Horse Feeding Tips

Horse Feeding

Most horse owners will observe that the normal diet of grass, hay, and water does not seem to be enough for a competition horse to perform at their optimum level.

Due to their very fast metabolism, horses in competition will burn up considerably more energy and often require some type of horse supplement to help develop sturdy muscles and increase stamina.  These supplements to the normal horse diet are not only foods and vitamins, but also vaccinations and a proper de-worming program, these will help fight off bacteria and other viruses that can cause diseases.

There are many horse supplements and brands to choose from.  Some are available in pellet forms, there are also supplements that are water soluble, or in the form of tablets.  Some feeds are even commercially prepared as supplements themselves and require fewer additions to complete the horses’ diet.  Keep in mind though, that you should not just buy these supplements for emotional reasons alone, your results will be trial and error instead of an educated decision.  Individual horses have individual needs and what may be effective for one equine, may not show the same results for another. 

The grass and hay that you feed to your horse should always be dry and clean and free of any molds, weeds, excessive dust, foreign materials and insect infestations.  The lower quality hays can be ingested by cows and goats, not horses.  Eating decaying grass, for horses will certainly lead to serious problems and many times, preventable diseases.  Check with your local hay farmer or feed store about the types of hay available in your area.  Understanding the contents of feed available to you is worth the investigation.  Ideally, horses should be fed two to three times a day, just like us.  Feeding should occur during quiet times of the day, so the horse will not be distracted or nervous, or tend to rapidly consume its feed.  A horse will also learn to anticipate mealtime, so keeping the schedule for your horses will be more comforting to for them.  Irregular feeding schedules can lead to feed-bolting and digestive problems.  It may also cause unnecessary psychological stress.  Horses must also be consuming fresh and clean water.  The normal horse can drink about 10 to 12 gallons of fresh water per day. 

The amount of food that should be consumed each day can be measured with the knowledge of the actual weigh of the horse when developing rations.  Normally, horses will eat the equivalent of 1.5 to 2.5 percent of their own body weight per day.  Lactating mares, horses in a competitive schedule and younger weaned horses of 4-18 months old, can consume up to 3 percent of their total body weight.  We can assume that horses grazing on adequate pasture, supplemented with grain, will consume at least half of their daily intake from grazing.  However, these are only estimates, so be sure to discuss your horses’ needs with a qualified equine veterinarian.  Professional advice is always your best bet in determining how much food each specific horse needs, based on its health, age, exercise level and current weight. 

Some horses are accepting of a free-feed program.  It is wise to monitor each horse that has at liberty feeding available to them.  Not all domestic horses will have optimum results from this option.  When your horse can freely roam in the grassy pasture and graze, the requirement for three meals per day is no longer necessary, but check with your veterinarian to discuss the use of supplements.  

Of course, it is important to be sure that when you supplement the grazing with a daily ration of hay, it must be a clean, quality feed.

Allow one hour after the time a horse finishes a meal before the beginning of heavy work.  Horses also need daily exercise.  It is not wise to keep a healthy horse in a stall for prolonged periods because it may later develop some type of difficult behavior or health problem.  All horses require mental stimulation and social interaction.  After all, horses are herd animals that have instinctive behavior with their peers, which can only be experienced in a proper turn-out.  It is very important that your horse is given the opportunity to be free to roam and satisfy its curiosity. They also need companionship and this is the reason why they should have access to other equines.  Just like us, however, friendships can take some time to develop and a new introduction requires some supervision, especially when horses are wearing shoes or have exhibited previous aggressive behavior.

Always ask a qualified equine veterinarian before feeding any supplement to your horse to ensure you do not do damage to its digestive system.