[Ag-eq] Article on feeding horses

[Tracy Carcione]

I saw this article in with my horse racing news, and thought some of you 
might find it interesting.

It comes from a site/magazine called The Horse, which seems to focus on 
horse health.

Practical Horse Feeding for Adult Horses
By Alayne9 Jan 2014
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Avoid over or under feeding by always weighing hay (and grain). Feeding by 
eye or the scoop is not accurate and wastes feed and money.

Photo: Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water, 2013

While you should always consult your veterinarian for the feeding program 
best for your horse(s), here are some basic guidelines to help you begin 
structuring your feeds and feeding program.

 Horses' diets require six essential components:

1.Energy: Grain and hay (especially alfalfa hay) provide energy. Hard 
working horses, such as performance horses, need more energy.
2.Protein: Hay, especially alfalfa hay, is a good source of protein. Young 
horses (usually up to 3 years of age) and pregnant and lactating mares 
require more protein.
3.Vitamins: Requirement.
4.Minerals: Requirement.  A selenium supplement is necessary in the Pacific 
Northwest and other parts of North America. Check with your veterinarian for 
their recommendation.
5.Water: Essential at all times. Horses drink between 8 to 15 gallons per 
day.
6.Fiber: Hay or pasture. Fiber (also called roughage) is essential for 
proper gut motility and digestion in the horse.  This should be the mainstay 
of your feeding program.
Putting It All Together

Pasture: Good pasture contains all of the above, with the exception of 
selenium. If possible, let your horse graze at least part of the day. 
However, too much pasture can cause serious problems for some horses while 
others may need supplemental feed in addition to pasture. Consult your 
veterinarian before turning your horse out to graze. For pasture management 
advice contact your local conservation district.

Hay: Hay can replace pasture or supplement a poor pasture. A good rule of 
thumb for feeding hay is 2% of a horse's body weight in hay, 20 lbs. of hay 
for an "average" 1,000 lb. horse. Alfalfa hay has a higher protein and 
energy count, but for most horses grass hay or a mix of grass and alfalfa 
would be best. Always purchase green, leafy hay, free of dust and mold. 
Consult your veterinarian for questions on which hay would be better for 
your horse.

Grain: Grain is not necessary for most horses. Horses in training or those 
who cannot maintain their weight may need grain to give them extra energy. 
Oats or COB (a mix of corn, oats and barley) are most commonly fed. A small 
amount of grain (1/4 cup) is often used to "top dress" vitamins.

Salt: A free-choice, white salt block (without any other added vitamins) 
salt block should be provided.

Selenium: Consult your veterinarian to see if you live in a selenium 
deficient area. Selenium should be supplemented to all horses in the Pacific 
Northwest. LMF Super Suplement, Horse Guard, Dynamite and Northwest 
Supplement are examples of supplements containing adequate amounts of 
selenium. Pure selenium is also available from your veterinarian.

Water: Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. In cold weather 
be sure that your horse's water is not frozen or too cold or they may not 
drink an adequate amount.

Keep in mind: All hay and grain should be weighed on a daily basis. Store 
feed where horses cannot accidentally get into it and consume amounts 
dangerous to their health. Feed horses in a manger or on the stall floor. It 
is most natural for horses to eat with their head lowered to help with 
clearing their respiratory system. Feeding on sand or muddy ground can lead 
to ingestion of dirt causing serious digestion problems. A horse should 
never be fed hay or grain which is moldy, dusty, weedy or contains foreign 
objects. Horses should be fed a minimum of twice a day--three times a day is 
better.

Evaluating a moderate body condition: To determine if your horse is in good 
body weight, your horse's coat should be shiny. Eyes should be bright and 
alert. Ribs can be felt just beneath the coat. Backbone or hipbones should 
not protrude.

Keeping warm in winter: A couple extra pounds of hay fed on extremely cold 
nights is the best heat source you can provide your horse. Body heat 
generated by eating and digesting fiber and forage helps keep your horse 
warm.

Final note: One final cost-saving suggestion; avoid over or under feeding by 
always weighing hay (and grain)! Feeding by eye or scoop is not accurate and 
wastes feed--and money.

Happy feeding!

Alayne