Tips for Feeding Your Horse

Just like you, your horse requires a nutritional, balanced diet to stay healthy. Depending on whether your horse is young, old, still working, or being used for breeding will determine what kind of feeding routine they will need to follow in order for them to maintain optimal health.

Grass and Hay

The main diet of horses is grass and hay. If you have a ready supply of both, feeding your horse won’t be a problem. However, if you lack these two diet mainstays you will need to find another method to feed your horse. Pelleting has been common practice for over a half a century and by using pellet feeding methods you can be sure that your horse will be following the diet it needs.

Pelleting uses the best sun-dried Alfalfa and Bermuda hay, adds additional nutrients and forms this mix it into bite-sized pellets. These pellets are both easier to feed to your horse and more balanced nutritionally for them than baled hay. Pellets are also less wasteful and messy.

Feed Frequently in Small Amounts

Horses do better when you feed them frequently in small amounts as their bodies process food more efficiently this way. Professionals suggest feeding your horse at least twice a day, but three or more times is better.

To Each their Own

Young horses, which grow rapidly and have ravenous appetites, will require more food than an adult horse. A horse that is ridden often or a horse that is used for breeding or is worked will require yet a different diet. Knowing each of your horse’s dietary needs is important to maintaining their health.

Fresh Water

Your horse requires gallons of fresh water per day, and having it readily available to your horses is required to maintain their health. However, an overheated horse should never be allowed to have water until it has cooled down.

Take it Slow

When changing your horse’s diet from hay to pellets, or any other food that is different from what they are accustomed, it is best to make the change gradually so that your horse’s digestive system can adapt.