As a new horse owner, you may not be well equipped with the essential knowledge of horse care, especially when it comes to their diet. Generally, horse owners love feeding their horses as its fun to see your horse jumping with excitement when they see you with their food. This is the reason many horse owners end up overfeeding their horses. It is vital to be aware of your horse’s nutritional needs and what diet plan should be followed to keep them healthy.
Here we have listed some common horse feeding mistakes and ways that you can avoid them.
1. Overfeeding
As mentioned above, overfeeding is the most common mistake that horse owners make— sometimes even experienced ones. This habit can lead to obesity in horses and can also cause ‘equine metabolic syndrome’, which can result in laminitis. Horses need a simple diet, including hay or pastures, and a few supplements like Horslyx-Mint to cover their nutritional needs. Horses don’t need large meals; it is recommended to feed them in small portions. Also, make sure not to give your horse treats too frequently, as it can get addicted to them.
2. Underfeeding
Senior horses and horses that work hard are vulnerable to underfeeding. You should be mindful of the fact that old and active horses need more nutrition than others to make up for the shortfall. But you need to be sure to feed them hay or pasture, avoiding excessive grains and concentrates to prevent colic. Senior horses have difficulty digesting food, so giving them supplements like Topspec 10:10 Joint Support can fulfill their dietary needs much more easily.
3. Inadequate Pasture and Poor Hay
Pasture that looks lush and green from a distance may contain weed. This can make horses feel repulsed from the grass, as it would require hard work to find food. It can also lead to them eating toxic weed, which can be harmful to your horse’s health.
Similarly, poor quality hay can be dusty and moldy, capable of causing many health hazards. As a result of this, your horse can get nutritionally deficient and weak. Therefore, be careful of providing safe and high-quality pasture and hay to your horse.
4. Inadequate Salt Intake
Salt and electrolytes are essential for maintaining your horse’s mineral balance. You can include a salt block in their pasture or use supplements to cover the salt and mineral requirements. The Superlyte Syrup is an excellent way to replace body salts that are lost during perspiration.
5. Ignoring Dental Hygiene
Bad dental hygiene can lead to a feeding problem if your horse is not able to chew properly. This will make it devoid of vital nutrients needed to stay healthy. This issue is common in older horses that might have weak or missing teeth. Thus, you need to ensure regular dental care.
6. Not Calculating the Feed Weight
It is essential to weigh the horse feed to ensure giving them equal portions each time you feed them. Many horse owners use the scoop method. Make sure to feed your horse by calculating weight instead of volume.
These were some of the common horse-feeding mistakes. You can avoid them easily by following above-mentioned tips. Make sure to incorporate supplements in your horse’s diet to keep them hale and hearty. If you want to explore more options for horse supplements, head over to Little Fields Farm!
