Just like you might want a warm bowl of porridge on a cold morning, ponies need extra energy in winter to help keep their bodies warm. Even when ponies are standing still in the field, they’re burning energy just to stay comfortable in the cold.
The most important winter feed for ponies is actually hay. Fibre (the rough, stringy stuff in hay) is digested slowly and acts like a central heating system from the inside; it produces heat as the pony’s gut breaks it down. So a good supply of hay is one of the kindest things you can give your pony on a frosty day.
Always make sure your pony has access to fresh, clean water, too. Ponies often drink less in winter because the water is cold, but staying hydrated is just as important in winter as in summer. Some people use water heaters in their troughs to keep the water from freezing; this can really help!
