Horses are herbivores, and thus they have particular nutritional needs. Their unique digestive system requires a high-fiber diet that they consume in small quantities over a period of time. Unlike us, horses shouldn’t have large meals, but smaller ones between short intervals.
The type of food and consumption depends on their size, age, and weight. The British Horse Society recommends that horses eat approximately 2.5% of their body weight every day. In addition to this, equine nutrition also depends on the horse’s activities. For instance, a running horse needs more daily nutrition than a farm horse.
We have listed down a few basics of equine nutrition to help keep your horse healthy.
1. Pasture Grass
This is the natural diet of horses as it contains most of the nutrients that a horse needs. Pasture grass also contains silica that is essential for dental health. But make sure you don’t feed your horse grass in large quantities as it can make it sluggish and hamper its metabolism.
Moreover, be careful not to introduce lush pasture to the horse suddenly as it can lead to severe problems for its health. Instead, incorporate it in small quantities gradually.
2. Hay
Hay is an excellent substitute for the grass when it’s not available. But, finding good hay is a tricky task. Make sure to steer clear of cheap hay as it is dusty and may contain poisonous plants. Moreover, rich hay can also cause problems for some horses, just like rich pasture.
3. Grains
Oats are the most common grains that are fed to the horses, but some horses also like to eat corn. Grains, like wheat, are harmful to the horses, so you need to stay clear of them.
Grains are easier to chew, so horses tend to eat grains in large quantities, which is harmful for them and cause stomach aches.
4. Concentrate Mixes
Concentrates are made from mixing things like flaxseed, molasses, grains, bran, vitamins and minerals, and other ingredients. Many concentrate mixes are available commercially that provide complete nutrition to your horse. Topspec Racing Feed Balancer is one such supplement that provides an optimum mix of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to the horses.
5. Treats
Like us, horses are also fond of having snacks and treats. Sugar cubes, candies, apples, carrots, and other fruits and vegetables are horses’ favorite treats. But you need to make sure to not feed treats in excess amounts, especially sugary ones as they can give rise to colic and other signs of discomfort.
6. Supplements
Most horses usually need vitamin and mineral supplements to fulfill their nutritional needs. Many horse owners recommend garlic supplements like Pegasus liquid garlic solution to help with the general health of horses.
Competition horses also need special supplements to meet their nutritional intake as they are more active than other horses. Topspec Stud Lite feed balancer and Vita-E-PLus are some of the best supplements for all kinds of horses.
If you want to explore more options for horse supplements, visit Little Fields Farm.
