Horse feeding: how to feed your horse properly!

Everyone wants only the best for their horse and that applies in particular to the feed. But how do you feed your horse correctly? What can you safely put in the trough and what should you avoid? Does feeding oil make sense and how good are hay nets really? These are all important questions about horse feeding, after all, with the choice of your feed and the type of feeding you can directly influence the well-being of your horse. Not only that: Many horses even get sick due to incorrect or poor feed.

In this detailed article you will find out which different types of feed there are, what belongs on a balanced horse nutrition plan and how to feed your horse correctly in every season!

Horse feeding

Everything you need to know about how to properly feed your horse!

The original feeding behavior of your horse in nature vs. in today’s posture

In order to feed your horse as species-appropriate and as well as possible, you first have to look at how and what it eats in nature. In the wild, horses cover many kilometers with their herds every day and eat almost continuously. The feed in nature consists largely of plant fibers and herbs. Leaves, grasses, buds and tubers were mainly on the diet of European primitive horses.

Lots of movement and constant eating

The horse has always been a running animal that spends up to 18 hours a day moving around and eating in the process. The entire organism of your horse is designed precisely for this permanent eating: On the one hand, the stomach of your horse is relatively short compared to its long digestive tract and therefore perfect for smaller amounts of feed that is continuously consumed and passed on to the digestion system. On the other hand, stomach acid is continuously produced and released, thus ensuring that the stomach can process the many nibbles. Since the intestine must also be supplied with digestive juices at all times, the horse also has no gall bladders, which means that the bile is released directly and continuously into the intestine.

Now it is the case in many stables these days that horses receive three main meals a day. Almost like us humans: breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, it has meanwhile been proven that the production of the horse’s digestive juices does not adapt to these feeding intervals. Even regular eating breaks of three hours can lead to serious problems in your horse, such as stomach ulcers, digestive problems and, as a result, to behavioral problems such as head ticking.

In addition to the basic feeding and sufficient hay, your horse should ideally have the opportunity to eat species-rich pasture grass at all times throughout the year. In the best case, a meadow that is not too damp is available to him. However, some meadows are full of poisonous plants and therefore not suitable for your horse. Also make sure that your horse’s pasture does not contain any poisonous plants such as dock, ragwort and buttercups or too much clover.

The natural posture when eating

The posture when eating also plays a very important role: the horse naturally eats its feed from a height close to the ground, with its head bowed forward and down. Modern troughs at table or waist height are useful for you when feeding, but they cause your horse to swallow with an angled neck, which in the long term can put strain not only on the throat but also on the esophagus of your horse. In addition, the horse’s teeth are designed in such a way that the upper and lower teeth lie exactly on top of one another in the natural feeding position. Which in turn ensures good grinding when eating. Finally, bicarbonate is added to the food in the mouth when it is chewed. This is important for a good acid balance and healthy digestion.

Rough, concentrated, juice feed and Co.

The different types of food

Nowadays there is an unbelievably wide range of different feeds for horses in specialist shops. In general, horse feed is divided into five different categories:

1. Roughage in horse feeding

Roughage is the basic forage in horse feeding and the collective term for hay, straw, haylage and silage. However, not all of these feeds are suitable for your horse, which is why you should only use hay. In addition to various grasses, the dried green fodder should also contain Legominoses, herbs and at least more than 20% crude fiber. You can easily recognize good hay by its aromatic smell and its light green color.

Quality hay

The harvest time is also responsible for the hay quality. The hay, which is harvested at the beginning of the grass flowering, still contains residues of the seeds, which ensure that the dried grass is full of plant substances and trace elements. The later the harvest, the higher the chance that the hay will already contain mold due to the weathering of the grass, to which your horse could be allergic. In order to obtain particularly nutrient-rich hay, the mown grass should be dried fairly quickly.

Haylage and silage

For horses with respiratory problems, haylage or silage are often used as an alternative to hay. Although these feedstuffs are low in dust, they are produced using lactic acid fermentation with lactic acid bacteria. This leads to a higher acid, histamine and protein content. The lactic acid bacteria also accumulate in the small and large intestines and can disrupt the intestinal flora of your horse. This in turn can lead to various diseases, such as diarrhea, feces or even colic as well as various skin and hoof problems . Therefore, you should better refrain from feeding your horse hayage and silage and, if your horse suffers from respiratory problems, alternatively feed wet or steamed hay.

straw

Another roughage that is often forgotten is straw. In the past, almost every horse box was littered with straw, which automatically ensured that enough roughage was taken in. Since other materials are now often used, you should add straw as another point on your horse’s nutrition plan. Because straw not only occupies your horse longer, as it can only be eaten slowly, but also has a positive effect on digestion due to the high amount of fiber and the few nutrients.

