Feeding a horse on a diet requires careful planning and research. The best way to find the right horse food is to research the different kinds of food suitable for your horse’s breed and age. Horses are grass eaters. They have adapted to eating grass, and thrive on a diet of fresh green grass. Grass is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, which horses need for a healthy body and a healthy digestive system. A horse’s digestive system is very similar to that of humans – it has three stomachs (gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal) as well as many different enzymes needed for digestion.
Horses also produce their own vitamin K, so they don’t require supplements like we do. So what happens if your horse suddenly no longer has access to fresh green grass? Or if you’re having trouble getting them to eat hay? To keep your horse healthy, you need to feed them a balanced diet with the correct balance of nutrients. You can find specific recommendations for feeding a horse on a diet in each of our individual Horse Nutrition Guides:
What is a good horse diet?
Horses are grazers and like to eat fresh, green grass. Their digestive system is very similar to humans, with a three-staged stomach and many digestive enzymes. Horses can thrive on a diet based around fresh grass, as long as it is of good quality and contains the nutrients your horse needs.
There are many nutritional supplements made for horses and many books written about nutrition for horses, but these are often expensive, yet may be completely unnecessary for specific situations. A balanced, quality diet is the best way to ensure your horse is receiving all the essential nutrients and vitamins required for a healthy body and digestive system. You can find specific recommendations for feeding a horse on a diet in each of our individual Horse Nutrition Guides:
How do you feed a horse on a diet?
Horses are grazers and should be provided with fresh grass daily. When feeding a horse on a diet, you need to be careful that the diet has the correct balance of nutrients and is not too high in one particular nutrient. A good diet to feed a horse on a diet is hay or a grain-free diet, with limited supplementation of molasses.
In addition to grass, horses can thrive on an adequate amount of hay or other forage. You can feed your horse at any time of day, as long as it has access to fresh, clean water. It is also important to note that horses must have at least one hour of rest in the morning and one hour of rest in the afternoon.
A note on dried hay and stinging pasture
Dried hay is a great way to supplement your horse’s diet with fibre, vitamins, and minerals. If a horse isn’t having access to fresh green grass, it can be a good option to supplement their diet with hay. Hay is a great source of fibre, which helps to keep horses regular. However, hay should never be the only source of fibre in a horse’s diet.
Too much fibre in horses can lead to digestive issues and potentially impaction, which is when the horse’s system gets backed up and they start to experience abdominal pain, which can be exacerbated by lying down. Stinging pasture is another good way to add a source of fibre to a horse’s diet. It is important to note that stinging nettles are poisonous. If a horse is eating stinging nettle, it is important to know that they should be monitored closely by a veterinarian.
How to find the right horse food for your horse
Feeding a horse on a diet requires careful planning and research. The best way to find the right horse food is to research the different kinds of food suitable for your horse’s breed and age. It is also helpful to know the breed standard for your horse’s breed, so you have an idea of what to look for when choosing a horse food.
You can also ask your Veterinarian for recommendations, or look for horse food reviews. Alternatively, you can try feeding your horse a mixture of different feeds until you find something they like.
Why does my horse shy away from dry foods?
Horses are grass eaters and their digestive system is very similar to that of humans. A horse does best on a diet that is comprised mainly of fresh green grass. If a horse is not being provided with fresh green grass, or is not consuming enough hay or other forage, it will turn to grazing on stale, dried grass. This is not ideal and is actually harmful for a horse’s digestive system.
Stale, dried grass is low in fibre, so horses tend to turn their attention to grazing on other things such as plants, tree bark and weeds. Stale, dried grass also has a very low moisture content, which is one of the key components required for a horse’s digestive system. Horses are also very picky eaters, and may turn their nose up at dry feeds if they have been on them before.
How often should you feed your horse?
The amount of food you feed your horse depends on a number of factors, including its size, age, and activity level. In general, horse owners feed their horses a diet comprised of about 30% forage and 70% hay. This is a good starting point, but you should always consult your Veterinarian for specific recommendations.
Conclusion
If your horse suddenly no longer has access to fresh green grass, or is having trouble eating hay, you may be able to get it to eat dry feeds, or change the diet it is currently on. However, it is important to remember that these are temporary fixes that will not provide your horse with long-term nutrition.
A horse needs to be fed a quality diet of fresh, green grass daily. If you need to feed your horse on a diet, it is best to do so in conjunction with other management strategies, such as creating a feeding station and keeping good feeding records, to help improve your horse’s eating behaviour.
