How to Feed a Horse
Feeding a horse with the right combination of what the horse wants and what the horse needs is ideal. For a healthy, happy and productive horse, its diet is very important. Here’s what you need to know when feeding a horse.
Horse Nutritional Needs
Each horse has individual and unique dietary needs. As its caretaker, it’s your responsibility to monitor and see how the horse responds to its diet and, if necessary what you need to alter. Here are the things to keep an eye out for:
Your horse’s weight determines how much food they need. For every 100 lbs of body weight, horses need to eat two pounds of hay, and more if they are very active.
Feed your horse three times a day, spreading out the amount the horse needs to ingest within the day. This is generally a healthier practice and complements the natural grazing nature of your horses.
Make sure that your horse is supplied with clean, cold and ample drinking water at all times.
The hay should be accompanied with supplemental food like sweet feeds, grains and combination mixes. Horses with special needs are usually recommended these food as part of their daily diet.
Make sure that your horse feed include free choice minerals, especially salt blocks. Keep them in a cool, dry place so they don’t melt away. Keep them in a place easily accessible to the horse.
Keep note if your horse easily gains weight or otherwise.
Keep note what your horse prefers to eat and what food it rejects.
Feeding a Horse
The horse must have free access to free choice minerals (salt blocks) and cool, clean water at all times. Make sure that your stable provides for both of these.
Don’t feed the horse two hours before and after work or a strenuous activity.
Weigh out the food before feeding it to the horse.
Feed the horse in small amounts throughout the day.
Feed the horse the forage first, meaning the hay and straw. Give as much as the horse wants.
Follow the forage with succulents, such as fresh grass, fruits and vegetables. Sugar beets are a particular favorite.
Don’t feed your horse grain right after an activity. Grain must be fed when the horse has cooled down and in leisure. Otherwise, the horse can get colic.
Make sure that the feed is fresh, and that uneaten, rotting or moldy feed is regularly thrown out.
However, horses must still be given shots to get rid of parasites that may be living in its feed.
Your farm vet is still the best person to recommend what kind of nutrition your horse needs, so keep your vet updated on changes on diet and weight in your horse.