Proper nutrition is crucial to your horses overall health. The primary necessity in any horse’s diet is roughage, usually in the form of hay or pasture. However, you see horses being fed grains such as pellets, sweet feed and other concentrated mixes. Some horse owners feed bran, beet pulp and supplements.
The choices can become confusing. So naturally you wonder what should I feed my horse?
Know Your Horse’s Needs
Horses are individuals, and part of your job is to learn what your horse needs. Good quality pasture or hay is number one. Unless your veterinarian has with good reason told you to keep your horse off pasture or hay, make this your equines mainstay.
Your horse should always have fresh water available.
What you feed your horse in addition to roughage will depend on a few factors such as:
- The work your horse does – performance horses may need additional feed and supplements in order to stay in top shape and excellent health.
- Your horse’s weight and size – some horses maintain a healthy weight on pasture and hay while others require more food.
- Your horses overall health – your veterinarian may suggest certain foods or supplements for your horse to help maintain good health.
You will know if you horse is too thin or too heavy. An overweight horse that is being fed grain should probably be taken off grain and provided pasture or hay only. Some pasture fed horses will get excessively heavy in the spring and early summer when grasses are rich. You may need to move your horse to a “dry lot” which is one with very little grass or only dirt. In this case, you will feed hay, but monitor how much you feed.
What Kind of Hay Should You Feed?
Horses need different quality hay than other livestock such as cows. You will want to be sure to ask your hay supplier if they sell “horse quality” hay. For your knowledge, horse quality hay is that which is:
- Dust and mold free – this is paramount as mold or dust can cause serious respiratory problems.
- High in nutrients – the nutritional value of the hay is important for horses. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture has some helpful tables showing nutritional values and feeding guidelines.
Even horses on green pastures will need hay if the pasture isn’t good quality, and in winter months when grass dies off.
Feeding Grain
Whether or not to feed grain can be the subject of debate amongst horse owners. If you need to feed grain, you want to be sure to feed as little as possible and small amounts at a time. Grain isn’t as easily digested as hay, and if too much is fed at once, it can cause problems such as the ever dreaded colic. If you can spread grain feedings out to three times a day, that would be best. If not, at least two times a day versus one big feeding.
Feeding Supplements
There are horse supplements for all your horses needs. From hoof care to digestive issues, you will find supplements that can help keep your horse healthy. It would be best to work with your veterinarian when it comes to deciding if your horse needs supplements and which ones.
In addition to being your horse arena specialists, we do have a great deal of experience with horses of our own. Should you have any fundamental questions about feeding your horse, you can contact us with your questions.
