10 golden rules of horse nutrition

TIP 1 GOOD AND ENOUGH
By nature, horses eat 14 to 16 hours a day. Their digestive system is designed to receive a continuous stream of high-fibre food such as hay, haylage and silage. Therefore, ensure that your horse receives sufficient amounts of roughage of sufficient quality. As the quality of roughage can vary greatly and is sometimes difficult to assess, have a roughage analysis carried out.

This will help you know what you are feeding your horse.

The guideline for the amount of roughage is approximately 1.5 kg of roughage per 100 kg of body weight. For example, a 600 kg horse should receive approximately 9 kg of roughage.

TIP 2 FRESH WATER
water for horsesEnsure that your horse always has fresh, clean water available. Clean drinking water must be

always available both in the meadow and in the stable or paddock. Horses drink approximately 15 to 30 liters of water per day. The amount depends a lot on the temperature and performance. Do not give too much cold water at once and monitor the water temperature in summer.

TIP 3 GRADUAL TRANSITION TO SUPPLEMENTS
Any change in the horse's ration must occur gradually. It takes approximately 7 to 10 days to complete the change from concentrate to concentrate, with the old concentrate slowly phased out and the new concentrate slowly introduced. The change from stable to pasture or pasture to stable must also be gradual to avoid metabolic problems. Other changes in ration must also always occur slowly. Digestion can also react to the change in fiber content. So in this case, make a gradual transition from the old to the new roughage.

TIP 4: SMALL PORTIONS
A horse has a very small stomach with a capacity of about 8-15 liters, which is only about 7% of the volume of the gastrointestinal tract. Because the stomach is so small, a 600 kg horse cannot process more than 3 kg of concentrated feed per feeding.

Therefore, divide the concentrated feed into different portions throughout the day. You can also delay the intake by mixing roughage and concentrated feed.

As a result, the horse is forced to chew more, which is better for digestion.

horse feedingTIP 5 FEED SEVERAL TIMES A DAY
Horses do not have a gallbladder, which means that digestive juices are continuously fed into the small intestine. To maintain digestion, it is important to feed small portions more regularly. Divide the concentrated feed into 2 to 4 portions a day and do not let your horse fast for more than 6 hours. For horses with ulcers, this should be a maximum of 1 hour.

*Therefore, feed your horse at least 3 times a day. Also, try to maintain a fixed feeding schedule. *

TIP 6: HAY FIRST IN THE MORNING, THEN CONCENTRATED FEED
If your horse does not have access to hay or straw at night, it is best to start digestion

with roughage in the morning and then give him concentrate. Fatty feed causes increased saliva production and triggers digestion, which will lead to better digestion of the concentrate. Since the horse will not be as hungry after grinding, it will also chew the concentrate better.

TIP 7 NO CONCENTRATED FEED BEFORE PERFORMANCE
Do not feed large amounts of concentrate feed just before work. Do not feed concentrate feed 3 hours before heavy work. It is possible to pre-feed with a small amount of roughage. Working on a full stomach is uncomfortable and can also cause a drop in glucose levels about 2 hours after feeding. This can reduce performance. For light work combined with a small amount of concentrate feed, it is best not to use concentrate feed within 1 hour of work.

TIP 8 FEED CAREFULLY
Be careful when feeding supplementary products such as muesli; wet food, carrots, apples and other treats. The horse benefits from as few changes in feeding as possible. A consistent, good and balanced ration is best. Extras and treats can disrupt the ration and cause the horse to overfeed.

Extra minerals and vitamins are not normally necessary. In special cases, nutritional supplements can also have an effect. Make sure the basis of the ration is right, i.e. start with a good quality roughage and adjust the amount of concentrates in combination with your horse's performance and condition.

You can then decide which supplements your horse needs if the compound ration indicates a deficiency.

TIP 9 TEETH
Good digestion starts with good teeth.

If your horse's teeth are not in good condition, this can result in reduced nutrient absorption.

Have your horse's teeth checked regularly by an equine dentist, at least once a year.

Dental checks are especially important for older horses.

TIP 10 DEWORMING
Worms are a known problem in horses and can have a negative impact on the horse's health. Horses with worms can lose weight because food is not being absorbed properly. Regular deworming and rotating deworming products can help prevent worms from building up resistance. A manure test can determine the best method for deworming your horse.

Find out what you need to feed, look critically at your ration, expand your knowledge. When in doubt, always consult an expert!