forage supplies. 

A shortage of forage may also mean changing suppliers, using a different type of forage or introducing alternative fibre sources such as straw or fibre-based bucket feeds. Because the horse's digestive system relies on a stable population of microbes in the hindgut to digest fibre, dietary changes should be made gradually to allow the digestive system time to adapt. 

What can horse owners do? 

• Plan and maintain a reserve of good-quality forage where possible. 

• Monitor grass availability throughout the year rather than waiting until supplies become critically low. 

• Introduce new forage gradually, particularly when changing forage type or supplier. 

• Consider feeding a hindgut support supplement, including a pre- and probiotic to support the hindgut microbiota. 

• When forage is predominantly conserved forage rather than fresh grass, check the amount of Vitamin E provided by your feed or balancer, and consider supplementation to cover requirements 

• If forage becomes difficult to source, seek advice from an equine nutritionist about suitable alternatives. 

Changing mycotoxin risk 

Mycotoxins are harmful substances produced by certain moulds and fungi that can grow on crops, forage and animal feed. Their development is influenced by factors including temperature and moisture, both while plants are growing and after they have been harvested and stored. 

Changing weather conditions can therefore influence the types and levels of mycotoxins that may be present in feed and forage. Although cereal grains and maize have traditionally been associated with mycotoxin risk, mycotoxins can also occur in forage. Alltech's European Harvest Analysis has identified multiple mycotoxins in forage samples, with levels and the range of mycotoxins found increasing over the last few years, demonstrating that this is a consideration for horse owners as well as livestock producers. 

Storage is another important consideration. If hay or other feeds are exposed to moisture or unsuitable storage conditions, mould growth can occur and potentially increase the risk of mycotoxin contamination. 

Importantly, mycotoxins are not always visible. Forage can look and smell perfectly normal while still containing mycotoxins, so good storage practices and, where appropriate, laboratory testing can help provide greater reassurance. 

What can horse owners do? 

• Purchase forage from a reliable supplier and check it carefully when it arrives. 

• Store hay in a dry, well-ventilated area and protect it from moisture. 

• Regularly inspect stored forage for signs of mould, dampness or deterioration. 

• Avoid feeding forage that is visibly mouldy or spoiled. 

• Consider testing forage or feed if there is a particular concern about mycotoxins. 

• If a significant mycotoxin challenge is identified, seek advice from your vet or an equine nutritionist about appropriate management. 

Ground conditions and joint health 

Climate change doesn't only affect our horse’s feed. It can also influence how we exercise and manage our horses, with changing ground conditions creating challenges for maintaining healthy joints. 

During prolonged dry periods, fields, tracks and arenas can become extremely hard. Exercise on very hard ground increases the concussive forces moving up through the horse's limbs. Repeated concussion places stress on structures within the joints, including cartilage and the underlying bone, and over time may contribute to wear and inflammation. 

Conversely, prolonged periods of wet weather can leave fields deep or waterlogged. This can restrict turnout and reduce opportunities for natural movement, meaning horses may spend longer periods standing in the stable. 

Movement is important for maintaining healthy joints; as the saying goes, “motion is lotion”. Regular, appropriate movement helps maintain normal joint function and can reduce stiffness, particularly in older horses or those with existing joint problems. However, the answer is not simply to exercise regardless of conditions: the type, duration and intensity of exercise should be adapted to the ground and the individual horse. 

What can horse owners do? 

• Adapt the intensity and duration of exercise to the ground conditions. 

• Look for opportunities to provide safe, gentle movement when turnout is restricted. 

• Avoid prolonged inactivity where it is not medically necessary. 

• Give older horses and those with existing joint problems particular consideration when conditions change. 

• Consider feeding a joint supplement providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support along with joint-specific ingredients. 

• Monitor for increased stiffness, discomfort or lameness and seek veterinary advice if these occur. 

Conclusion: adapting to a changing climate 

Climate change presents horse owners with challenges that extend well beyond coping with hot weather. Wetter winters can restrict turnout and increase reliance on conserved forage, while hotter and drier summers can reduce grass growth and put pressure on hay supplies. Changing environmental conditions can also influence the risk of mould and mycotoxins in forage and feed, while extremes of hard or waterlogged ground can make maintaining an appropriate exercise and turnout routine more difficult. 

We cannot control the weather, but we can adapt how we manage our horses in response to it. 

Five ways to reduce the impact 

• Plan your forage: build up a suitable reserve of good-quality forage before supplies become scarce. 

• Protect feed from mould: store forage correctly, inspect it regularly and consider testing where there is a particular concern about mycotoxins. 

• Make dietary changes gradually: allow the horse's digestive system time to adapt when changing forage or fibre sources. 

• Adapt exercise to conditions: reduce high-impact work when the ground is excessively hard and avoid unnecessary inactivity when turnout is restricted. 

• Keep monitoring your horse: changes in appetite, digestive health, behaviour, stiffness or soundness can all provide useful clues that management needs to be reviewed. 

Ultimately, good preparation and flexible management are some of the most effective tools available to horse owners. By anticipating the challenges created by increasingly variable weather, we can help our horses maintain good nutrition, digestive health, mobility and overall wellbeing throughout the year.