Feeding a horse can be a daunting task as many owners have no idea how much food their horses need daily. Failing to feed your horse enough will result in malnutrition, which can lead to serious health problems. On the other hand, overfeeding will cause obesity and lead to severe complications as well.
For the health and well-being of your horse, it is important to understand the basics of a horses diet.
This article compiles a list of five things that you must consider about your horse's diet.
1. Plan Meals for Each Day in Advance
As a horse owner, you must plan four meals to give to your horse each day. It is crucial to remember that you cannot feed your horse at random hours or last minute because you will likely end up overfeeding it if you do.
For this reason, you must plan ahead of time and prepare all your meals for the day before noon. This ensures that you keep your horse's diet consistent throughout the day.
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2. Horses Need Plenty of Water
Water is just as important to horses as food because, without enough water, they will not be able to digest their food optimally. If you fail to provide your horse with enough water, it may develop colic.
Horses need to consume a minimum of 10 gallons of fresh water every day, and there is no maximum limit that they can drink.
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3. Focus on the Calories in the Feed You Choose
Feed is a critical component of a horse's diet, as it provides them with everything that their body needs to stay healthy. When choosing feed for your horse, you must focus more on the calorie count of the feed rather than on its protein and fat content. Proteins and fats can easily be found in other components of your horse's diet, such as fruits and vegetables.
4. Avoid Feeding Your Horse Extra Treats
It is difficult to resist the urge to reward your horse with treats after a job well done. However, you should always avoid feeding your horse extra treats because these tasty snacks may cause them to become obese. Obesity is a serious concern for horses and can put them at risk of suffering from numerous diseases.
5. Be Careful About What You Feed Your Horse
Some foods may be toxic or harmful to your horse. For this reason, you should always be careful when choosing what to feed your horse. You must ensure that the food you give is safe for consumption and has not gone bad in any way. Choose fresh fruits, grass, and vegetables to feed your horse for optimal nutrition.
Avoid giving the following to your pet:
- Banana peels
- Apple cores
- Grapes
- Chocolate, coffee, or caffeine products
- Avocado skins and pits
- Plants like foxglove, bracken, or privet
- Salt blocks
These are just some of the many things that you should not feed your horse. Aside from these things, you can consult with a veterinarian about what food is best for your pet.
Feeding your horse is not simple. However, you must ensure that it gets all its daily nutrients and vitamins to stay healthy. The five things mentioned above can help you figure out what to feed your horse and how much food it needs each day.
