Horses need good quality hay. Approximate Amounts (1,000 -pound horse), all hay and grain should be of good quality. Dust is objectionable in any feed for horses. Horses should not be offered >0.5% of their body weight in high starch/sugar grain-based concentrates (eg, textured grain, pellets, or extruded feed) in a single feeding. It is then necessary to provide alternative sources of fibre that can be easily chewed and digested by the veteran horse. Forty-five to 72 hours is required for food to completely pass through the digestive tract of the horse. (1-1.5 lbs grain/hr. of work, Grain-5-10 lbs. Your horse can get its essential nutrients from many types of feed. Only a horse that is worked extremely hard would ever receive half of its ration in grain. In hot weather, a horse may drink up to 15 to 20 gallons of water. If too much variation in time or quality of feed exists, it can lead to digestive disturbances. Tools. Contact your local Penn State Extension Educator for the name of the laboratory nearest you. Grass type horse hays have a lower nutritional value than legumes, but are considered ‘safe’ hays, because it is harder for a horse to over eat or have a reaction to grass hay. Horses were not designed to consume large quantities of food at a single feeding. A hot horse needs to be given water slowly. Once you determine a horse's requirements, then analyze your hay and feeds for what nutrients they provide. But don't overfeed your horse; too much feed at one time can cause founder. Grain is best fed in small portions. Other factors such as body condition, health history and environmental factors should be taken into account to best design a sound ration for your horse. Other horses are very difficult to feed and require special attention. Hay or pasture is the most important part of your horse’s diet. Skin, hair, hooves and many other parts of a horse also are made of protein. The grain should be clean, mold- and insect-free, with a bright color. If no exercise is induced in the evening, the nighttime feeding of concentrate and forage can offered at the same time. Behavioral Problems. It is important to know how to feed your horse and to make sure it gets all the nutrients it needs. Start with 10 minutes of grazing and gradually add a few minutes each day twice a day. Calcium and phosphorous should be fed in a ratio that ranges from 3:1 (three parts calcium for each part of phosphorous) to 1:1. Check horse's teeth annually for sharp points that interfere with chewing. Concentrates are lower in fiber and higher in energy than roughages. Campaigns. He explained once the horses are fed, they begin a daily work and turnout routine. All grains are low in calcium, but high in phosphorus. An additional benefit to grass hay is that is easier on the kidney's due to it's lower protein content and it tends to have finer stems, making it easier to chew and digest…..nice for senior horses. A properly conditioned horse will have enough fat so its ribs don't show, but you should still be able to feel the ribs when you run your fingers over them. Provide high quality alfalfa or grass roughage with a complementing grain to balance the horse's diet. Equine Senior. A complete feed is a grain mix that is high in fiber because it contains a forage or high-fiber byproducts feed such as hulls. Many horse owners feed grass hay or straight alfalfa or a combination of grass and alfalfa to their horses. The horse's daily nutrient ration needs will vary due to age, activity or performance level, health status, and, in broodmares, stage of pregnancy or lactation. Because a horse's stomach is very small and cannot hold a large amount of feed at one time, it should be fed at least twice a day on a regular schedule. Some of the basic requirements for a good pasture are: Well-managed pastures reduce feed costs and provide energy, protein, vitamins and minerals to animals. Feed frequent meals. For horses housed and fed outside in the more severe winter climates, it is strongly recommended that forages be offered in feeders located under a three-sided shelter. Once you have established good grain feed portions for your horse, be consistent in the amounts that you feed from day to day. e.g. Supply hay and/or grain in a rack rather than feeding from the ground; ... Before beginning a worming schedule, it is wide to have a serious discussion with your vet about the best possible worming schedule for your horse. It should be bright green, leafy and fine textured, with a fresh, pleasant aroma. Only add supplements to the diet if something is missing. Protein supplies material for body tissue. Grains are energy supplements to a high forage diet. In some geographical areas, lack of selenium and, in growing horses, copper and zinc, is a concern. Feed Finder. Finding the right horse feeding program is paramount to helping your horse perform and feel the best. Never feed more than 10% of the diet in fats/oils. A racehorse in heavy training is an example of a horse requiring half of its ration in grain. Horses are creatures of habit and need to be fed at a consistent time each day, with a consistent quality of feed. Feed Horses According to Body Weight Table 1 shows recommended daily feed intakes by horses as a percentage of body weight. Excesses of some nutrients can inter-act with other nutrients. Buying hay can be difficult, but it really is worth it to be particular because poor hay can … See All Pest, Disease and Weed Identification, See All Beer, Hard Cider, and Distilled Spirits, See All Community Planning and Engagement, National Research Council's Nutrient Requirements of Horses, Grain-1-3 lbs. Never feed moldy or dusty hay, grass or grain. When balancing or evaluating a ration, use the National Research Council tables as a guideline to determine available nutrients to meet your horse's requirements. It also is important not to over feed grain to horses because this can cause digestive upset such as colic. In fact, his nutritional … The National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. Campaigns. Microbes enable horses to utilize fiber quite well. Training. Check National Research Council tables for calcium to phosphorus ratios; however, a good rule of thumb is a 2:1 ratio. The National Research Council requirements are suggested values; individual horses may require adjustments to these nutrients. To use this table, decide what class best fits your horse and your horse’s body weight. Hay cubes are about an inch wide and 1- to 3-inches long. Depending on its diet, a horse may need vitamin supplements. Does your horse need a veteran feed? Horses can digest cellulose (grass and hay) because they have small microbes in their large intestine (cecum) that can break it down. Metabolic disorders, such as laminitis, osteochondrosis and epiphysitis, stem from an imbalance in nutrients. The horse does not produce enzymes which digest fiber, but uses microbes to break down fiber. An equine veterinarian helps a reader with divided time develop a schedule to exercise her out of shape horses. National Research Council (NRC). Erratic schedules will annoy horses, and they may develop stall vices such as kicking, raking their teeth on the stall, or cribbing. 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