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Feeding Horses:
Too Much of a Good Thing
Can Be Harmful!
The nutritional needs of a horse are really quite simple.
Feeding horses however, has turned into a complicated and confusing ordeal.
If you don’t believe me, just take a trip to your local feed store.
There are hundreds of different horse feed supplements on the market today. Each one trying to make us believe that our horses must be lacking something.
Not only are supplements (most of the time) not needed. They are also very expensive.
I don’t know about you, but my horse budget doesn’t stretch as far these days. At today’s prices, there’s just no point in feeding horses something they don’t need anyway.
The average price for supplements are upwards of $45.00. I can buy 3 bags of horse feed for that, or more horse grooming supplies. Money is best spent on the things that your horse must have to survive.
Before I hang myself completely here, let me say this. There are times when horse supplements are needed and are beneficial to a horse. Hard working performance horses can benefit from a vitamin/mineral supplement.
There are also medical conditions that may require use of a supplement. Sometimes, older horses may need supplements to help them maintain weight.
Also horses that suffer from vitamin E deficiency will benefit from supplements. Unless the horse has a specific need, supplements are not necessary.
Always consult your vet before starting your horse on any supplemental regimen. You could actually do your horse more harm than good by giving him the wrong supplement.
It is possible to overdose them if you are feeding horses several different supplements containing the same vitamin or mineral.
Don't forget to enter your horse in our Horse of the Month Contest. Click on the button below to enter.
What’s On The Menu?
All horses really need is plenty of water and a good supply of quality grass and hay. However, grass is not always readily available for feeding horses. A lack of grass and hay will cause horses to eat thing they shouldn't eat. Poisonous plants can be deadly, if eaten by a horse.
Horse feed is a must if you have horses that are stalled most of the time and also in the winter months. Fortunately for us, the grain companies have taken most of the guesswork out of feeding horses.
They have developed many different types of grain to fit most any horses needs, and the directions are on the bag. You don’t have to guess at how much to feed. You just have to figure out which one suits your horse and your budget best.
I personally feed my horses Strategy, from Purina Mills. It is a complete feed, good for foals all the way up to older horses. This way I don’t have to buy 4 different types of feed for all my horses.
As I stated before, there are many different types of horse feed available for feeding horses today. Some examples are beet pulp, bran, and rice bran. A few of the most commonly used ones I have listed below.
Oats are a traditional grain for horses. Oats can be bought whole, steamed, flaked or crimped. They contain the lowest amount of harmful starch.
Pellets are usually a complete feed that contain vitamins, minerals, grain and forage.
Sweet Feeds usually contain oats and corn with molasses mixed in. Horses love the sweet taste, but the molasses makes this feed high in sugar.
See our natural horse treats pages to find out what is safe and what is not safe to feed your horses.
Hay is For Horses.
Good quality hay is also a must when feeding horses. However, with the rising fuel cost and droughts, it is getting more expensive and harder to find. Just the cost of hay alone can take a substantial chunk of your horse budget.
The average 1000 pound horse will eat about 25 to 30 pounds of hay per day. This can add up to a lot, with hay prices being upwards of $10 a bale in some parts of the country.
There are also different types of hay. Usually what type of hay you get will depend on what part of the country you live in.
Alfalfa is usually very pricey and is very high in protein, which makes it to rich for most horses. Alfalfa is however, suitable for high performance horses and race horses. Timothy, fescue and brome grasses are also some preferred types of hay for feeding horses.
Make sure, no matter what type of hay you buy, it is of good quality. You don’t want to spend your hard earned dollars on hay that your horses wont eat or may cause them harm.
There are ways to tell if hay is good quality. If it doesn’t look good or smell good, its probably not good. If the hay doesn’t pass this simple test, don’t be afraid to turn it down. Feeding a horse bad hay could end up costing you more in the long run.
1. How does the hay look? Would you want to eat it? If you wouldn’t want to eat it, your horse probably wont either. Reach into the middle of the bale and pull out a handful. If it’s full of dust and mold it could cause respiratory problems or worse. Mold is extremely toxic to horses, even in small amounts.
2. How does it feel? It should be soft and leafy, not coarse. Large stems and weeds are hard to digest.
3. How does it smell? Good quality hay should have a clean, grassy, even sweet smell. If it has a musty or unpleasant odor, it is probably moldy.
With the price of hay being what it is today, it’s best not to waste it. It would probably be wise to feed hay from a plastic tub or hay rack. If you just throw it on the ground, some of it will surely be wasted. This also keeps your horse from ingesting dirt and sand.
Quick Tip: Always feed a horse hay when feeding grain. It helps them to digest the grain better. Hay is considered roughage, which is something a horse needs for a healthy digestive system.
Need help finding hay? Try the Hay Barn.
The Watering Hole.
Did you know that the average horse can drink upwards of 10 gallons of water a day? That’s a lot of water. In the summer months it is especially important to keep a fresh supply readily available at all times. 
Horses actually drink less water in the winter months, which can lead to dehydration. It is a good idea to leave a salt block out for your horses year round. The salt will encourage them to drink more water.
Horses should always have access to plenty of fresh water, whether stalled or pastured. Quick tip: Never let a horse have free access to water during or after a workout.
If he is hot and is allowed to drink a lot of water, it could cause colic. Only allow him a couple short drinks until he has cooled down.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Feeding times should be broken up into two or three feedings throughout the day. Would you rather eat 2 or 3 small meals during the day, or one huge meal at night? Horses are the same way. Feeding horses one big meal could cause colic.
Believe it or not my horses can tell time. Just kidding! Or am I? I wonder sometimes. I feed my horses everyday at 8:00 a.m. and around 5:00 p.m. Can you guess where they are everyday at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.? You guessed it! There standing at the barn door waiting for me.
Horses are routine creatures, and if their routine is upset, they stress. Be consistent in how you feed, what you feed, where you feed and what time you feed. We certainly wouldn’t want to cause them undo stress. Stress can lead to digestive upset.
Sudden changes in the type of feed or the amount of feed can also lead to digestive upset and cause colic. Quick tip: When feeding horses, it is best to make changes gradually over a couple of days or even a week.
Protect Your Investment.
It would be a shame to invest all that hard earned money into hay and feed only to see it ruined. Proper feed storage is very important for your horses health.
Always keep grain out of reach of your horse. A horse will literally eat himself to death. Colic and founder can be caused by overeating.
Grain should be kept in a metal bin or metal garbage can with a locking lid. Not only to keep horses out, but also rodents, varmints and insects as well.
Hay should be stored in a clean, dry and well ventilated place. Dark or damp places are conducive to mold. Hay can also be highly combustible. Therefore, you should consider storing it away from your horse barn.
As you can see feeding horses is a huge part of our total horse care regimen. It is very important to make sure our horses health stays in tip-top shape.
Leave Feeding Horses: Go To Poisonous Plants
Horse First Aid Kit
Horse Hoof Care
Natural Horse Treats
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