Though it would certainly be nice if there was a full proof template for feeding a horse, unfortunately one does not exist. Simply put, you have to take these things on a case by case basis. There are many different factors that can impact how much food a horse needs. Obviously, a horse that goes through a lot of activity will need more food than one that just sits around.
Not only will all horses have different needs for how much food they ingest, but they will also have different likes and dislikes about their food. It is important to always keep a finger on the pulse of your animal’s temperament. Find out what kind of foods it likes and what foods it does not like. When you do this, you will be able to pinpoint the foods that are easier for your horse to ingest.
It is no coincidence that most horses take much better to more expensive foods. The more expensive foods are made with better ingredients and they are easier to swallow and digest. Play to your horse’s desire for this food and make sure to buy the good stuff. More times than not, cheap food won’t taste good to the horses and they may or may not continue eating it. Even if they do, the cheap food will cause lots of health problems over the course of time. You might save a little bit of money in the short run with cheap food, but in the long run, you will lose out big time. Cheap food has a tendency to become musty and moldy, and could cause your horse to develop respiratory issues. Most horses will let you know this, though. They simply won’t eat the cheap stuff in huge quantities.
Depending upon how big your horse is, he will need a varying amount of hay. Large horses of around 1,200 pounds, for example, need around twenty pounds of hay each day all year long. Smaller horses, on the other hand, could require a little bit less hay in order to maintain their weight and keep performing at a high level. If you want to insure the horse’s performance and health through the winter, be sure to give them a little bit of extra hay. This will enable the horse to maintain its full body weight.
Horse owners should not always go with that rule, though. There are times when it is not appropriate to change a horse’s diet with the seasons. If the horse seems to be maintaining its weight well and performing at a high level with the same diet, then don’t make any huge changes. Always keep your eye out for any extreme weight loss, though.
Horses are an interesting kind of animal in that they eat a huge percentage of their overall body weight each day. An average horse will need to eat 1%-2% of their total body weight each day. Keep that in mind when providing food for your horse.
Patricia Reszetylo has been a “horse crazy kid” since 1978. She now operates EquineTeleseminar.net, where she interviews other equestrians on a variety of horse health, training and equine business topics “By Request”. Visit http://EquineTeleseminar.net/free.htm for your own free copy of a telepak (audio and transcript) from the most popular horse health call of 2006. You don’t want to miss out on this important information!
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