The golden rules of feeding are a useful reminder, with essential rules to follow for all horse owners. Following these guidelines help to ensure your horse stays healthy while preventing unnecessary weight gain, excess energy and reducing the risk of conditions such as colic and tying up.
1) Provide fresh, clean water at all timesAn idle 500kg horse will drink approximately 25 litres of water per day, with hot weather and exercise increasing requirements.
2) Feed little and oftenHorses are a natural trickle feeder, designed to graze and roam for 16 - 18 hours a day. They have a small stomach in relation to their size (around the size of a rugby ball) with a capacity of 6 - 8 litres, so it’s very easy to overload.
3) Always weigh feedsHorses should be fed by weight, not volume.
Each type of feed has a different density, for example, a scoop of chaff will be lighter than a scoop of cubes. Feed bags tend to have guideline amounts for your horse’s body weight and level of work, but it’s useful to weigh feed rather than guess to prevent overfeeding.
4) Feed according to body weight, workload, age, condition, temperament and time of year.It’s important to consider all factors when planning your horse’s diet to ensure you’re meeting energy requirements without excess condition or fizziness. Try not to overestimate your horse’s amount of work.
5) Use high-quality feedsOnce opened, feed should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place inside a pest-proof container to prevent any contamination. The quality of feed should be checked on opening - dusty or mouldy feed should never be fed as it can lead to respiratory issues or colic.
It’s also important to keep buckets, scoops and stirrers clean to prevent any cross-contamination.
6) Make any dietary changes graduallyYour horse’s digestive system needs time to adapt to changes within the feed. Changes should be made gradually over a period of 7 - 10 days, slowly adding more of the new feed and less of the old. If changes are made too quickly your horse may experience loose droppings at best, colic at worst.
7) Feed an hour before exerciseHorses should not be worked immediately after a cereal-based meal - exercise should be delayed for an hour to allow time for feed to be digested.
Horses can be exercised straight after a fibre-based meal - in fact, this is recommended. Fibre is beneficial for gastric health, reducing the risk of acid splashing up and damaging the stomach lining.
8) Feed at the same times each dayHorses are creatures of habit and thrive on routine. Feeding at regular times so that the horse knows when to expect its next meal will help to prevent stress and gut upset.
9) Feed according to work doneReduce hard feeds on days off to avoid excess energy, fizzy behaviour and weight gain, as well as conditions including colic and tying up. Cut by half from the evening before to the evening after a day of rest.
10) Feed plenty of roughageForage should not be restricted to less than 1.5% of the horse’s body weight per day. Fibre is essential for maintaining digestive health, providing energy/calories and aiding the absorption of nutrients.
