Horse Feeding

A quality diet for horses is essential to ensure their well-being and health. In this post, we’ve prepared a list with 16 good practice tips.

  • Feed horses at regular times.
  • Use feeders positioned at shoulder height (scapula level).
  • When feeders are too high, inhalation of feed dust increases, raising the risk of respiratory problems.
  • Feeding directly on the ground favors fecal contamination and waste; contamination also increases intestinal parasitism.
  • When horses are fed in groups while loose, it is essential to separate gentle horses from aggressive ones so that all can eat and accidents are avoided.

When changes in the diet are necessary, including forage (type and amount), they must be made gradually over at least 4 to 7 days. A sudden increase in the amount of grain or switching to another feed can cause indigestion, laminitis, or colic.
Observe the horses regularly while they eat. Sudden changes in appetite may indicate something wrong with the feed or with the horse.
Do not provide moldy or dusty feed, as it may cause chronic cough, pulmonary emphysema, or hemorrhages.
The amount of feed given to the horse should be based on weight, not volume.

Provide at least 0.75 to 1 kg per 100 kg of body weight of forage, in the form of hay, cut grass, or high-quality pasture. Horses with access to pasture should graze for about four hours a day.
If the horse is to work during the day, provide most of the forage at night, when it will have more time to eat slowly and comfortably.
Cut grass should only be fed if it is still fresh, free from dust and herbicides.
Because horses have small stomachs, they make better use of frequent meals. The maximum feed per meal should not exceed 3 kg. Ideally, three meals a day should be given, spaced at least four hours apart.

  • Before starting work with the horse, allow one hour after feeding, and the same amount of time after finishing work before the horse returns to normal breathing and circulation. The same applies to water intake.
  • Add 50 ml of vegetable oil (cooking oil) twice a day to the feed. This helps keep the horse’s coat shiny and supports the digestive tract.
  • Salt (sodium chloride) and mineral salt should always be available.
  • Water temperature must be considered: very hot water does not quench thirst and may cause digestive atony, while very cold water may cause colic.

Note: The items listed here should be evaluated for each case, since differences in age, management, and workload of the horse must be considered.