| Feeding a stabled horse is slightly different than | | | | cooler months. |
| feeding a horse that lives on a pasture. A stabled | | | | Horses that are used for events such as jumping, |
| horse will spend more time in a stall and will | | | | roping, cutting, polo or racing are going to require |
| require a somewhat different feeding regime. This | | | | a more customized feeding program. These |
| is because the stabled horse does not have | | | | horses will still require about one percent of their |
| access to the same amount of roughage that the | | | | body weight in hay per day, but they may require |
| pastured horse receives. The stabled horse will | | | | a higher protein ration. Some horses may also |
| also eat a lot of high-energy feed, but then have | | | | need a fat added ration depending on how much |
| nowhere to release that energy. This is why it is | | | | energy they are burning in their work and if it is |
| important that you understand what and why you | | | | causing them to lose weight. A good general rule |
| are feeding the horse to ensure that he is | | | | of thumb is that if the horse needs more energy |
| receiving all of the nutrients the horse requires. | | | | then you should gradually increase the amount of |
| Exercise must be considered when developing a | | | | feed that the horse is receiving. Racehorses and |
| feeding program for your horse. The horse's age, | | | | polo ponies may require fat added diets because |
| gender and size will all play a determining role in | | | | they need to sustain their glucose levels |
| how much the horse is fed. A horse that is four | | | | throughout their competition. |
| years old or older and is only ridden on the | | | | The mature adult horse requires eight percent |
| weekends or one hour per day will only require a | | | | protein for daily maintenance. This means that a |
| maintenance ration. If the horse is not working | | | | horse on very good pasture or alfalfa hay will not |
| extremely hard, then the horse is considered to | | | | require supplementation from grain. Younger |
| be lightly worked. In this case, it does not matter | | | | horses will require a ten to twelve percent daily |
| what gender the horse is and a maintenance | | | | protein depending on how quickly they are |
| ration will be sufficient. You will need to fee the | | | | growing. High performance horses may require 14 |
| horse approximately one percent of his body | | | | percent protein depending on the amount of work |
| weight in hay per day and then use your feed tag | | | | they are doing. Owners should consider purchasing |
| to help you determine what percentage of the | | | | a well balanced sweet feed with a good hay, |
| horse's body weight should be fed in grain. A | | | | either alfalfa or grass, to meet their horse's |
| horse that is on a very good pasture may not | | | | nutritional needs. |
| even require a grain supplementation until the | | | | |