Cold weather significantly increases horses' energy requirements, and inadequate winter nutrition leads to body condition loss, immune suppression, and welfare compromise.
Horses that enter winter already in poor body condition, or who lose condition rapidly during cold periods, experience multiple welfare impacts - reduced immune function increases disease susceptibility, muscle wasting impairs movement, and the physical sensation of caloric deprivation is aversive. Senior horses with dental disease are particularly vulnerable as they cannot effectively process long-stem forage. Regular body condition scoring, weight taping, and dental management ensure nutritional needs are met before condition loss becomes welfare-compromising.