Horse Feed And Feeding Your Horse: What You Need To Know
Congratulations on deciding to own a horse. It is important to understand that owning a horse is a big responsibility. One of the most important things to understand about a horse is that there are a lot of rules involved, such as those involved with feeding a horse right. Below is a brief look at what you need to know regarding horse feeding.
1. Offer Lots of Roughage
Most pleasure horses won't need grain—quality pasture or hay is more than sufficient for them. However, if you notice that hay is not enough, then you can add grain, though roughage should provide the majority of the calories for your horse. In fact, a horse's digestive system is built for the nutrition that is found in grassy stalks. Ideally, horses should eat roughly one percent of their body weight in roughage on a daily basis.
During the winter, your horse will need more hay since it will be unable to get out into the pasture as much and/or the pasture won't be as quality grazing. The same can be said during a drought.
2. Offer Grain Often and in Small Amounts
If you want to give your horse grain, then make sure to do so often and in small amounts rather than in a large amount and at one time. For example, consider giving a couple small meals of grains—once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This allows your horse to better digest its food.
3. Change Feed/Feed Schedules Gradually
While it is always a good idea to stick to a routine with your horse, if it is necessary to change your horse's feed schedule or feed, make sure to do so gradually. You don't want to do so suddenly or all at once, as this could lead to founder or colic. When changing feed, try to do so a little at a time at each meal over the course of several weeks, if at all possible.
4. Avoid Feeding Immediately Prior to or After Exercise
Just as you don't like to eat before or after exercising, your horse doesn't either. Try to wait at least an hour, but if the activity is particularly strenuous, wait a little longer. When your horse's digestive system is full, its lungs have less room to work, which makes exercise more difficult for them. Plus, during exertion, blood flow is taken away from the digestive system, causing the movement of the gut to slow down and creating a risk of colic. So, after exercise, make sure your horse's breathing rate is normal and their skin is no longer sweaty or hot before you feed them.
If you need help selecting the right horse feed for your horse or any additional information regarding feeding your horse, don't hesitate to reach out to your local horse feed store.
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