Feeding and Nutrition

A horse's feed and nutrition have an enormous impact on his ability to do the job he is trained to do, on his mental attitude, and on his longevity. Because a horse has only one stomach and a cecum (rather than the four stomachs of a cow, for example), a horse must be fed so that his simple digestive system is not overwhelmed and its processes interrupted, which can result in a dangerous colic. The following are some considerations concerning equine feeding and nutrition:

Activity level
A working horse needs more and higher quality feed than a nonworking or retired horse. An idle horse weighing 1,000 pounds needs about 25 pounds of hay daily to maintain his weight and normal bodily functions, plus minimal activity. (Of course, this may vary from individual to individual, with some horses being "easy keepers," and others needing more food for maintenance.)

A working horse will need more hay, and he should be fed a sweet feed or pelleted feed as well. Some horses also require supplements of vitamins and minerals; if your horse loses condition or weight, ask your vet to recommend a diet and supplements to help.

Age
Older horses, even those in light work, may need supplements to maintain condition and weight. Very old horses may need special softer food, as their teeth are worn down. Older broodmares, particularly, may need special rations and supplements recommended by the vet to keep them and their fetuses in good condition.

Colic
A severe colic can kill a horse. In recent years, surgery to correct torsion has been developed, but it is expensive and recuperation is lengthy. It is best to avoid colic by practicing good horse husbandry. If you do suspect colic, however, call the vet immediately.

Minerals
Minerals are required in small amounts by all living things to maintain health. Horses obtain minerals through the grasses and grains they eat as well as through supplements. The essential minerals for horses are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chlorine, and potassium.

Horses need trace amounts of iodine, cobalt, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, and selenium. Various soils provide, through hay and grasses, many of these minerals in varying quantities. In some regions, supplements are need of one or another mineral; in other regions, supplementation would cause overdose. Veterinarians can help determine specific needs in your area.

Overfeeding
Overfeeding can be just as bad as underfeeding. A fat horse has more weight to carry and may not have the energy he needs for the work he does. Overfeeding of supplements can be deadly. Keep an eye on your horse's condition. If he loses weight during work, ask your veterinarian before adding foods or supplements to a normal horse diet of grain, hay, and pasture forage. If the horse gains weight during a lay up, cut his rations to the amount that will allow him to maintain his weight in minimal or no work.

Pasture
Probably the best food for horses is what grows fresh from the earth. However, because we generally keep a greater number of horses on pastures much smaller than they would roam naturally, pasture must be supplemented with prepared feeds (grain and hay), and the pasture itself must be kept in edible condition.

Ask your county extension agent for the proper mix of grasses to plant for horses in your region. Then let the pasture grow to about five inches in height before turning horses out onto it. Allow them to nibble it down to two inches, then rotate them to a different pasture and let it grow again before reintroducing the horses. Careful pasture management will prevent the bald or muddy spots that allow weeds to take hold and destroy pasture.

Pelleted feeds
There are three types of pellets; grain, hay, and a combination of hay and grain with vitamin and mineral supplements added. Generally, pellets are convenient because they are dry and not dusty or sticky. They are easy to transport and easier than sweet feed to keep vermin out of; they have less of an odor and are not sticky, so they store well in covered bins. The problem is that pelleted feeds don't provide much roughage; if you use them, supplement the rations with hay and/or pasture.

Protein
Protein is needed for growth and for building and repairing muscle and other tissues. Horses may need extra protein when they are growing, pregnant, nursing a foal, living in cold weather, or in spring, to help them shed out their winter coats. Because protein creates heat, horses working hard in the summer should be fed extra protein cautiously.

Salt
Salt, or sodium chloride, is essential for equine health. Grasses do not provide it; usually, it is added to commercial feeds. A horse doing minimal work will need about half a pound of salt per week, depending on how much he sweats. Because excess salt is simply flushed from the system, as long as the horse has sufficient water available, it is safe to provide free access to salt. Usually, blocks are hung in rack in the stall or just set on the floor for the horse to lick at will. Large blocks can be used in pastures for field-boarded horses.

Supplements
Horses lived for eons without supplements; in fact, without anything but the grasses they found where they lived and roamed. However, keeping them in artificial conditions in which they cannot go and forage for themselves means we have to be sure to supply the things nature would have provided. We do this generally through scientifically prepared supplements. Technically, grain is a supplement to a wild horse's diet of grass, water, and the minerals he consumes in his natural food.

Trace minerals
These are minerals needed in very small amounts for excellent health, and include iodine, cobalt, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, and selenium.

Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds needed in small amounts by every living creature for normal body function. Horses can obtain virtually all the vitamins they need if they are kept on good pasture and not worked beyond the limits of the energy found in the forage they eat there. If a horse is partially pastured and partially grain and hay fed (particularly if he does a substantial amount of work) it is necessary to analyze his rations and his condition to decide if any supplemental vitamins are needed and which ones.

Water
Water is just as essential for equine digestion and metabolism as it is for humans. Horses will generally drink water periodically while grazing. It is also essential to provide free access to water while they are eating food in their stalls, despite the old-fashioned belief that drinking during or just after eating will wash grain through the stomach too fast.

In fact, water is more important for horses fed hay and grain. Insufficient water intake can lead to a variety of digestive disorders; some are fatal. The only time to withhold water is when the horse is overheated; at this time, offer him just a small amount of warm water (to avoid cold-water colic). Offer free access to water once he has cooled down.

Weighing feed
Rations should be weighed rather than "eyeballed." Feeding flakes of hay is tricky because not all hay is created equal; some balers bale tightly, and their flakes weigh more than flakes from a loose baler. A minimally active horse needs about 25 pounds of hay, in two or three feedings, per day.

Weigh a bale of each new batch of hay and divide to see how many flakes of that hay it takes to equal 25 pounds. Not all grain is equal, either. A bushel of corn weighs nearly twice as much as a bushel of oats Weigh each new feed mixture, whether homemade or commercial, to see how much your standard measure of that feed weighs and then calculate the volume of that feed needed to supply what your horse requires. Each time you change your formula or change commercial rations, weigh again to determine how many scoops equal the pounds needed for good health.

See also Grains; Hay