Picture from: Walnut Creek Stables
Feeding your horse is very important. Food is the fuel which provides energy for your horse. The most important thing is to find the right feed for your horse. The feed that will provide your horse with the nutrients and requirements that meet your horse's body.
Another very important factor to include is maintaining the horse's bodily functions. A pasture horse needs feed to give him basic nutrients and he also gets some from the grass he is eating, so too much grain and hay can make your horse fat and unhealty. A stall horse will need a feed that provides him with all the nutrients he wil need.
Young horses require additional nutrients for growth. If your feed does not provide enough nutrients, he will not be able to grow. If a horse is not fed properly, he will never be able to be used to his full potential. The capacity of his heart and lungs will never be the same, nor will his bones be as strong.
Horses that are performing or working require more feed than those that are not used much. If your horse is going to be competing in something in something that uses a lot of energy, a high feed program will help it to maintain itself and perform at their best. Young horses that perform also need this high feed program not only to work, but to grow.
Pregnant mares have special feed requirements. Not only after the foal is born, but when the foal is inside growing, the mare needs a feed increase. The foal takes a lot of nutrients from its mother and the mother must produce enough milk to feed him.
To find out what feed you want for your horse contact a local feed dealer or veterinarian. Make sure to tell your feed dealer exactly what your horse is used for and its age. They can help you decide what feed meets your horse's requirements.