For horses, the arrival of Autumn means the lush pastures they enjoyed munching on in the warm sunshine will now be replaced by hay. | Photo: Photos.com

Shorter days and colder temperatures can only mean one thing: Autumn has arrived, and winter is close behind. For horses, this means the lush pastures they enjoyed munching on in the warm sunshine will now be replaced by hay. For horse owners, it means making sure that the transition from pasture to hay is a healthy one.

“When winter arrives, horses must be in good condition to withstand colder temperatures,” said Karen E. Davison, Ph.D., equine sales and support manager with Purina Animal Nutrition. “There are a number of steps horse owners can take to help their horses move into fall and winter in good health, and emerge in the spring the same way.”

Davison shares these five tips to help ensure a smooth transition from pasture to hay, and to formulate a sound fall and winter feeding plan