But be careful: In some horses, consuming too much straw can quickly lead to constipation colic!

In general, roughage is essential for your horse’s digestion. This type of feed not only balances the calcium-phosphorus balance, but the particularly high fiber content ensures a healthy intestinal flora, which improves the general well-being of your horse and at the same time reduces the risk of colic.

2. Juice feed in horse feeding

Fresh feed with a high water content is generally referred to as juice feed. This group includes, for example, grass, beets and other fruits and vegetables. Especially if your horse does not always have access to fresh pasture grass, the addition of juice feed in the form of fruit and vegetables or beets is recommended. To prevent your horse from choking or becoming blocked, you should always cut the juice feed into long pieces.

fruit and vegetables

Carrots are particularly popular – with humans and horses. These not only promote bowel activity and strengthen the immune system, but are also full of valuable vitamins and, of course, carotene. In addition to carrots, most horses also like apples, fodder beets and sometimes even fennel and beetroot. Bananas and pears are also popular. With pears, however, you have to be careful not to feed them too much, as pears have a puffy effect and can lead to colic.

Beet pulp

Beet pulp from sugar beet is a practical alternative to fresh juice feed, especially in winter. They stimulate appetite, help your horse gain weight, and are full of energizing and easily digestible pectins. However, you should be careful when preparing the beet pulp and neither let it soak for too short nor too long. Furthermore, do not feed them too much, as otherwise there is a risk of a phosphorus deficiency in your horse.

Reading tip: You can read more about the correct preparation of beet pulp and what to look out for when feeding them here !

Because fresh fruit and vegetables can quickly become expensive, cheap beetroot is also a welcome juice feed alternative. These keep your horse busy for some time thanks to their thick diameter. In general, you can offer your horse all the fruits and vegetables that it likes. Keep in mind, however, that too much juice feed disrupts the acid balance and can lead to colic.

3. Concentrated feed in horse feeding

Typical concentrate feed is mainly oats, corn and barley, but pellets, muesli as well as vitamin and mineral feed also belong to this feed category. As already mentioned, the horse’s digestive system is naturally designed for low-energy food that is eaten in small amounts. For a completely normal husbandry, in which your horse does not have to perform any major tasks, there is little to no need for an extra ration of concentrated feed.

For recreational horses, it is usually enough to mix some mineral feed with the hay. For competition horses or broodmares, however, it makes sense to add energy-rich feed to ensure a continuous supply of protein and thus a high level of energy. But even in these situations you should be careful not to offer too much concentrated feed, as it puts a lot of strain on the small intestine and can thus lead to colic or other digestive disorders.

How much concentrated feed is the right amount for your horse depends entirely on its energy needs and body structure. So stick to the manufacturer’s recommended amounts or talk to your vet.

Tip: On the website of the Chamber of Agriculture you will also find a lot of information and formulas on how you can determine the exact amount of feed for your horse.

Which concentrate is right for your horse?

Not all concentrate feed is the same; here, too, there are different types, similar to roughage:

Horse feeding: oats

Oats are the classic concentrated feed for horses. In the past, oats were mainly fed to arable horses and other work horses in order to meet the relatively high energy requirements quickly and inexpensively. Even nowadays, the grain is very popular in horse feeding, after all, it is much more tolerable than wheat or rye, for example, and therefore ideal for the sensitive digestive system of horses.

It is often said that oats drive horses crazy. Finally, there is also the saying “The oats sting”. However, this is a myth and has not yet been scientifically confirmed. As with any concentrated feed, the same applies to oats: do not feed too much!

Reading tip: You can read more about the myth that oats drive horses crazy and how good oats actually are here .

Horse feeding: barley and corn

Even if barley and maize have a very high and concentrated energy content, the starch they contain reduces your horse’s intestinal activity and, if left untreated, is rather an unsuitable feed. For this reason, the two types of grain are hydrothermally pretreated and fed in an easily tolerated flake form. The good thing about these flakes is that you can easily mix them with other feed to give your horse a little boost of energy.

Horse muesli and pellets

Muesli and pellets are always a mixture of different energy-rich and digestive feeds. For example, different types of grain are often combined with flax meal. Whether you prefer to feed pellets or horse muesli is up to you. In general, your horse has to chew longer on the muesli than on the pellets, which is of course better for his digestion.

