Notes

So Many Types of Horse Feed - How Do I Know Which is the proper Grain Mixture For My Horse?
Decisions, decisions. I can understand how a person just getting started in the horse world could become confused when deciding what things to feed and just how much. Personally, I originated from the old school of oats, corn, barley and molasses. Electrolytes, salt and a good quality hay, preferably more than one sort of hay. Usually if the horses in consideration were riding or show horses, a good timothy and a good quality of clover hay was sufficient. Racing horses were fed exactly the same but there was an excellent quality alfalfa added to the dietary plan. Young horses from the time they were weaned, were given vitamins and various supplements with their daily grain. As Check out here grow, their nutritional needs are different due to the constant developmental stages they go through, much like those of growing children. In my experience, young horses appear to get fairly round on the corners and hold their weight well and all of a sudden they sprout up an inch or two at the withers and lose fat, then they get a little round and hold their weight again, and then sprout up an inch or two and so forth, seemingly until they reach about their third year. The sprouting still occurs until they reach four of five years, but not normally, and they become fuller.

There are many top quality mixtures of feeds available of which I have used previously. Most of the companies producing the most recent mixtures of feed, have been in business for a long time, feeding millions of horses and other animals, and they are constantly researching new and better types of nutrition. My suggestion would be to research the larger companies first. They will be happy to show you the various feed mixtures and explain what it is they have to offer. Most feed stores promoting the feed companies will ask you about your animals, what sort of horses you own, whether they have pasture and if they're being ridden, and when so, how often and how hard. There are guidelines on how to feed your horse on each bag of feed, just remember these are suggested amounts. Time, learning from your errors will probably be your best teacher, but most feed stores can guide you in to the right direction and enable you to decide on the correct level of feed per horse, per day.


On the market are different prices of feed. The low priced feeds needless to say have the lower end feed products inside them plus they do serve their purpose. On the other end, wish feed is very expensive does not indicate that it is the very best feed for the horse. Feeds high in protein is probably not the best for horses that aren't being ridden often, these feeds are more for performance horses, growing weanlings or yearlings as well as perhaps two and three year olds together with broodmares but that is another episode. And, once we all know, you sometimes pay an increased price as a result of brand name. Each company has the right to charge as they please, so if you find a particular mixture of feed that you like becoming a little too expensive, take the time to compare with other name brands that are up and coming. As time goes on, and you read more about your horse and his or her nutritional needs, you might at a later time and if you have enough horses to warrant the extra time and energy, visit a mill and design your personal mixture of feed. In the event that you run into issues with your horse not attempting to eat the feed you've chosen, you may need to upgrade or have your horses teeth floated (filing down of your horses teeth done by way of a professional so that you can reduce sharp edges in the mouth). Follow your instincts and opt for what feels right to you. If you do not get the results you are interested in, never hesitate to ask a fellow horseman. True horsemen are always ready to lend a helping hand. Doesn't matter if it's just giving out advice or lending an operating hand. Horsemen are often very obliging.

Feeding horses is not something you should take lightly. You can damage your horse in more ways than one by feeding them too much feed or too little. You will always have to monitor the way your horses look weight wise. When feeding large amounts of horses at the same time, simply the fatter horses got just a little less feed and the thinner horses got a little more feed. With each breed, age of the horses, and their daily activity, comes a basic standard of daily feed. Look at your horses' weight each day. Consider the brightness of these coat. Look at their eyes, whether they approach their feed tub in the same manner every day, if they are stepping as lively today because they were yesterday. If you see any changes in your horse from day to day, consider why and try to find out what things are different today in comparison to yesterday. A horse that will not go to their feed tub can be an immediate red flag and you also need to investigate and find out what is the reason behind this horse not attempting to eat. Colicing or sick horses won't eat. Remember, horses are creatures of habit. Usually horses will drink fairly immediately after consuming their grain. If you keep a sharp eye on your own horse or horses, you can then determine if you're giving them either too much feed or insufficient. Each horse is an individual, has different metabolisms and different needs. Feeding horses an excessive amount of can cost them their lives from laminitis or colic. These are very painful deaths. Feeding them too little could cause a barrage of ailments. So avoid being afraid. Be informed, be careful, be observant, and be the horseman you have always wanted to be with just a little help from your friends.

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