What Do Horses Eat? A Guide to Horse Nutrition

Horses consume a lot of food daily, so it’s essential to monitor how much and what type of food they should eat.

Fortunately, horses tend to graze throughout the day, making it relatively simple to provide them with sufficient forage supplies.

Owners can supplement their horses’ diet with grain concentrates and other feeds, but it is essential to do so gradually.

Feeding too much concentration at once may cause digestive upsets as well as nutrient deficiency issues.

Last update on 2024-11-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Here’s a basic nutrition chart for horses:

Horse Nutrition Chart

Food Type	Description	Nutritional Benefits
Hay	Dried grasses or legumes. Common types include Timothy, Alfalfa, and Bermuda.	High in fiber, essential for digestion. Alfalfa is also high in protein and calcium.
Pasture Grass	Fresh grass found in grazing fields.	Provides fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Natural grazing helps with digestion and mental health.
Grains	Includes oats, barley, and corn.	High in energy and carbohydrates. Should be fed in moderation.
Concentrates	Commercially prepared pellets or sweet feed.	Balanced mix of grains, vitamins, and minerals. Convenient for ensuring horses get all necessary nutrients.
Bran	Wheat or rice bran.	Provides fiber and is often used in mash to aid digestion.
Beet Pulp	By-product of sugar beet processing.	High in fiber and easily digestible. Good for weight gain and hydration (when soaked).
Supplements	Vitamins, minerals, and other additives.	Used to fill nutritional gaps not met by regular feed.
Fresh Vegetables	Carrots, apples, and other safe veggies/fruits.	Treats that provide vitamins and minerals. Should be given in moderation.
Salt and Minerals	Salt blocks or mineral licks.	Essential for electrolyte balance and overall health.
Water	Clean, fresh water should always be available.	Vital for hydration, digestion, and overall health.

Feeding Tips

• Regular Feeding Schedule: Horses should be fed simultaneously daily to maintain digestive health.
• Monitor Weight: Adjust feed based on the horse’s body condition and activity level.
• Avoid Sudden Changes: Any changes in diet should be made gradually to prevent digestive upset.
• Access to Clean Water: Ensure horses have constant access to fresh water.

Special Considerations

• Some horses have specific dietary needs based on age, health conditions, or activity level (e.g., performance horses).
• Consult with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist for personalized feeding plans.

Feel free to ask if you need more detailed information!

What Do Horses Eat – Hay

Horses typically consume 1.5 to 2.5% of their body weight in hay daily. In cold weather, horses may eat more hay for warmth.

Horses eat hay as it provides essential calories and nutrients that may not be present in pasture grasses. Furthermore, it provides essential vitamins and minerals for their health.

Hay is available in many forms and can be fed to horses in various ways. When feeding hay to horses, make sure it’s fresh and of high quality.

When selecting hay for your horse, consider its nutritional content and cost.

Some types of hay, like alfalfa, are more nutritious than others due to their higher protein and calcium contents than other kinds of hay.

When selecting hay, look for one harvested during the early stages of plant growth. This is when the leaves are still green and contain high nutrition levels.

Timothy grass is a popular choice for hay due to its high nutritional content. Unfortunately, this crop type must be cut before blooming and contains more weeds than other varieties.

Another option is to combine hay with grains to boost the protein content of your horse’s diet. This combination helps ensure they get all the necessary nutrients while decreasing hay consumption.

Horses can eat hay, fruit, and vegetables in addition to hay. While these provide essential vitamins and minerals, they should be consumed in moderation.

The amount of hay required when feeding your horse depends on its size and age. If your horse is very young, you may need to provide more feed than usual.

To maintain a horse’s weight of 1,200 lb (545 kg), it should receive eight flakes of hay daily. To do this, multiply the flakes by 3 lb (1.4 kg).

Your horse must have access to plenty of hay during the winter. Without adequate nutrition, they could become unwell and be at greater risk for colic or other illnesses.

Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What Do Horses Eat – Treats

Horses will eat anything not part of their regular diet, so it’s essential to know which treats are safe and how much is appropriate. Treats should only make up a small part of their meal as they contain calories that could upset their delicate digestive system.

Some foods, like apple seeds, can be toxic to horses in large amounts. While it’s not impossible to feed your horse a few apples or other seeds occasionally, it will take an abundance of them before any problems arise.