Food tip: A really great muesli is the structured muesli from Wiesenkraft. This is low in starch as well as grain and molasses-free and contains linseed oil as well as beetroot and carrot chips. But you can also use the usual muesli from Wiesenkraft, which also consists of good ingredients such as linseed oil and linseed, spelled and oat flakes as well as carrot chips and brewer’s yeast.

4. Vitamin and mineral feed in horse feeding

As the name suggests, vitamin and mineral feed are feed additives that contain vitamins, trace elements and bulk elements. A supply shortage of vitamins or trace elements can quickly adversely affect the general condition of your horse and for example, a summer eczema , poor hoof growth or malanders also be impaired.

Even if your horse is out on the pasture all year round, its vitamin or mineral requirements are not necessarily met. This is because most pastures no longer have enough natural nutrients to grow. So, regardless of whether your horse is kept on the pasture or partially in the stable all year round, you are definitely on the safe side with the supplementary feeding of vitamins and minerals.

Make sure, however, that the trace elements in the feed are of natural origin and not artificially produced. It is also important to remember that every trace element needs a specific vitamin in order to be ideally absorbed by the horse’s body. For example, vitamin E is fed in combination with selenium, selenium needs copper and zinc and so on.

Reading tip: You can find a good overview including a requirement table here !

5. Supplementary feed in horse feeding

Anything that you feed your horse on special occasions is referred to as additional feed. Especially in the case of deficiency symptoms (see also vitamin and mineral feed), after an illness or a strenuous day, the administration of additional feed is recommended.

Horse mash

Horse mash is particularly popular and is often fed to ailing horses on cold winter days. This wheat bran porridge is mixed with warm water and can be supplemented with various additives, such as shredded carrots, linseed and beetroot pieces. Mash is particularly well tolerated and therefore an ideal additional feed if your horse suffers from indigestion. However, it should never replace your horse’s basic feed and should not be fed more than once or twice a week.

Good horse feed

This is how you can identify good food for your horse

There is now a really large range of different horse feeds in specialist shops and online. On the one hand, this is of course great – after all, you have the opportunity to get exactly what your horse needs – on the other hand, it can also be very difficult to keep track of this variety and literally remove the wheat from the chaff to separate. In order to identify good and high quality feed for your horse, you should pay particular attention to the following points:

1. Fresh, green and aromatic hay

The basic feed of your horse in particular should always be of the very best quality, which you can easily and quickly recognize: Good and fresh hay is green, has an aromatic smell and is grippy to the touch. If your hay is pale yellow in color, it is probably older or very rainy and you should no longer feed it to your horse. Particular care should be taken against gray discoloration, black spots and dusty hay, as these are signs of mold in the hay that can harm your horse. Of course, neither dirt, straw nor manure has lost anything in your horse’s hay. In addition, good hay is particularly rich in species, which means that it consists not only of grass, but also of other plants and, above all, herbs.

2. Feeding horses without artificial additives

Before you buy horse feed, be sure to take a quick look at the ingredients on the packaging, because indications such as “organic”, “no preservatives” or “free from additives” do not always have to be true. In grain-free feed in particular, pseudo-grains such as rice or various synthetic additives are found again and again.

So that nothing can go wrong when buying horse feed, you should pay attention to the following points:
– Natural ingredients, preferably organic quality
– No additives (molasses, flavor enhancers, etc.)
– No waste materials from other industries (for example the peel of sunflower seeds or fruit scraps)
– Pay attention to the type of feed, which tells you whether the composition is more suitable for the needs of competition or leisure horses , for example

Lining Tip: Really good food you can find in Wiesbaden force. This is not only molasses-free, but also low in starch. As an alternative, the company uses Jerusalem artichoke, a plant that improves the intestinal health of your horse, as well as tapioca, dried cassava root, which serves as a source of carbohydrates, and Deverra Scoparia, a plant that facilitates digestion and at the same time improves performance. Find out more here !

Appropriate horse feeding

How to feed your horse properly

Appropriate horse feeding is not just about finding the right and best feed for your horse, the type of feeding also plays a major role.

Basic rules of horse feeding

It is important that you adhere to a few basic rules that can be applied to almost every horse:

1. Roughage over concentrate

As already mentioned, the roughage – and here in particular hay – is the basic feed for your horse. Your horse’s sensitive digestion is dependent on the high amount of fiber in hay. The hay is often sufficient as feed for horses that are not ridden or used very little. In general, you can estimate about 1-2 kilograms of hay per 100 kilograms of body weight of your horse per day. Species-rich or herb-enriched hay and other feedstuffs made from crude fiber provide sufficient energy.

