| Your horse should be fed, at minimum, twice a | | | | You can feed less hay if it is of higher quality, |
| day. More frequent is better since a horse's | | | | such as alfalfa. An average 1,000 pound horse will |
| stomach is small and designed to graze (where | | | | eat 20 lbs. (2% of body weight) which is roughly |
| small amounts of food constantly enters and | | | | 3-to-4 flakes of medium quality hay. |
| leaves the stomach). Feed your horse at the | | | | A grain mix of oats and corn should only be |
| same times each day, and once your horse | | | | added to your horse's diet when you increase his |
| adapts to these times, don't arbitrarily change | | | | training or work activity. When providing grain, it |
| them. If you do need to change feeding times, do | | | | should be done in very small amounts at a time |
| it gradually. Also, don't just arbitrarily change what | | | | due to having small stomachs and short intestines. |
| your horse eats. Again, if you must make a | | | | A minimum of 1.0 percent body weight of |
| change, do it gradually giving your horse some of | | | | roughage (pasture, hay) should be offered when |
| the old while gradually mixing in the new. | | | | feed grain to ensure adequate intake and |
| Horses typically will eat the equivalent of about 2.0 | | | | digestive health. |
| percent of their body weight each day. A horse is | | | | Your horse should always have access to salt as |
| considered in good body condition when its ribs | | | | well. Add one or two ounces to your horse's feed |
| cannot be seen but can only be felt by applying | | | | or make available a free-choice salt block. |
| slight pressure over the ribs. | | | | Make sure your horse has plenty of fresh, clean |
| It is generally recommended that horses be fed | | | | water at all times. An average sized horse will |
| hay rather than processed (pellets, cubed) | | | | drink 10 to 12 gallons of water each day. Regularly |
| forages. Poor quality hay should never be used in | | | | scrub out water containers and troughs. Sick |
| your horse's diet. Dust, mold, weeds, insects or | | | | horses should have access to a separate water |
| other foreign material can all be factors leading a | | | | source until healthy again. |
| number of problems ranging from low feed | | | | Only allow your horse a few sips of water |
| consumption to respiratory disease. | | | | immediately after exercising. After a few sips, |
| Your horse will need hay during times of snow | | | | walk your horse to cool him down. Some horses |
| cover or when pasture forage is not available or | | | | may refuse to drink later on if not offered a small |
| limited. Feeding hay is also essential on small | | | | amount of water fairly soon after his workout. |
| acreage properties to extend the grazing season. | | | | Only after your horse has cooled down and his |
| The amount of hay to feed should be based on | | | | breathing has returned to normal, should you let |
| the weight of the bales and the nutrient value. | | | | him have water freely. |