A feeding program for a typical horse is described as the following:
- All of the forage or hay the horse will consume in a 24 hour period, fresh clean water along with a free choice salt and mineral mix that is made specifically for horses.
There are many factors in determining which feed will be the best for the horse to maintain a healthy body weight or body condition score.
Things to consider when choosing the appropriate feed for your horse:
Forage: Grass pasture, Grass Hay, Legume Hay, Chopped Forage. What is the quality of the forage being fed?
- Is the horse an Easy Keeper or a Hard Keeper?
Body Condition:
Under Weight: Require a high calorie, high digestible fiber feed to help gain weight to a desirable body condition
Over Weight: Require a lower calorie, low digestible fiber diet to decrease weight to a desirable body condition
Activity Level: Is the horse a maintenance horse or performing horse, (if performing, refer to page 25 for the National Research Council Performing Horse Classification)
- Is the horse a stallion, gestating mare or lactating mare?
Time of year: Environmental climate, hay/pasture quality and quantity
- Special feeding considerations:
- Age, whether young or old
- Dental issues
- Laminitis, Insulin Resistance, Cushings Disease, or other medical issue.
Management Tips
- Provide fresh, clean water at all times
- Provide a free choice horse mineral such as Seminole Grass Balancer 16:8 Mineral or Alfa Balancer 12:12 Mineral on a continuous basis
- Make all feeding changes gradually over a 7 – 10 day period
- Feed at regular times, with two or more equal feedings per day
- Feed hay and/or equivalent pasture at the rate of 1 or 2 pounds per 100 pounds of body weight daily
- Delay feeding a horse that has been exercised or is exhibiting pain, fever or diarrhea