What Do Horses Need Daily? A Closer Look
There is so much information online about what you should be feeding your horse daily.
It can be unclear, and knowing what is right for your animal is important.
Here’s a detailed chart for daily horse care:
| Task | Description | Frequency | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feeding | Provide appropriate feed based on horse’s diet plan. | Twice daily | 15-30 minutes |
| Watering | Ensure fresh water is available at all times. | Daily | 5-10 minutes |
| Cleaning Stalls | Remove manure and wet bedding from stalls. | Daily | 20-30 minutes |
| Grooming | Brush coat, clean hooves, and check for injuries or abnormalities. | Daily | 30 minutes |
| Exercise | Provide adequate exercise through riding, lunging, or turnout. | Daily | 1-2 hours |
| Health Check | Check for signs of illness or injury, including temperature, pulse, and respiration. | Daily | 10-15 minutes |
| Feed Supplements | Administer any necessary vitamins or supplements as prescribed. | Daily | 5 minutes |
| Tack Maintenance | Clean and inspect tack for wear and tear. | After each use | 10-15 minutes |
| Pasture Check | Inspect fences, gates, and pasture conditions. | Daily | 10-15 minutes |
Additional Weekly Tasks
| Task | Description | Frequency | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Stall Cleaning | Thoroughly clean and disinfect stalls. | Weekly | 1-2 hours |
| Horse Bathing | Give your horse a full bath if needed. | Weekly or as needed | 30-60 minutes |
| Hoof Care | Trim and check hooves (by farrier). | Every 6-8 weeks | 30-60 minutes |
| Equipment Check | Inspect and repair any equipment (blankets, halters, etc.). | Weekly | 20-30 minutes |
Feel free to adjust the times based on your specific needs and the number of horses in your care.
Here’s a look at a few essentials.
Fresh, Clean, Water
Horses need water daily to stay healthy. Without it, they can develop colic, impaction, or kidney failure. Water also helps with digestion.
Your horse’s water needs can be determined by age, activity level, and diet.
- Helps provide maximum beneficial support to the immune system, liver, skin, and hair
- Helps with Neurological issues (Shivers, PSSM, EPM, EDM, motor neuron) as well as muscle soreness, tie-up, and polysaccharide storage problems
- Good for the senior horse with poor immunity
- Assists with liver problems, eye disorders, and dull, dry, damaged skin and coat
- Helps build immunity to disease
Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Horses need about five to ten gallons of water per day. The more active your horse is, the more water it will need.
A horse’s body makeup is 70% water. It will lose about five gallons of fluid every 24 hours, which includes defecation, urination, and sweat.
Your horse may also need more water if it is pregnant, lactating, or sick.
Your horse’s water intake will be affected by the temperature of the water, the ambient temperature of the area, and the quality of the water. Ideally, your horse’s water source is at an average 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit temperature.
Providing your horse with access to clean, fresh, free-choice water is important to ensure its health and will help you monitor its drinking habits.
One good way to encourage your horse to drink is by adding loose salt to its daily ration. Salt is an electrolyte that can replenish the fluids that your horse loses during exercise.
Add one tablespoon of table salt to your horse’s grain per day.
If your horse has access to a man-made water source, check it often for quality. If the quality is not high, your horse may not drink from it.
A well can contain very high levels of bacteria. Moreover, the quality of the water cannot be guaranteed.
Your horse should have access to fresh, clean, and free-choice water wherever it is stabled. Tracking your horse’s water consumption is the best way to ensure its health.
What Do Horses Need Daily – Quality Roughage
Roughage is an important part of a horse’s diet. It’s what helps them produce saliva, which is important for digestion. Without it, they’re more prone to developing colic.
Roughage comes in many forms, including grass, hay, and haylage. All of them provide nutrition to the horse. If you’re feeding a large animal, you may need to supplement its roughage with grain.
You should only feed your horse good-quality roughage. Moldy, dusty, or rotten hay is not suitable. Also, keep the ration neat. Your horse should always have clean drinking water available.
Horses need a high-fiber, low-sugar diet to avoid stomach ulcers. Their digestive system is designed to receive a steady stream of high-fiber food.
Other types of horse feed include concentrates. These contain grains and other nutrients. Concentrates should be limited to a tenth of the total weight of the diet, however.
For instance, concentrated corn can quickly put a horse’s weight on the line. To combat this, it’s best to feed a small amount every two hours. That way, it’s easier to maintain their appetite and digest.
The best way to determine the appropriate amount of roughage is to measure it. Roughage accounts for about half of a horse’s diet.
A ration should have a balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, and vitamins. The higher the calcium content, the better.
In addition, a horse’s diet should contain a good energy source. Alternative energy sources include sugar beet, soy hulls, and corn oil.
Choosing the best type of concentrates for your horse depends on its breed and activity level. To ensure that your horse gets the proper nutrition, consult with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist.
