1. Grasses and Hay
A horse has a very small stomach which is suitable for digesting a loooot of grass and hay. Dust and mold-free hay should be available to the horse at ALL times and make up the basic diet.
2. Multiple Small Meals Daily
Since a horse’s stomach is very small, it cannot digest a lot at once and therefore the horse needs to be fed more than once a day in addition to the basic diet made of hay and/or grass. It is recommended to feed a horse at least 3 times a day and as mentioned above, have hay and/or grass available at all times, even at night.
3. Grains
Grains are high in calories and most horses do not need this extra nutrition and fat. A horse that was fed too much grains will develop bone and joint issues as well as muscle problems. So unless your vet tells you otherwise, just stick with horse feed that is low in calories in addition to the hay and grasses.
4. How much to Feed
The rule of thumb is that a horse should eat between 2 – 4% of their body weight in pounds of hay or other feeds on daily basis.
5. Water and Fluids
Like very other mammal, horses do need fresh water too. However, after exercising, the horse should not be allowed to gulp down as much as he wants or he can develop a colic. A few swallows every few minutes to cool down is recommended.
6. Salt Block
Most feed do not contain enough minerals and salts, or do grasses and hay, so it is recommended that you keep a salt and mineral block available for your horse to lick on whenever he wants. This block makes fresh water even more important!
7. Not so Fast
Since horses are physically incapable of vomiting or burp, you need to pay special attention to the feeding process. If you need to switch feed, do it very very gradually and slowly. Colics are very painful and often deadly. Allowing your horse to go wild after a long winter in the barn and eat as much grass as they want, can also cause a colic, so take it easy! Overfeeding can be just as fatal.
8. Teeth
Feed needs to be chewed in order to make it digestible, so the horses’ teeth are very important. Start dental care at the age of 5 years and anually from there on.
9. Exercise
Exercise will support the digestion as well as all the other known physical and mental benefits, so get that horse out of the stable and start exercising!
10. Travel
If you need to travel, consider taking along enough water and your own feed to tie the horse over and enough to switch to the new local feed and water in small steps and gradually. Again, you do not want to risk a colic by switching feed and water too quickly.
Grahame ate all the pies I swear its true. Fatty wants us to improve the hair removal clinic page.
We keep going around in circles, ah well, nothings ever going to change anyway, aye!?