2. Small portions, several times a day

Since your horse naturally has a comparatively small stomach, it is important that it also receives correspondingly small amounts of feed. Three large meals a day, as we humans know it, can quickly overwhelm the digestive tract – which can lead to colic and similar problems.

3. Fresh water

As with us humans, it is also important for your horse: drink enough! For this, your horse should have access to clean and fresh water at all times. If your barn does not have an automatic water supply, you should water it three (winter) to six (summer) times a day and clean the watering containers regularly.

4. Ration horse feeding properly

In addition to the good quality of your horse feed, the right amount is also crucial. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for concentrated, mineral and vitamin feed or consult your vet about how much you can safely feed your horse. It is also important that you really have the scales and measuring beaker on hand, because most horses get too little hay, but too much other feed.

Discussion points

Frequently discussed questions in horse feeding

Hay ad libitum – yes or no?

Since the constantly produced gastric acid of your horse also needs continuous work, it seems to be the easiest to offer hay as a staple food ad libitum (24 hours at free disposal). At first glance, all problems are solved: The stomach and digestion are optimally supplied with the right amount of food and the high chewing need of your horse is covered.

Unfortunately, this type of hay feeding also has some disadvantages that you should consider before giving your horse the hay around the clock.

You should consider the following with hay ad libitum:
– If you eat a lot, you also need a lot of exercise. So if your horse doesn’t have much freedom of movement, unrationed access to hay may not be the best.
– Unfortunately, the quality of the hay is now often not optimal for horses. It usually only contains a small selection of grasses and herbs and also contains too much sugar. This is ideal for cows, but it can lead to obesity and metabolic diseases in your horse.

The healthy middle ground: Rationed 24-hour horse feeding

With the help of hay nets, racks or other feeding devices, you can easily provide your horse with a 24-hour ration of hay. So your horse has the opportunity to nibble at any time without running the risk of getting caught too much.

How useful are herbs in horse feeding?

Herbs have already been mentioned a few times: The few herbs that occur naturally on your horse’s pasture are absolutely harmless, if only because your horse decides for itself whether it “needs” them and eats them or not. But herbs are also becoming increasingly popular as feed additives, and for good reason. Before you feed your horse different herbs, however, you should first deal with their effects. In this way you can ensure that the health of your horse is optimally supported.

In general, the following applies to herbal
feeding : – Always feed the herbs for a limited period of four to six weeks.
– After each of these herbal cures you should give your horse a 14-day herb break.
– Continuous use of herbs should always be discussed with your veterinarian.

Food tip: You can find some great herbal mixtures here on the Wiesenkraft website!

Which herbs help with what?

Field Horsetail
Promotes bladder and lung health and helps with bleeding, rheumatism and dropsy.

Bear’s garlic has
anti-inflammatory, blood-purifying, antispasmodic and expectorant, diuretic, stimulating and antibiotic properties.

Comfrey
primarily supports the joints, lungs and gastric mucosa of older horses and has a soothing, wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect.

Birch leaves
Is particularly fed to weak and old horses, helps with water retention and cleanses the blood.

Fenugreek seeds Good for the coat, relieve irritation, lactic acid, expectorant, nutritious and laxative.

Nettle
helps with rheumatism and eczema, has a blood purifying effect and strengthens the liver.

Speedwell
Has a sweat-inducing, blood-purifying, expectorant, diuretic and calming effect.

Angelica
Stimulates the appetite, helps with flatulence and has a strengthening and antiseptic effect.

Coltsfoot
Has an anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect and is mainly used for sprains and coughs.

Icelandic moss
helps with bronchitis as it is soothing, expectorant, invigorating and antispasmodic.

Chamomile flowers
are particularly calming, anti-inflammatory, gas inducing, pain reliever, antispasmodic and vasodilator.

Burdock
Aids digestion, cleanses the blood and has a diuretic effect.

Caraway
Releases cramps in the stomach and intestinal tract and helps with flatulence and bloating.

Dandelion
helps with chronic osteoarthritis, is good for the stomach and liver, and cleanses the blood.

Mallow
Relieves diarrhea, bronchitis and convulsive colic.

Milk thistle
Protects the liver, stimulates its function at the same time and has a soothing effect.

Quecke
kills germs and has a diuretic, laxative and soothing effect.

Marigold
Fights germs and fungi, promotes wound healing and has an anti-inflammatory, choletic and astringent effect.

Rosemary
leaves soothes inflammation, cleanses the blood and has a germicidal, invigorating, stimulating, antispasmodic and gas inducing effect.

Yarrow
Strains bleeding, promotes wound healing, fights inflammation and has an antiseptic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Ribwort
plantain strengthens the stomach, promotes wound healing, helps with respiratory diseases and has a blood-purifying, antispasmodic and diuretic effect.

