Many people think that horses have enough hay and oats, but this is not true. The diet of animals must be complete and balanced, regardless of the intensity of physical activity. It is important to know what you can feed your horse in winter and summer, and what you can’t, so that it remains healthy, how to create a meal schedule, and what healthy supplements to include in the menu.
What do horses eat in their natural habitat?
The natural habitat of horses is open areas covered with field and meadow vegetation. The herd spends almost 20 hours a day eating grass. Since a horse’s stomach is small relative to its body, the animal does not eat a large portion, but gradually becomes full throughout the day.
Herbaceous plants that ungulates feed on in natural conditions:
- clover;
- quinoa;
- dandelion;
- wheatgrass;
- burdock;
- cornflower;
- milk thistle;
- nettle;
- alfalfa;
- sorrel.
In winter, wild horses dig out withered grass and frozen rhizomes from under the snow.
What do they feed the animals in the stables?
The owner of the stable must not only correctly select products for the animals, but also organize the feeding regime.
Juicy feed
Without fresh grass, a horse will not last long, because this is its natural food. Juicy greens are the basis of the diet. The most convenient and economical food option is free grazing. If it is not possible to release the animal into the open air, then you will have to prepare grass food.
Before you let your horse go out to pasture, you need to make sure that there are no poisonous grasses growing there. If the animal has to be fed without grazing, then the quality and freshness of the food should be checked; if there are signs of mold and rotting, the grass should be disposed of. A winter alternative to fresh grass is haylage. This is a dried green mixture sold in sealed packages. Vegetables and root vegetables are also considered succulent food. Horses are fed carrots, fodder beets, and occasionally boiled potatoes.
Roughage
Rough feed is called hay - dried grass, in which no more than 18% moisture remains. The horse is fed hay throughout the year, even if the diet includes fresh and dried grass. You should not replace hay with straw, since its nutritional value is significantly lower.
Horses also readily eat granulated grass meal - greens crushed and pressed under the influence of high temperatures.
Concentrated feed
Some horse breeders ignore food concentrates, others feed their pets with them in excess. The “golden mean” is important here: concentrates are not the basis of nutrition, so they are given to horses in moderation. It is unacceptable to replace fresh grass with concentrated feed.
There are three types of concentrates:
- cereals;
- cereals with vitamins;
- compound feed
Grain mixtures for horses usually include barley, oats, corn kernels, and bran. This is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, starch, fiber - substances that replenish energy in the horse's body.
Compound feed is mainly fed to horses by farmers, since this product is economical and convenient to distribute among many heads.
It is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals; its composition is based on bran, crushed grains, and herbal flour.
Preparation of daily diet
Feeding horses is not as easy as it seems. Animals differ in body type, health status, breed characteristics, intensity of physical activity, and purpose. For example, the diet cannot be the same for a sports stallion and a pony, or for a healthy and a sick individual.
On average, one healthy adult should eat per year:
- 2 tons of oats;
- 5 – hay;
- 1 – succulent food;
- 1.5 – bran.
The annual amount of salt used as a food additive should be 12 kg per individual.
A horse weighing about 600 kg should eat per day:
- 12-15 kg of hay;
- 4-5 kg of concentrated feed;
- 2-3 kg of juicy grass;
- 1-2 kg of bran.
To prevent pets from gaining weight, when choosing a diet, you need to take into account their daily physical activity.
So, a working horse should eat more concentrates. Their specific gravity can reach 70% at high loads. Approximate diet for a working horse:
- 7 kg of hay;
- 7 kg of grass;
- 5 kg of oats;
- 5 kg silage;
- 50 g premixes;
- 30 g salt.
Sports horses should also receive hay and concentrated feed daily. Moreover, the daily ratio of products changes taking into account training and competitions. Standard diet for sports horse of middle age and weight:
- 7 kg of hay;
- 2 kg corn flakes;
- 1 kg granulated herbal flour;
- 0.5 kg molasses;
- 0.1 kg of premixes;
- 50 g salt.
The preparation of diets for pregnant and lactating mares should be especially careful, since the quality of nutrition determines the health of the foals. A mare should eat at least 4 kg of hay per 100 kg of body weight per day. The daily menu must include up to 6 kg of vegetables and root crops, about 4 kg of silage, 1 kg of sunflower cake. They are fed with concentrates, which contain barley, corn and oats in a ratio of 35:25:40 by weight.
In the first 8 months, they are fed in such a way as to adjust the weight of the pregnant mare. If the animal is weak, then add a percentage of concentrates; if healthy, add roughage. During the remaining 3 months, the calorie content is increased, and a few days before the foal appears, the proportion of silage in the roughage is increased. During the lactation period, caloric intake is not reduced so that the mare does not weaken. The foal is fed, observing the principle of regular food availability, which is especially important during the period of weaning the calf from its mother.The diet of foals is almost no different from that of an adult; it includes hay, grain, bran, cake, vegetables, and molasses.
Feeding rules
In order for the horse to remain healthy, it is important not only to properly prepare the diet, choose high-quality and fresh products, but also feed in compliance with the following rules:
- The animal should always have access to drinking water.
- How much a horse eats and what feed it prefers depends on its build and temperament.
- In order not to harm digestion, feed the horse at least an hour after physical activity.
- In feeding, a schedule is important, from which you cannot deviate. Food is given at the same time every day.
- The horse is fed several times a day, but the daily portion is divided into several small ones.
- The diet is changed gradually, adding new food carefully, in small portions.
How much does a horse drink per day?
The daily portion of water for a horse is up to 60 liters. The animal drinks a lot and often, so there should always be access to drink. But care must be taken not to harm the health of the animal. So, you cannot immediately water a horse that has returned to the stable after hard work or a long walk on a cool day. This can cause stomach cramps and heart muscle dysfunction. The horse should rest, cool down, and then you can offer him a drink.
In the cold season, the horse is given lukewarm water that has settled at room temperature. Do not give cold, hot or boiled water.
What treats can you give?
It is a joy and pleasure for horses to receive a treat from their owner for good work or success in competitions. But treats are not food, so moderation must be observed here.Frequent rewards with treats can lead to weight gain and digestive problems in the animal.
Healthy and safe treats for horses:
- apples;
- watermelon pulp without seeds;
- homemade crackers;
- cubed sugar.
Also in specialized stores you can purchase ready-made treats that can be fed to horses. They are not only tasty, but also rich in vitamins and minerals.
What should you not feed horses?
It is strictly forbidden to include in a horse’s diet:
- fresh bread - it causes blockage in the intestines, begins to ferment in it, which causes colic;
- cabbage - it provokes excessive accumulation of intestinal gases, which causes colic;
- fruits (except apples and watermelons);
- dried fruits are deadly and cannot be digested in the animal’s digestive tract;
- store-bought crackers and chips;
- human food.
Feeding is an important part of horse ownership. The health and lifespan of the noble animal depend on how well the diet is prepared. The main conditions for a proper horse diet are variety and balance.