- SUPPORTS OVERALL HEALTH provides important vitamins & minerals that may be lacking in the diet
- IMMUNE HEALTH Contains iron and zinc, which support the immune system
- HEALTHY METABOLISM contains B-complex vitamins to support metabolism
- HELPS MAINTAIN ENERGY NEEDS & PERFORMANCE DEMANDS: contains 300 mg. of iron per 1/2 ounce
- HEALTHY CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION helps maintain normal blood cell health
Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What Do Horses Need Daily – Electrolytes
Electrolytes are essential for horses to keep them properly hydrated. They maintain the acid-base balance in body fluids, power muscle contractions, and carry signals along nerve cells.
But how do you make sure your horse has the right amount?
Horses have different electrolyte needs depending on their activity level and environment.
For example, endurance horses lose a large amount of sweat, so they require supplemental electrolytes.
Other horses, especially those with light work, do not sweat as much and do not require additional supplementation. The best way to keep them hydrated is to provide free-choice water.
Adding sugar to the water may be helpful but not necessary.
Whether you add electrolytes to feed them or supplement them with a commercial product, they should be given appropriately.
The amount should be based on the expected length of time the horse will work.
Sodium and potassium are the most important electrolytes for horses. These two minerals are present in the extracellular fluid, while calcium and chlorine are present in intracellular fluid.
During exercise, sodium is lost in the highest amounts, while potassium and chloride are lost in the lowest.
Sodium is also essential for horses to maintain normal cellular function.
When the levels of these minerals become unbalanced, they can disrupt cellular processes, slow recovery, and cause dehydration.
When rehydrating a horse, it’s best to use an isotonic solution.
Water should also be provided at frequent intervals. If your horse refuses to drink electrolyte-loaded water, offer plain water instead.
Electrolytes are a safe way to keep your horse well-hydrated.
They can be administered in several ways, including as top dress on the feed or through a syringe.
- MUSCLE HEALTH: Supports optimum muscle health for horses exerting severe physical effort
- ANTIOXIDANT SUPPORT: Helps support cell activity and protect cell membranes from free radicals
- IMMUNE HEALTH: helps support and maintain a strong immune system
- SUPPORTS PERFORMANCE DEMANDS: Helps keep horses in peak condition
- KEY INGREDIENTS: Contains balanced levels of vitamin E and selenium that can contribute to the correction of nutrient deficiencies
Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Routine check-ups and vaccinations
If you own a horse, having regular check-ups and vaccinations is important. These can help prevent and detect minor problems before they become major ones.
Your veterinarian may recommend a vaccine schedule based on your horse’s age and activity level. It is also essential to consider your horse’s geographic location and breeding status.
Your vet will conduct a comprehensive physical exam. This includes a complete blood count and asking if you have any infections or parasites.
Your vet will also palpate your legs to ensure they are healthy and look for signs of anemia, dehydration, and metabolic abnormalities.
A chemistry panel will examine your horse’s blood. White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets will all be evaluated. Anemia, dehydration, and metabolic imbalances can signify infection or other health problems.
Some vaccinations are recommended more often than others. For instance, you should vaccinate your horse against rabies at least once yearly.
Rabies is a contagious disease, so if your horse is exposed to it, he or she may pass it to other horses.
Many vaccinations can be administered intranasally. However, you may need to administer other vaccines via a needle.
The AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) provides complete information on equine vaccinations and recommends using a risk-based vaccine strategy.
Risk-based vaccinations include EEE/WEE, influenza, and rhinitis. These are the core vaccines, but several other vaccinations are important in certain regions.
Vaccines can be very costly; you may want to consult your veterinarian about the best plan. Remember, however, that these strategies are meant to reduce your horse’s infection risk, not protect him from diseases.
Preventing laminitis
You must ensure your horse gets the right micronutrients to remain fit and healthy. This is especially important if you own a horse prone to laminitis.
Your veterinarian can help you determine whether your horse is at risk for laminitis and recommend a diet that helps to control weight and reduce the risk of developing it.
Age, body size, and stress level are factors affecting a horse’s laminitis risk. Proper hoof care can also prevent laminitis.
If you have an overweight horse, you should try to keep it on a low-starch and high-fiber diet. Feeding it a small meal a few times daily can help you do this.
In addition to managing your horse’s weight, you must provide it with various exercises. Horses with a lot of weight on their backs are prone to laminitis.
High-fructan and WSC can be added to the diet of horses with laminitis. However, they are not an ideal choice. It is best to feed high-grade, low-sugar hay.
In addition to feeding the correct diet, you can prevent laminitis by caring for your horse’s hooves. When your horse becomes lame, it is best to consult a veterinarian or a farrier.
Laminitis is often caused by obesity. Maintaining a stable animal with a balanced weight can prevent many problems arising from overeating.
A Body Condition Score Chart can help you monitor your horse’s health. Also, make sure to check your horse’s hooves daily.
Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your horse is suffering from laminitis. The sooner you treat your horse, the less damage it will suffer.
