Basic Horse Nutrition

Basic Horse Nutrition

• Common Feeds: Horses eat various feeds, including pasture grasses, different types of hay (like legume and grass hay), and silage (for example, corn silage).
• Digestive Systems: Horses have a digestive system that's adapted for different types of food, though a significant amount of their digestion takes place in the hindgut.
• Feeding Systems and Standards: Standard feeding plans for horses vary by factors like the horse's activity level and age.
• Special Nutrition: Specific nutritional requirements exist for horses involved in activities like breeding (stud, mare, and foals). Feeding needs are also impacted by season and temperature.
• Basic Needs: Water, food, shelter, companionship, and health care are the most fundamental needs of a horse.

Horse Requirements

• Water: Clean, fresh water is essential for horses.
• Food: Roughage (hay, pasture), concentrate feed (grains), and trace mineral salts.
• Shelter: Protection from harsh weather conditions.
• Health Care: Maintaining a horse's well-being.
• Hoof Care: Maintaining proper hoof health.
• Exercise: Physical activity and movement.

Nutrition and Feeding

• Requirements: Based on factors such as temperature (season), activity level, age, and type of use.
• Feeding Plans using resources like the Merck's Manual.
• Roughage Source: Hay, pasture.
• Concentrate feed: Grains, high-calorie supplements.
• Trace mineral salt block: Essential for specific minerals.

Pasture

• Amount Required: The amount of pasture a horse needs varies depending on how it is being used, and the area (hectare) of pasture available.
• Moisture: The amount of available moisture in the pasture affects how much a horse can graze.

Silage/Hay

• Silage Type: Corn silage is a suitable option.
• Quality: High quality silage, finely chopped and free of mold, is optimal.
• Other Options: Grass and grass-legume silages provide alternatives to corn silage.
• Legume Hay: Alfalfa is amongst the best in terms of palatability and nutritional value.
• Grass Hay: Timothy and Bermuda grasses.

Water

• Clean Water: Access to clean, fresh water is critical.
• Frequent Checks: Water buckets should be checked and refilled regularly, especially when the weather is cold as freezing temperatures could affect consumption.
• Important: A horse will prioritize water consumption over food if necessary.

Food

• Critical: Horses need water for basic survival; they cannot survive an extended period without access to water.
• Complex Nutrition: Detailed nutritional needs based on the horse's activities are essential for its health.

Horse Health and Welfare

• General Well-being: Paying attention to normal behaviors, including eating, drinking, and droppings.
• Indicators of Illness: Be observant of changes in appearance, such as discharge from eyes or nostrils.
• Temperature: Body temperature is a helpful diagnostic tool.
• Environment Improvement: Horses may need space for movement and interaction.
• Shelter: Appropriate shelter is crucial for preventing extreme temperature exposure.
• Companionship: Horses are social animals; providing opportunities for interaction with other horses is important.
• Happy Horse: Assess if a horse's environment and care are adequate to make the animal happy.

Horse Welfare

• Fair Treatment: Ensure a horse is treated fairly with suitable care, food, and environment.
• Horse Needs: Understanding what a horse needs for optimal health and well-being.