FALCON CREEK FARM NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2003
QUALITY FEEDING
Choosing the right feed for your horse is always a bit of a guessing
game. There are so many factors that go
into deciding what type and how much hay or grain to give, if any at all. Every horse is different, and there are many
external factors that dictate what is ideal for any given horse. Such factors include differing nutritional
requirements, different activity levels, weather conditions, temperature,
different ages and different soil nutrients in the pasture grass that they may
graze on. Adding to this complexity is
the wide variety and formulations of feeds that are currently available on the
market. It’s hard to know what to feed,
and how much. There is no one grain and
no one hay in one amount that can be recommended for each horse, thus, it is up
to the horse owner to research what feeds are out there and what might best fit
for their horse.
If your horse grazes on pasture regularly, a good place to start is to
have your soil and/or grasses analyzed for nutritional content. While most people do not do this, it might
give some insight as to what your horses may or may not be getting in their
diet. Horses have evolved over the
years to graze, all day and all night, on grasses they could find as they
roamed. Most of those grasses were
probably not high-powered seeded fields of alfalfa (which is technically a
legume). They were most likely prairie
grasses of varying types. They did not
eat supplements and grain mixes once or twice per day. Their systems have evolved to handle the
continuous grazing of wild and prairie grasses. It is thus important to keep this in mind when feeding grain to
horses. Grains are carbohydrates (corn,
oats, wheat) and too much carbohydrate at one time is quite taxing to a horse’s
fragile system. This is why it is such
a concern if a horse gets into large amounts of grain accidentally. It affects their feet and can cause founder. It can also affect their digestive system by
causing colic. Grains should be given
in relatively small amounts and frequently throughout the day. The amount given should be adjusted
frequently to compensate for all of the above listed factors that affect a
horse’s caloric needs. I know my own
horses have an increased need for feed during the cold winter months, as their
bodies’ tries to maintain enough heat for warmth. Conversely, during the summer months when the pasture grass is
more plentiful, their supplemental energy needs drop to almost nothing.
Most of the time, horses will do fine on a daily basis with just grass
hay and/or pasture and a small amount of grain. Horses that are worked or ridden strenuously, or pregnant and
lactating mares may need additional grains (carbohydrates) and hay.
If you feed alfalfa hay, be aware that it tends to be high in protein
and high in calcium. This elevated
protein can be hard on their kidneys and the high calcium levels can disrupt
the proper calcium and phosphorus ratios.
This is especially critical during a horse’s young, bone developing
years. Alfalfa can pack on the pounds
of sedentary horses, too. Horses need
to eat in small amounts all day so the last thing they need is to have their
hay intake decreased so much that they spend less than an hour eating it. With grass hay, they can eat more of it and
more often.
My own personal opinion on feeding supplements is that I don’t like to
do it. If a horse is eating a balanced
diet of hay, grains and pasture, supplements should not be needed. Most supplements on the market are a waste
of money. In addition, horses can
synthesize their own vitamins so it is not necessary to add vitamin
supplements. The only time I would feel
it necessary is if I knew the horse was low or missing something specific in
their diet or needed it to correct a health problem.
The quality of feed you buy is extremely important. Always check your hay and grain before
feeding it. Some grains can spoil or go
rancid by the time you open it up.
Smell it for any foul or sour odors.
Do a visual inspection on each and every bag you open, Always!, for
things like mold or pests. If you see
anything questionable, do not feed it.
Either throw it out (and not where other horses can get to it, like out
in the pasture) or take it back to the store where you bought it. Horses are very sensitive to bad feed and it
can make them ill very quickly. The hay
you buy should be relatively weed-free and should not smell musty or moldy or
have excessive dust in it. It should be
bright green and smell fresh and clean.
If it smells bad or has dark or black areas in the bale, again, do not
feed it. Throw it out or send it
back. Look out for hay that hasn’t
“cured” or dried well prior to baling.
You will recognize this by noticing when you open the hay, it will
almost feel damp and might smell like it’s starting to ferment.
Again, it can’t be stressed enough, all feed should be checked each and
every time you use it, each bale, each bag.
It takes seconds and can save your horse a lot of pain and misery.
Happy Riding!!!
Comments and feedback are always welcome!
Leslie
Falcon Creek Farm
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