Article written in 2011

Feeding horses, in general, should be a simple endeavor. They are herbivores that graze in the wild and seem to do just fine.  Unfortunately, or fortunately, there have been many advances in understanding equine nutritional needs, leaving the owner to wade through all the information alone.  With so many new supplements and products coming on the market daily, it is difficult not to feel as though you are somehow missing a huge component in your horse’s health if you are NOT feeding something extra. There is a simpler way of viewing equine nutrition, barring any specific condition diagnosed by your veterinarian.

Good nutrition for your horse, from a performance, reining horse, or favorite pack horse, starts with the forage. Forage should make up at least 70% of the diet (except in a few cases). Forage is the most important part of your feed regimen. Therefore, it is imperative to have your forage tested on an annual basis, be it hay or pasture. (Contact your local feed store for more information on forage testing).  Any excesses or deficiencies present in the diet start here. You can save money on supplements by knowing exactly what you need to add in or remove after receiving your results.  Basic forage requirements are to feed between 1.5 – 3.0% of bodyweight per day (Worth 67). Weigh out a hay flake to get an approximate idea of its size and feed accordingly. For instance, a 1,000 pound horse should get between 15 and 20 pounds of forage per day depending on quality and type of forage, and workload.

Access to salt and fresh water, obviously, is important as well.  What is usually neglected is mineral. Mineral deficiencies can lead to many health issues; brittle feet, lack of muscle tone, skin and coat irregularities. Excesses can lead to toxicities that can hinder nutrient absorption, decrease muscle function, to even death (Worth 37-54).  After reviewing your forage results, a mineral package may be required for optimal health levels. Personal preference will determine if you choose loose mineral or a mineral block. Realize that a trace mineral block is 98% salt, with a “trace” of mineral. In general, optimal mineral requirements cannot be completely met through the use of trace mineral blocks alone.  

Grains: Here is where the confusion grows; to grain or not to grain? The true test of a wise horse owner is the truthfulness of how he answers the following question: What is the actual, realistic workload of my animal?  Depending on the answer to that question, grain may or may not be necessary.

Grain is normally fed for additional energy requirements.  Your average equine pasture pal’s energy requirements are very low as their work load is low. Add in use during hunting season, this horse may require added energy to stay warm and carry out whatever trophy you acquire. Put the same horse in training to become a Grand Prix Jumper or award-winning Cutter, his energy requirements go through the roof when compared to his life in the pasture. Complete feeds contain mineral packages and must be fed by weight dependent on actual work load to guarantee mineral levels and digestible energy requirements are met. Plain grains also have digestible energy and minerals but normally require additional supplementation to meet specific dietary needs. Regardless of what you choose to feed, if you are not feeding it to the weight and exercise demands of the horse, you are most likely not utilizing your feed sources efficiently.

Calculate all feeds by weight, not by the size of your coffee can (Worth 137).  And weight tape the horse too. Most feeds will tell you to feed x-amount of pounds per 100# of bodyweight. Your goal is to feed to the desired weight of the horse, perhaps not its actual weight at the present. More often than not, our horses receive too much food instead of too little, which can be just as or even more harmful than beneficial. If you weigh out their grain once, make a mark on your scoop or can, and you are done (Worth 138). This way, if someone else is feeding while you are on vacation, you ensure your horse gets consistent digestible energy daily which in perspective can be up to a 35% difference! And that can make quite a visible difference in the appearance of your horse.

Be fair, but be realistic. Let your horse be your guide.

Worth, Melyni. Storey's Guide to Feeding Horses. 1st ed. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2003. Print.