Pansy
Helps with exhaustion, nervousness, bladder catarrh, excess uric acid, diarrhea and has a diuretic and sweaty, blood-purifying, slightly laxative and expectorant effect.

Oil in horse feeding – yes or no?

Various oils are becoming increasingly popular as feed additives, but at the same time there are increasingly louder voices claiming that your horse cannot process the oil at all due to the lack of a gall bladder. The fact is, however, that your horse can digest oils, after all, various oils and fatty acids are also ingested with naturally occurring feed, such as fresh grass, and grains such as oats also contain a lot of oil.

These natural oils are also really important because, after all, they serve as a source of energy for your horse. The addition of oil also has a positive effect on your horse’s insulin balance and promotes coat, skin and hoof health.

However, there are a few points that you should keep in mind when adding oils:
-Pay attention to the quality of the oils. These should be cold-pressed and unfiltered. You can tell that the oil is completely clear.
– Your horse should never eat medication in combination with oils, as this can reduce the effectiveness of the medication.
– The oils for your horse should be stored in a cool and dark place, otherwise they will spoil quite quickly.

Which oil is good for your horse?

Linseed and fish oil

Linseed and fish oil contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids and are therefore made for the digestion of your horse. Especially because they perfectly balance the otherwise rather omega-6 heavy diet of horses. In contrast to fish oil, linseed oil * is preferred by many horses, but it is also more perishable. Therefore, make sure that you store an opened package in a cool, dark place and use it up within six to eight weeks.

Effect of flaxseed and fish oil:
– Supports the gastric mucosa
– Regulates the excipients in the nervous system
– Anti-inflammatory, especially in the joints and respiratory tract
– Stimulates the metabolism
– Strengthens the immune system
– Prevents Sommerekzem ago

Recommended dosage: 50 milliliters daily

Black seed oil

The Black Seed Oil * has been known for more than 2000 years as a remedy for humans and animals and proven. It is also becoming increasingly popular in the horse world. Black seed oil can be used both externally and internally and offers a multitude of advantages.

Effect of black seed oil :
– Strengthens the immune system and your own physical defenses
–
Is good for the stomach and intestines of your horse – Helps with allergies and skin eczema
– Has a cough-dissolving effect and keeps the airways free
– Ensures a healthy coat and skin

Recommended dosage: no more than 15 milliliters daily. Too much black seed oil can cause indigestion in your horse. You can also improve the effect by giving the black seed oil together with flax or fish oil.

Reading tip: You can read more about the benefits of black cumin and the correct feeding of black cumin oil here !

Rice germ oil

Rice germ oil was discovered for horse feeding mainly because of its high gamma-oryzonal content. This substance stimulates the metabolism of your horse and thus promotes muscle development.

Effects of rice germ oil:
– Stimulates the metabolism
– Promotes muscle formation
– Lowers the cholesterol level

Recommended dosage: no more than 15 milliliters daily. If your horse takes part in tournaments, you have to drop it off 48 hours in advance, otherwise it will be considered doping.

Other oils in horse feeding

There are a few other oils that are repeatedly associated with proper horse feeding, but have little benefit for your horse compared to the oils already mentioned. On the contrary, with hemp, safflower, rapeseed, palm and coconut oil, digestive problems occur more often and you will certainly be happy to do without them.

The right selenium supply – selenium deficiency vs. poisoning

Selenium is an essential trace element for your horse. It not only plays an essential role in the metabolism, but also in your horse’s immune defense and hormone production. Originally, selenium was taken in automatically by horses through plant-based food. However, our European soils are now low in selenium. This means that your horse is no longer adequately supplied with selenium via the natural route, which is why the trace element is now contained in almost every mineral and compound feed.

A selenium deficiency can manifest itself in your horse as tiredness, general weakness, colicky muscle cramps, stiffness of the hindquarters, cell damage to the skeletal and heart muscles, increased susceptibility to infections and hair breakage. If you see symptoms like this in your horse, you can ask your vet for a blood count, which can easily diagnose and treat selenium deficiency. You should by no means give food that is particularly rich in selenium, because too much selenium is not good for your horse and can lead to serious health problems or, in extreme cases, even death.

Your horse’s selenium requirement depends on many different factors: A lot of vitamin E and sulfur-containing amino acids in horse feed lower the requirement, while extensive grazing and high-energy food can drastically increase the requirement. The best thing to do here is to consult your veterinarian in detail, who can also give you a very individual recommendation of quantities tailored to your horse.