Fruits and vegetables are ideal additions to a horse’s diet, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and hydration that hay alone cannot provide. You can safely feed your horse carrots, pumpkins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, melons, and cucumbers.

Other nutritious foods to offer your guests include celery, pears, peas, snow peas, and beans – all low in fat and easy to prepare.

Cucumbers, squash, and zucchini make excellent treats for your horse. They provide vitamins, potassium, and fiber. Cucumbers also reduce inflammation within the body and provide extra hydration.

Melons are a favorite treat for horses. They’re juicy, sweet, and hydrating – the perfect summertime treat!

Bananas are a nutritious snack that is low in fat and calories. They also provide essential nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C.

It’s essential to remember that fruits and vegetables, while beneficial for horses, do contain high sugar levels. As such, they should only be part of your horse’s diet if necessary.

If your horse has insulin resistance, choose treats with less sugar and fewer calories.

Introducing new foods gradually and gradually into your horse’s diet is always wise.

Some foods can cause colic if introduced too rapidly, and certain animals may develop allergies if exposed too quickly. Start with a small amount and increase it over time.

Last update on 2024-11-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Water

Horses require ample water throughout the day for proper hydration, digestion, and electrolyte balance in their blood and cells.

The gallons consumed daily vary based on an animal’s age, physical condition, activity level, and environmental elements like temperature.

Water intake during hot weather may be lower than in cooler seasons due to increased sweat and humidity. Furthermore, fat horses drink less water than lean ones since their muscle tissue contains less water.

The type of forage a horse consumes can also influence its water consumption.

Grass and hay, for example, contain high fiber levels, which require more water to break down, move through the digestive system, and distribute throughout the body.

Fresh pasture grasses can contain up to 80 percent moisture, compared with dry feeds, which usually only have 10 or 15 percent moisture content.

As a general guideline, horses consume 5-10 gallons of water daily, depending on their activity level and environmental conditions.

However, depending on weather conditions and dietary intake, this amount may differ for each horse.

A horse in training may consume more water than one at home in the stable because it is under stress or working harder.

Furthermore, pregnant or nursing foals require more fluids, as their bodies need to ensure an even supply of fluids and nutrients for growth and development.

A horse on a grain-based diet, including complete feed, will require more water than one on a forage-based one.

The higher protein content of the grain-based diet can cause the horse to excrete excess nitrogen through urine.

Dehydration in horses can lead to performance issues, mental fatigue, and impaired concentration.

Mild dehydration is not usually life-threatening, but the horse may feel uncomfortable and refuse food.

If a horse exhibits signs of dehydration, such as skin that remains in a ridge appearance for more than ten seconds, it should be evaluated by its EVA veterinarian immediately.

What Do Horses Eat – Fruit

Fruits are integral to any horse’s diet, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants not found in hay or other equine feed.

They hydrate your horse’s system to prevent bloating and can also improve his blood sugar and insulin response.

Fruits will keep them happy!

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Apples, apricots, cherries, and raspberries are some of the healthiest fruits for horses to eat.

They contain vitamin C, which is essential for your horse’s well-being, and they’re also an excellent source of dietary fiber, which aids digestion.

It’s essential to remember that some fruits can be more hazardous than others for your horse, so read the labels before purchasing anything.

For instance, avocado is one of the most toxic fruits for horses, so avoid it unless you’re certain it’s safe.

Bananas are a nutritious treat for your horse. They can be fed whole or with the peel removed. Before feeding them, clean any woody stems or other potential choking hazards.

Cucumbers are an excellent addition to any horse’s diet as a source of calcium, which is essential for strong hooves and bone health.

Their high water content lets your horse stay hydrated and replenish dehydrated muscles.

They’re also relatively low in calories, meaning your horse won’t feel bloated after eating them.

As with most fruits, it’s wise to divide your horse’s daily allowance of fruit into smaller portions throughout the day rather than giving them all at once.

Berries are an excellent choice for your horse as they’re packed with essential nutrients and vitamins, like antioxidants, that fight inflammation in the body.

Berries may also improve blood sugar and insulin responses and aid digestion.

They’re an excellent way to add visual interest and color to your horse’s diet, and they can be frozen for refreshing treats.

Just remember that these contain a fair amount of sugar, so if your horse has diabetes or is insulin-resistant, be mindful before offering them as a reward.