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A long cold snap can mean trouble for horses that live in the outdoors. When temperatures (including wind chill) drop below 45°F, horses use extra energy to maintain body heat. For each degree below 45°F, a horse requires a 1% increase in digestible energy, notes Robert Mowrey, North Carolina Extension horse specialist.

Wind chill, moisture and coat thickness play a role in energy requirements. Thick coats insulate horses against cold and wind. If the coat becomes wet, even more energy is required.

Feeds vary in the amount of internal heat produced when digested by horses. Because it produces more internal body heat when digested, hay is a better short-term source of energy in cold weather than concentrate mixes. To maintain body heat, a 1,000-pound horse should consume 15 to 17.5 pounds of hay daily, says Mowrey.

When cold weather lasts more than two days, both concentrate and hay should be increased in the diet by equal proportions. Boost the amount of concentrate by 10 to 15%. Another option is to feed the same quantity of concentrate but increase the energy density with 6 to 8 ounces of a fat source.