Other important trace elements and bulk elements for your horse

In addition to selenium, other trace elements are of course also important for the optimal nutrition of your horse.

zinc

Zinc mainly supports the protein, sugar and fat metabolism and is often used for detoxification. Also helps zinc at the following symptoms:
– skin, hair and hoof problems
– Mauke
– eczema, especially summer eczema
– allergy and susceptibility to infections
– Fertility problems
– loss of appetite

iron

As with humans, iron binds the oxygen in your horse’s blood and is therefore a really important trace element. Parasites, immune deficiency, anemia and poor performance can be signs of an iron deficiency.

magnesium

Especially when your horse is under stress, such as during transport or before tournaments and competitions, the magnesium requirement can increase drastically. Magnesium can help your horse with the following symptoms:
– cramping and tension
– digestive problems, recurring colic
– nervousness and jumpiness
– fatigue and exhaustion
– circulatory weakness and difficulty breathing
– profuse sweating after exertion

manganese

Manganese is particularly important for the healthy growth of your horse. The trace element is also involved in the metabolism and, in brood mares, in the ovarian activity. If your horse is suffering from bone problems, tension, or muscle acidification, then it may be manganese deficient.

copper

The trace element copper is not only involved in the formation of red blood cells, but also in bone formation. A lack of copper can manifest itself in allergies, skin and fur disorders (sweet itch, pigment disorders and so on), nervousness, fertility disorders, laminitis or bone formation disorders such as osteoarthritis or osteoporosis.

Salt lick – yes or no?

To ensure that your horse’s sodium chloride needs are met, you should offer him a salt corner stone. Himalayan stones are particularly popular and are sold with great pleasure; a common salt lick is sufficient and is easy on your wallet. Usually, your horse will go to the salt lick on its own when it needs it. However, if your horse goes to competitions a lot or sweats a lot in summer, you should also sprinkle your horse with salt over the feed to ensure the necessary salt supply. Here you should really only use small amounts and make sure that you always have enough fresh water available.

Reading tip: You can read more about salt licks including an exciting test here !

Food tip: You can also find a good sea salt salt lick with the right sodium content here at  Wiesenkraft !

Too fat, too thin

You can do this if your horse is too fat or too thin

Determining whether your horse is too fat or too thin has less to do with models and more to do with health and optimal performance. However, sometimes it is not that easy to assess your own horse correctly.

Help, my horse is too thin!

If your horse is underweight, you shouldn’t panic at first and don’t switch to a high-fat diet overnight. Instead, try to find the cause of the underweight first. Perhaps your horse has problems with its teeth or intestines, does not get enough roughage or gets nervous quickly while eating and therefore prefers to refuse?

Depending on what the reason is, you can now help your horse to take the right amount of food in peace. If you decide to use concentrated feed or feed additives containing oil and sugar, remember to make this change slowly so as not to overwhelm your animal’s digestion.

You can tell whether your horse is too thin: – The mane crest has collapsed and you can see the cervical vertebrae
– The ribs are clearly protruding – The
individual vertebrae are visible on the spine and at the withers
– The shoulder blade edge and the bow joint are clearly below the The fur protrudes
– the ischial bones are visible
– the hip bones stick out and a starvation pit has formed underneath
– the croup looks like a triangle from behind
– the eyes are sunken and the face looks generally
thin – the overall impression of your horse is lean and poorly muscled

Help, my horse is too fat!

Putting your horse on a radical diet to lose weight is generally not a good idea. Instead, you should carefully monitor what your horse consumes throughout the day. The best thing to do is to make a list of all the feed that you provide to your horse every day, so that you can easily make targeted reductions. For example, you can put your horse on sawdust instead of straw and ration access to fresh pasture grass. For example, you can confidently remove concentrated feed from the nutrition plan of your leisure horse and give it many small portions of roughage so that hunger does not arise in the first place. In addition, the same applies to horses: a lot of exercise is the be-all and end-all when losing weight!

If there are strong and, above all, frequent weight fluctuations, you should regularly put your horse on the scales. In this way you can reduce the ups and downs in weight more quickly to certain events, such as stressful situations, illnesses, taking medication or the like and avoid these in the future.

This is how you can tell whether your horse is too fat:
– The mane crest is wobbly due to high fat pads
– The transition from the neck to the shoulders is not defined
– You can no longer see the hip hump
– Fat pads on the croup
– Rolls of fat form in front of the saddle
– When your horse leans against it, rolls of fat form on the ganashes

Spring, summer, autumn and winter

The right horse feeding in every season

There are many things that will affect your horse’s feed needs. Among other things, the different seasons with their peculiarities also influence what your horse needs to eat and how you offer it to him correctly.

