What can you feed your horse?

Answer 1

Horses generally eat the same things and the base of their diets should always be roughage such as grass, hay or the like. Some horses in moderate or harder work, those that are pregnant or hardkeepers may need supplemental concentrates. You can also feed many types of vegetables and fruit, but you should always consult with a equine vet before feeding a horse anything new as the horse may have a condition that limits what and how much it can eat.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, it is best to turn out a horse for at least ten hours a day so as to allow them to graze. In the wild, a horse will eat very small portions multiple times throughout the day, so keeping as close to this digestion pattern is best. If you stable your horse at night, feed them hay so that they can keep their stomach 'ticking over' through the night. There are multiple varieties of hay - timothy and alfalfa are commonly fed.

Grain requirements vary by horse. Some horses are 'hard keepers' and need lots of grain to maintain a good weight, while others can get fat simply by looking at grain! As with hay, there are many varieties of grain - sweet feed, high-protein feeds, senior feeds, etc. It's best to consult your vet, or barn owner, to come up with the right meal schedule for your horse. Suddenly switching the type of food or amount can result in colic, which is very often fatal.

As far as treats go, you will find that horses are as opinionated as people! Carrots, apples, and peppermints are the most commonly appreciated treats, but make sure to cut them up properly so as to prevent choke. Cut carrots into long strips, and apples into eighths.

Answer 3

Traditional horse feed includes hay and oats. As grazing animals, however, a wide variety of foods will fit a horse's short term nutritional needs, such as oats, bread, and rice.