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Horse Feeding
A horse that is able to graze freely during
the summer months and is not in hard work probably requires little
supplementary feeding. Throughout the winter months, however, when grass
provides very little nourishment, horses should be fed supplementary hay on
a regular basis. Hard feeds (sometimes referred to as complete feeds, or
grain supplements) should be fed to horses that are in hard work, or are
particularly young or old. |
Generally, the following elements affect the
amount and type of horse feed.
Hay is the main bulk food given to horses. It acts as a grass supplement for
stabled horses or for horses on poor grazing land. Hay contains essential
minerals and proteins and aids digestion.
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Compound feeds
(complete feeds) in the form of either pelleted feed or mixes contain the
correct balance of all essential nutrients. Several mixtures are available
for horses engaged in different levels of work, or at different stages of
life. This type of feed is particularly suitable for one-horse owners or
inexperienced owners.
Oats are an excellent horse
feed as they contain the correct balance of nutrients. However, care is
required, as some horses tend to become over-excited on this type of feed.
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Barley adds flesh to horses and
can often tempt a horse that is not, for whatever reason, eating sufficient
bulk.
Maize or corn is a very
fattening, high calorie feed and should be fed with caution.
Sugar beet pulp
should be soaked for
24 hours and is an excellent feed for adding weight or for improving a
horses condition. However, it is not suitable for horses in hard work.
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Time of year All horses require more feed in the winter to maintain
a suitable body temperature.
Workload Horses in hard work require more hard food such as oats,
grains, barley and pelleted feed.
Temperament A high-strung horse is
best fed cooling mixes, whereas a more sluggish horse may benefit from
heating feeds such as oats.
Size Pay attention to your horse's
weight, rather than size, when determining the amount of feed required. A
horse should be fed approximately 2.5% of its body weight daily.
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Age Bear in
mind that a horse's digestive system functions at its best between the ages
of eight and twelve years. Younger horses require more protein for growth,
whereas older horses require food that is easily digested.
Quality of grazing
A horse will graze continually, given the chance! It is necessary,
therefore, to take into account the amount of time that your horse spends
out in the field and the quality of the pasture or grass.
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Golden Rules for Equine Nutrition
Clean water should
be available at all times.
Feed small amounts as often as possible and stick to regular feeding
times.
Feed the correct proportion of bulk and concentrates, depending on your
horse's workload.
Leave four hours between feedings.
Always provide salt 'free choice,' particularly during the summer and
especially for horses in hard work.
Leave at least an hour between feeding and exercise.
Feed a fruit or vegetable, such as apples and carrots, every day.
Never interrupt a horse while it is eating.
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