Spring and summer

As soon as winter is over, you would like to leave your horse out on the pasture with the first rays of sunshine, after all, it has to be on the paddock and in the box all winter. However, slow grazing in spring is better for your horse’s digestion, because it is quickly overwhelmed by the unfamiliar food. Thanks to the fresh grass, you can largely do without juice or other additional feed in spring and summer. Especially when the temperatures rise, it is important to provide your horse with sufficient fresh and clean water in the pasture.

autumn and winter

Autumn and winter not only mean the change of coat, but also the end of the grazing season. Since your horse is now more on the paddock and in the stable, and therefore hardly has the chance to get fresh grass, including the grasses and herbs, you should mix enough herbs with the hay in the darker months of the year. Oil does no harm either, precisely because it strengthens the immune system. Fruit and vegetables also provide your horse with vitamins and fluids, but should never be fed in large quantities. Make sure that you always offer a bucket of water in addition to the drinker, as the water in the pipes to the drinker often freezes over in winter.

To the horse feed professional

More tips on how to feed horses properly

Feeding trough and water trough

As already mentioned, whenever possible, your horse should be able to eat and drink in its natural feeding position from a trough or bucket at floor level. In any case, the feeding trough and the drinking trough in the box or in the open stable should be checked daily and cleaned regularly. It is not uncommon that there is, for example, mouse droppings in the drinking trough or in the trough, which can make your horse seriously ill. But even if the feeding trough and the drinking troughs don’t appear dirty at first glance, it doesn’t hurt if you rinse them out briefly with fresh water every few days. You should scrub your horse’s feed trough and trough really clean at least once a month, preferably every two weeks.

The right hay net

By using a hay net, you have the opportunity to provide your horse with fresh hay around the clock. At the same time, you can influence the daily ration and prevent overfeeding. A hay net can be used outside as well as in the box and even in the trailer. But it is particularly practical in the box, because it means that the hay no longer flies around on the ground between the horse droppings and the litter. With a rather small-meshed net, you ensure that your horse has to deal with it a little longer – this prevents boredom and puts you in a good mood!

To ensure that feeding with the hay net is also enjoyable in the long term, there are a few points to consider. If your horse has horseshoes, you should never place the hay net too low to prevent the iron from getting caught in the net. Particular caution is also required if your horse quickly becomes impatient while eating and scratches its hooves. For these and other reasons it is unfortunately sometimes not possible to hang the net at the height of the natural feeding posture, which can then be disadvantageous in certain circumstances and can lead to the complications already mentioned for your horse. No matter where and how high your horse’s hay net hangs, it is important that you check it regularly and identify sources of danger in the form of holes as early as possible.

Hay in the paddock and open stable

When feeding hay in the paddock or in the open stable, you can of course also use a hay net. Another option is a hay rack into which you can easily fill your horse’s daily ration of hay. The practical thing about a hay rack, in contrast to floor feeding without aids, is of course that very little hay is contaminated and wasted by mud and dirt. You can also get your horse to eat slowly again by simply putting a grate or something similar over the heap. Hay racks come in many different shapes and sizes. A hay rack with a roof is particularly suitable for outside, so the hay stays fresh and dry even when it rains. You can also simply cut off a small corner in the box yourself – Euro pallets are ideal for this.

Wet or steam the hay

In general, hay is usually fed dry, but sometimes it can be advantageous to water or steam the hay before feeding. This is done more and more frequently, especially with animals that react easily to dust and are prone to coughing and allergies. Wet hay is also said to contain less sugar.

But be careful: wet hay should not be stored, but fed immediately. The longer you leave the wet or damp hay, the more pathogens can develop in it. Of course, this can have serious health consequences for your horse. Various tests have shown that this risk is lower with steamed hay than with watered hay. If your horse’s main concern is keeping the dust and allergens in the hay at bay, steaming will do just fine. However, watering is the better method for reducing the amount of sugar in the hay.

How to properly store horse feed

From the moment you buy the feed to the moment you feed it to your horse, it is important to ensure that the feed is stored correctly:
– The feed should be stored in containers that protect it from direct sunlight and Protect moisture.
– Well ventilated rooms are ideal for storing food.
– The feed containers should be inaccessible to mice, rats and other pests that can contaminate the feed with their droppings.

For example, there are large rubbish bins made of solid plastic in the hardware store, the lid of which can be tightly closed with two metal brackets. These bins are perfect for storing small amounts of feed for your horse. If you are looking for a larger container, it is worth asking your feed dealer. Because they often rent out mobile silos in which the feed has space for the entire barn.

