A Horse's Diet

A Horse's Diet

Introduction to A Horse's Diet

So what do horses eat?

Apples, carrots, peppermints and sugar cubes of course!

Well, not entirely.  While some horses enjoy a treat on occasion, all horses have basic nutrient requirements that must be met in order to function properly. Horses obtain the bulk of their nutrients from water, pasture, and hay.  Depending on the horse, grain, and sometimes additional minerals are added to complete a horse's diet. 

Click through the following chapters to learn more about the components of the equine diet. 

Water

Think of all the drinking fountains around school and in public places. Just as people require clean, fresh water at all times, a horse is no exception. While installing fountains in a pasture may be a little over the top, a horse should always have access to fresh water –whether that be from a pond, stream, tank, or bucket. It is key to routinely check these water sources to remove any algae or other debris. Horses are also less likely to drink water that is stale or dirty.

Besides water quality, the amount of water a horse drinks in a day depends greatly on many other factors such as the age of the horse, if the horse is pregnant, the amount of work the horse is doing, the horse’s diet and the outside temperature. A mature 1,000 lb horse averages 12 gallons of water a day. It is important to note that the amount of water a horse takes in has a direct link to the amount of feed a horse will eat. If a horse is not provided water or water is limited, the horse will not eat enough.

Pasture

When you think of wild horses out on the plains, what do you envision them eating? If you said grass, you are right on track. Grass is the natural feed for horses. An area of grazing grassland, or pasture, as it is called, is one of the best and often least expensive sources of feed for a horse.

If the pasture is of good quality - lush, green, well-kept, and free of weeds, it is the most natural and healthy environment for grazing, exercise, and rest. Idle horses can be turned out on green pasture alone, requiring no additional feed since it is complete in nutrients and minerals. Hardworking horses, however, will require more energy; this is where grains come in. We will discuss grains in the following chapters.

While pastures are a great feed source, they lose their nutrients into the late fall and throughout the winter. When autumn comes and the grasses fade to brown becoming coarse, another source of feed must be used.

Hay

Hay is simply grass that has been cut and dried. It is often rolled into large round bales or small square bales for storage. With many different types of grasses, there are many types of hay available. Common examples include alfalfa, brome, prairie, timothy, and orchard grass.

Regardless of which type of hay, the best quality hay is cut early in the season and should be leafy, fairly green, and free of weeds. It is also important that the hay be free of mold, dust, and foreign matter, as this can cause respiratory problems such as excessive coughing.

Horses will readily consume good hay, which is rich in energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins.

Grains

Grains, often referred to as concentrates, provide lots of energy for horses! While this can be great, grain must be fed with caution, used sparingly, and only fed if necessary. Too much grain can make a horse very sick, even to the point of death.

Unlike the pasture where a horse has an unlimited supply of grazing, grain should given in a limited amount, 1-3 times a day as needed. If a horse is still growing, pregnant, or working hard daily, a grain source should be included in the horse’s diet.

Oats, barley, and corn are the most common types of grains fed. Wheat, milo, and bran are other examples. As with any feed, quality and freshness is imperative.

  

Salt & Minerals

From science class, you may know that salt is a mixture of the two elements sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl). Salt, or NaCl, is the only mineral compound a horse will actively seek to consume. As long as a horse has plenty of water available, salt toxicity should never be a problem, therefore, a horse should be fed free choice of salt at all times.

Salt can be given in the form of a block or sprinkled in feed. Minerals are given the same way.

Sometimes horses require certain minerals that are missing or found in low amounts in their feedstuff. For this reason, a horse owner should consult his or her veterinarian to see if a mineral supplement or mineral block is needed.

Activity

Feed Store Field Trip

Objective: To discover specific feeds available for horses with specific needs.

Resources Needed: Note taking materials (notebook, pencil or pen)

Activity: Pretend you own the following horses:

1. A growing yearling filly

2. A four year old gelding worked daily on a feedlot

3. An idol 27 year old gelding who has trouble keeping on weight

Visit your local feed store or farm and ranch supplier. Look over the various types of grains and supplements available. Ask the feed store worker to tell you more about the best feed for the horses listed and what the difference is between the feeds.

Compile your results and write a short paper about what you learned.