| "body"> | | | | source except for water. But do be aware that |
| Is it possible to reduce feed costs and still meet | | | | although "complete" feeds contain fiber, your |
| your horse's nutritional requirements? Yes! Here's | | | | horse should still get 1 percent of her body weight |
| how: | | | | in roughage each day to keep her digestive tract |
| 1. Go For Forage: Good quality forage should be | | | | functioning. |
| the basis of your feeding program. All horses | | | | 6. Save On Supplements: If your feed is balanced |
| should get at least 1 percent of their body weight | | | | or complete and your horse is healthy, she |
| in hay or pasture each day. | | | | probably doesn't need extra nutrients. Most will |
| Forage saves money in several ways: | | | | just get excreted out of her system. |
| Daily horse care savings:Forage is less expensive | | | | 7. Are You Feeding The Worms? Parasitic |
| than grain. Most mature horses can meet their | | | | infections can rob your horse of vital nutrients, |
| maintenance requirements on good quality forage | | | | requiring more food to combat the loss. Talk to |
| alone, without additional grain. | | | | your vet about the best deworming program for |
| Equine veterinary costs: Roughage adds bulk to | | | | your horse. |
| the diet and slows the rapid fermentation of | | | | 8. Healthy Teeth, Healthy Savings: Regular equine |
| grains in the gut which may decrease the risk of | | | | dental care helps your horse chew her food |
| colic and laminitis. | | | | efficiently. A horse with sore teeth will drop and |
| Horse facility maintenance: Horses with enough | | | | waste a lot of food. The cost of a visit from an |
| forage are less likely to chew fences and stalls. | | | | equine dentist is offset in feed savings. |
| 2. Go For Bulk: Buy hay in bulk if possible. If you | | | | 9. Group Dynamics: If you feed horses in groups, |
| can store hay safely and effectively, this can | | | | try to use individual feeders to prevent bullying. If |
| save you a lot of money. | | | | the more dominant horses are getting too much |
| 3. Get The Good Stuff: Buy hay by weight and | | | | and the timid horses are getting too little, your |
| quality. Good quality hay usually is green, soft | | | | feed dollars aren't being used efficiently. It's less |
| textured and free of dust, mold, and weeds. Test | | | | expensive (and healthier) to maintain a horse's |
| hay before purchasing to ensure its nutritive value. | | | | body weight rather than feeding to increase or |
| 4. Read The Fine Print: Read the guaranteed | | | | reduce weight. |
| analysis on your feed label and know what you're | | | | 10. Weight Not Volume: Measure horse feeds by |
| getting. Sometimes a feed will exceed the | | | | weight, not volume. When changing feeds, always |
| nutritional requirements of your horse and you'll be | | | | do so gradually to reduce digestive problems. |
| wasting money on nutrients your horse doesn't | | | | More is not always better when it comes to |
| need. | | | | feeding and caring for your horse. A sensible, |
| 5. Balanced vs. Complete: Feed that is labeled | | | | balanced approach to horse nutrition and horse |
| "Balanced" assumes you will be adding some | | | | care is an efficient, effective way to improve |
| forage and water. Feeds that are labeled | | | | your horse's health. |
| "Complete" are formulated to be the only nutrient | | | | |