November 8, 2002, Newsletter Issue #98: Equine Diets!

Tip of the Week

For the first two weeks of November, we will discuss the Rules of Proper Feeding, the Third week, hays and concentrates, and the last week, Supplements.

The Rules of Proper Feeding

1. Clean and fresh water available at all times.

2. Feed smaller amounts fed more frequently.

3. Feed according to the type of work, the temperment and the present condition of the horse.

4. Feed at the same time each and every day.

5. Do not work immediately after feeding.

6. Feed sufficient roughage daily.

7. Change food very gradually.

8. Choose only clean and good quality feed.

9. Feed succulents every day.

4. Feeding at the same time every day. Horses are such creatures of habit, that a fluctuating time of day for feeding, will considerably affect the horse`s condition and weight. Work out your schedule, and then set a specific schedule for the horse that will regulate the times that he is fed daily, making sure that there is no more than 8 hours in-between feedings, unless the horse is at large and out on pasture.

5. Do not work a horse immediately after feeding. A horse is no different than you or I, and should not be engaged in exercise immediately after feeding. It is best to only allow a horse to eat half a flake of local hay before working, if it is that the horse has been without food for any amount of time. The rule of thumb is that a horse should have a minimum of one and a half hours rest after eating before exercise or working.

6. Feeding adequate roughage daily. Feeding adequate roughage will ensure that the horse`s digestive system is continually functioning in the manner that it was designed. Administer the highest quality of a horse`s diet during the evening when he has the time to be quiet during and after eating and thereby receive the greatest consumption of the nutrients from the feed throughout the body. A horse`s roughage should ultimately be two thirds of the total diet.

7. Changing a horse`s diet should take place over a period of one week to prevent against the horse colicing over the change. A horse may colic over many, many changes in condition; but most often the greatest cause of colic is sudden diet change.

8. Feed only quality feeds. A horse`s condition and weight will be more quickly and long lastingly noticed by quality feeds than by cheap or poor quality feeds. Mold--dust--over grown hays will all, over time, show the results of a horse in poor condition that will require far greater amounts of feed than any horse that is fed quality feeds. Molds and dust specifically will cause permanent lung damage to horses as well, as a lack of condition.

9. Feeding succulents daily will ensure that your horse is in optimum condition at all times, and will also increase the comradiere between you and your horse. Succulents include pasture, grass, carrots, apples, pears, peaches (pitted), and fruits and vegetables that you discover that your horse loves to eat. In particular, I have a gelding that LOVES the core of broccoli-cauliflour-bok choy and many other vegetables, not to mention oranges (!!!).

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