Sick from feed

Forage-related diseases in horses

The wrong feed can cause deficiency symptoms in your horse, which in turn lead to health problems. It is important that you always keep an eye on the general condition of your horse. Often just a short herbal cure is enough to compensate for a deficiency and to help your horse. Pay particular attention to the following diseases and symptoms, which may be a sign of improper nutrition in your horse:

Skin diseases and eczema

Some horse breeds, such as Icelanders, are very sensitive to the nutrient-poor diet on European pastures and quickly develop a deficiency in minerals, which affects the health of the skin. Zinc, copper and selenium in particular contribute to a strong immune system in the horse’s skin and can protect your horse from summer eczema and scum , as well as many other skin diseases. Sometimes the external application of minerals in the form of ointments or sprays is recommended, zinc ointment accelerates the healing process, especially with males.

Chronic bronchitis

Horses are very prone to respiratory problems, which make up a third of all horse diseases. Most of the time, a cough or bronchitis is caused by too much dust settling on the bronchi. With a few changes in the keeping (dust-free litter, open stalls) and feeding, you can protect your horse from such chronic respiratory diseases. Make sure your hay and straw are of good quality. As soon as you discover a moldy area on a bale, it must be completely disposed of. The hay can be watered or steamed before feeding to prevent too much dust when eating.

Laminitis

The connection between horse feed and laminitis is no secret. Even if the exact causes of this disease cannot yet be fully explained, some factors are now known that definitely play a role. One of the most important factors is your horse’s diet: especially a diet high in carbohydrates, starch and sugar can quickly overwhelm your horse’s intestinal activity and destroy the intestinal flora. This causes bacteria to enter the bloodstream, which then lead to inflammation of the hoof dermis. Try as far as possible to avoid feed with a high proportion of these components or to feed them only in the necessary quantities.

Horse allergies

Poor quality hay in particular can cause allergic reactions in your horse. This is due to histamines, which get into the hay through mold and can cause allergies. Your hay should always be fresh, smell good and have no dark or moldy spots.

Obstruction of the throat

The way in which you provide the feed to your horse is also very important. Pieces of food that are too large, such as whole apples or large pieces of fruit and vegetables, and an incorrect and unnatural eating position, for example due to troughs that are too high, can cause throat blockage. The food blocks your horse’s esophagus, making it impossible to swallow. This condition is life threatening and you should call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect a blocked throat. The following symptoms can indicate a blocked throat:
– Restlessness
– Loss of appetite
– Profuse salivation
– Spasmodic swallowing
– Profuse sweating

With feeding close to the ground and chopped fruit and vegetables (always lengthways) you can prevent such a blockage of the esophagus.

Colic

Colic is a term used to describe all types of abdominal pain in your horse. Although colic can occur quickly due to the horses’ delicate digestive systems, you should always take them seriously. At an advanced stage, colic can even lead to circulatory failure in your horse and thus to death. Signs of colic are:
– Restlessness
– Frequent
scratching and groaning – Bloated stomach
– Trembling
– Cold sweat
– Lying on your back or dog position

If you suspect that your horse is suffering from colic, you can do the following:
– Make sure that your horse does not eat any more food
– Check the pulse, temperature and apples and write them down for the vet
– Guide your horse Slowly in the step to stimulate the intestinal activity
– Control the circulation in the gums of your horse. If the color is white or yellow, the alarm bells should ring for you.
– Homeopathic remedies like Bach flowers can help your horse. However, medication should only be administered after consulting your veterinarian.

With good food and the right feeding (several small portions a day) you can prevent colic in your horse. If your horse is still suffering from colic, it is advisable to seek advice from a feed advisor.

Reading tip: You can find out more about colic, how to avoid it, recognize it early and treat it correctly, in this detailed article !

Proper horse feeding is important for the health and wellbeing of your horse

Because your horse has such a complex and sensitive digestive system, it is important that you not only pay attention to the quality and composition of the feed, but also feed it correctly. In this way you prevent the stomach and intestinal tract from being overwhelmed or even damaged. It is important that you provide your horse with enough roughage in the form of high-quality hay.

Outside the grazing season, herbs and juice feed ensure a balanced diet. With the help of mineral feeds and oils, you can also help your horse and, for example, strengthen its immune system . You should also give your horse enough exercise and always fresh water. In addition, always keep a close eye on your horse and react to changes in posture, performance expectations (for example, before competitions) or in the event of illnesses always with the appropriate feed. The motto “You are what you eat!” Applies not only to you as a person, but also to your horse!

Cover picture: www.depositphotos.com – virgonira