How to feed a horse: the rules for compiling a diet, the amount of food and water that should not be given

Many people think that hay and oats are enough for horses, but this is not so. The diet of animals should be complete and balanced, regardless of the intensity of physical activity. It is important to know what can and cannot be fed to a horse in winter and summer to keep it he althy, how to schedule a meal, what he althy supplements to include in the menu.

What horses eat in their natural habitat

The natural habitat of horses is open areas overgrown with field and meadow vegetation. Tabun eats grass almost 20 hours a day.Since the horse's stomach is small relative to the body, the animal does not eat a large portion, but is saturated gradually throughout the day.

Herbaceous plants that ungulates eat in natural conditions:

• clover;
• quinoa;
• dandelion;
• wheatgrass;
• burdock;
• leafflower;
• milk thistle;
• nettle;
• alfalfa;
• sorrel.

In winter, wild horses dig up withered grass and frozen rhizomes from under the snow.

What do they feed the animals in the stable

The owner of the stable must not only choose the right products for the animals, but also organize the feeding regimen.

Juicy food

Without fresh grass, a horse will not last long, because it is its natural food. Juicy greens are the basis of the diet. The most convenient and economical food option is free grazing. If it is not possible to release the animal into the open, then you will have to prepare grass feed.

Before you let your horse out to pasture, you need to make sure that poisonous herbs do not grow there. If the animal has to be fed without grazing, then the quality and freshness of the feed should be checked; if there are signs of mold and decay, the grass should be disposed of. A winter alternative to fresh grass is haylage. This is a dried green mixture sold in sealed packages. Vegetables and root crops are also considered juicy food. Horses are fed carrots, fodder beets, and occasionally boiled potatoes.

Roughage

Roughage is called hay - dried grass, in which no more than 18% moisture remains. The horse is fed with hay throughout the year, even if the diet includes fresh and dried grass. Do not replace hay with straw, as its nutritional value is significantly lower.

The horse also willingly eats granular grass flour - greens crushed and pressed under the influence of high temperatures.

Concentrated feed

Some horse breeders ignore food concentrates, others feed their pets in excess. The “golden mean” is important here: concentrates are not the basis of nutrition, therefore they are given to horses in moderation. Substituting concentrated feed for fresh grass is unacceptable.

There are three types of concentrates:

• cereals;
• cereals with vitamins;
• compound feed.

Grain mixes for horses typically include barley, oats, corn, bran. It is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, starch, fiber - substances that replenish energy in the horse's body.

Compound feed is mainly fed to horses by farmers, as this product is economical and easy to distribute among many heads.

This is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, based on bran, ground grains, grass meal.

Compiling a daily diet

Feeding horses is not as easy as it seems. Animals differ in physique, he alth status, breed characteristics, intensity of physical activity, and purpose. For example, a sports stallion and a pony, a he althy and a sick individual cannot have the same diet.

On average, one he althy adult should eat per year:

• 2 tons of oats;
• 5 - hay;
• 1 - juicy food;
• 1,5 - bran.

The annual amount of s alt used as a food additive should be 12 kg per animal.

A horse weighing about 600 kg should eat a day:

• 12-15 kg of hay;
• 4-5 kg concentrated food;
• 2-3 kg of juicy grass;
• 1-2 kg bran.

To prevent pets from gaining weight, when choosing a diet, you need to take into account their daily physical activity.

So, the workhorse should eat more concentrates. Their specific gravity can reach 70% at high load. Approximate ration for a working horse:

• 7 kg of hay;
• 7 kg grass;
• 5 kg oats;
• 5kg silage;
• 50g premix;
• 30g s alt.

Sport horses should also receive hay and concentrated feed daily. Moreover, the daily ratio of products changes taking into account training and competitions. Standard diet for a sport horse of middle age and weight:

• 7 kg of hay;
• 2 kg corn flakes;
• 1kg granulated herbal flour;
• 0.5 kg molasses;
• 0.1 kg of premixes;
• 50g s alt.

Diet preparation for pregnant and lactating mares should be especially careful, since the quality of nutrition determines the he alth of the foals. A mare should eat at least 4 kg of hay per 100 kg of body weight per day. The daily menu must include up to 6 kg of vegetables and root crops, about 4 kg of silage, 1 kg of sunflower cake. They feed on concentrates, which include barley, corn and oats in a ratio of 35:25:40 by weight.

In the first 8 months they are fed in such a way as to correct the weight of the pregnant mare. If the animal is weak, then a percentage of concentrates is added, if it is he althy - roughage. For the remaining 3 months, they increase the calorie content, and a few days before the appearance of the foal, increase the proportion of silage in the roughage. During the lactation period, calorie content is not reduced so that the mare does not weaken.The foal is fed, observing the principle of regular food availability, which is especially important during the period of weaning the cub from the mother. The diet of foals is almost the same as an adult, it includes hay, grain, bran, cake, vegetables, molasses.

Feeding rules

To keep a horse he althy, it is important not only to make the right diet, choose high-quality and fresh products, but also to feed in compliance with the following rules:

1. The animal must always have access to drinking water.
2. How much a horse eats, what kind of food it prefers, depends on its physique and temperament.
3. In order not to harm digestion, feed the horse at least an hour after exercise.
4. In feeding, a schedule is important, from which you cannot deviate. Food is given daily at the same time.
5. The horse is fed several times a day, but the daily portion is divided into several small ones.
6. Change in diet is done gradually, adding new food carefully, in small portions.

How much does a horse drink a day

Daily portion of water for a horse - up to 60 liters. The animal drinks a lot and often, so there should always be access to drink. But you need to be careful not to harm the he alth of the animal. So, you can’t immediately water a horse that has returned to the stable after hard work or a long walk on a cool day. This can cause stomach cramps and disruption of the heart muscle. The horse should rest, cool down, then you can already offer him a drink.

In the cold season, the horse is fed with lukewarm water that has settled at room temperature. Do not give cold, hot, boiled water.

What treats can I give?

For horses, it is joy and pleasure to receive a treat from the owner for good work or success in competitions. But treats are not food, so moderation must be observed here. Frequent rewards with goodies can lead to weight gain and digestive problems in the animal.

He althy and safe treats for horses:

• apples;
• pitted watermelon pulp;
• homemade croutons;
• sugar cubes.

Also, in specialized stores, you can buy ready-made treats that can be fed to horses. They are not only tasty, but also rich in vitamins and minerals.

What can not be fed to horses?

It is strictly forbidden to include in the horse diet:

• fresh bread - it causes blockage of the intestines, begins to ferment in it, which causes colic;
• cabbage - it provokes excessive accumulation of intestinal gases, which causes colic;
• fruits (except apples and watermelons);
• dried fruits - deadly, not digestible in the animal's digestive tract;
• store crackers and chips;
• human food.

Feeding is an important part of keeping horses. The he alth and longevity of a noble animal depend on how well the diet is composed. The main conditions for a proper horse diet are variety and balance.

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