Notes

Horse Feed - Comparison Several types of Horse Food
The food which we feed to horses needs to meet seven fundamental requirements. Five of these are:

Energy. It needs to provide sufficient energy (calories) to meet up certain requirements of the horse. If the weather becomes colder or the horse can be used more actively, the amount of food will need to be increased accordingly. Likewise, as winter becomes summer or if the horse is less active, how much food ought to be decreased.
Minerals and Vitamins. Apart from energy, horse feed must provide a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, in the required quantities.
Bulk and High Fiber. The equine digestive system has evolved to process grass, which is high in fiber and bulk. Food which is concentrated (e.g. grain) may provide the mandatory energy and minerals, but lacks the majority which the digestive tract needs, which greatly increases the risk of ulcers and other diseases. Studies on horses which a diet saturated in grain or other concentrated foods show that 50% to 90% of these horses have ulcers.
Digestability. Food that is poorly digested provides limited food value and can cause serious illnesses (e.g. impaction colic). This can be a particular problem for the older horse, where dental wear reduces his capability to chew food and aging has reduced his capability to digest certain foods. See 'Feeding Senior Horses' below for details. Furthermore, horses may eat unsuitable items (e.g. straw) which do provide food value but due to difficulty in digestion may also result in problems.
Safety. Almost any food, given within an incorrect quantity or fashion, can lead to health issues. A list of the common mistakes to avoid is provided below.

To understand the other two fundamental requirements, it can help to first understand the standard eating patterns of horses. Horses have evolved as foragers, meaning that they eat for a little while in a single place, then move on in search of better food (e.g. more tender or nutritious) and eat somewhere else. One often sees this behaviour when the horse is in a big pasture, where they frequently move from place to place. The reason for this behaviour is that they evolved in a landscape where in fact the quality of food was variable (as opposed to the largely uniform grassland which we create inside our pastures) so they needed to spend the majority of their time moving and eating, around 18 hours each day. This has resulted in two dietary requirements:

Continuous Feeding. Although a horse does not eat constantly (e.g. it spends section of its time moving about along with other activities), it needs to eat frequently. It needs a minimum of 2-3 meals each day to keep its digestive system healthy, but more frequent eating is preferable. Many small meals are better than several large meals. This is one of the reasons that horses which graze on pasture during the day are generally healthier than horses which have their food (e.g. hay or grain) given to them a few times a day.
Stimulation. A horse's main stimulation and occupation comes from looking for food and eating (typical forager activity). Restricting it to short and infrequent feedings will result in a bored and unhappy horse, which is more likely to develop stress related behaviours such as cribbing or repetitive movements.

Grass and Hay

Grass is the easiest food for horses, as it is what they have evolved to eat. Generally, horses will tend to be healthier on a diet which consists mainly of grass than on any other type of food.

Hay may be the second most natural food, being rather near to the dried grass which they might find after a hot and dry summer, or dried winter grass. It really is less nutritious than fresh grass but good quality hay is a useful alternative when there is insufficient fresh grass.

There are a large numbers of poisonous weeds that exist in some pastures. With regards to the kind of plant eaten and the number, the result could be anything from minor to fatal. Some plants may also cause damage the skin or hooves if the horse rolls or walks on them. Consequently, before putting your horse right into a pasture, an educated person should check the pasture for poisonous weeds. As some weeks are visible mainly in spring and others mainly in summer, a thorough walk through the pasture at the very least twice a year to check for suspicious plants is advisable.

With hay, one faces exactly the same issues with poisonous plants, if the hay is manufactured out of a pasture with poisonous weeds. Actually, the situation with hay is potentially more dangerous since horses will instinctively avoid eating lots of the the poisonous plants if encountered in a pasture, but when they are mixed in with hay and dried the horses are no more able to identify and avoid them given that they have lost their distinctive smell and appearance. Consequently, one should take special care that certain uses hay only from the pasture which is safe or hay that's sourced from a trust worthy source.


The other major risk with grass is that grass that is overly rich in carbohydrates (e.g. spring grass) or nitrates (e.g. fertilised field) can cause laminitis or founder. See the preceding link for additional information on how best to avoid this. Excessively rich hay could have exactly the same risk, but since hay is manufactured at a time of year when the grass is naturally less rich, that is much less likely.

Another consideration may be the quality of the hay. It can contain harmful mold or fungus if it has not been properly dried before being cut, or has gotten wet either prior to or after bailing, or has been stored in plastic bags. Any bales which have mold or fungus should be thrown out instead of used. Hay may also be dusty, which range from slightly dusty to very dusty, based on the soil and weather conditions at the time it was made, as well as the way in which it had been cut/turned/baled. Very dusty hay shouldn't be used as it can cause respiratory problems in horses. Slightly dusty hay is fine, except for horses which are sensitive to dust. You can soak hay in water to eliminate the dust, however in this case one must remove uneaten hay every day to avoid the wet hay from going off. An edge of commercial feeds over hay is that in general they are unlikely to possess dust, mold or fungus (unless they have been allowed to get wet due to improper storage).

Hay Cubes or Bricks

Hay cubes (also called hay bricks) is hay which includes been cut and compressed into a brick shape. This is a convenient way of storing hay since it melts away less space and will form convenient individual portions. It can tend to be expensive to buy than baled hay and horses with dental issues may find it more challenging to chew. There were cases of horse choke reported with hay bricks, but that is uncommon. Apart from these differences, it has much the same benefits and drawbacks as normal baled hay (see above).

Hay Pellets

Hay pellets is effectively hay which has been ground up, heat treated and changed into pellets. It is commonly more expensive than hay (partly as a result of additional processing), but can be more convenient and melts away in regards to a third of the space as medium-density hay bales. Because the pellets are effectively hay in another form, it has much the same nutritional value, except for those brands which add minerals or vitamins.

The pellets can be eaten quicker than hay in its unprocessed format, so provide somewhat less occupation and stimulation than unprocessed hay. They also tend to break down quicker in the digestive system, so provide somewhat less value with regard to absorbing stomach acids and avoiding ulcers.

https://penzu.com/p/8d24e8ad with pellets is that many horses will attempt to swallow them without first properly chewing them, resulting in the horses choking. If your horse does this, you need to soak the pellets in water for 10 minutes or so before feeding to the horse; this causes the pellets to break down right into a soupy mix that your horses cannot choke on. The advantages and disadvantages of soaking are:

Choke. Soaking the pellets prevents the horse from choking on them.
Water Intake. This can be a good way to increase your horse's water intake, as horses usually do not always drink enough. In particular, older horses sometimes do not drink enough (although there are some illnesses which have the contrary effect) and horses being transported often usually do not drink enough.
Winter Warming. Through the winter, horses can become chilled (especially old, sick or shaved horses). If there pellets are soaked in hot water (but not hot water!) this can help them warm up, especially as compared with drinking cold water from an outside bucket or unheated drinker.
Mess. Unfortunately, many horses lift their head away from their feeding bucket while eating, and regarding soaked hay pellets this may bring about them dropping a good bit on the floor. Furthermore, should they toss their heads while eating (e.g. if startled by a noise), it tends to bring about the hay soup being sprayed on the walls. All such mess should be cleaned up to avoid the growth of mold or fungus. Alternatively, one may wish to feed them from a bucket outside.

Grain and Musli

Grain and musli, when purchased by means of commercial horse feeds, are high-energy foods which are often digested. Musli is made from a selection of crushed grains and may have minerals or vitamins added, and sugar, fiber and filler.

An alternative solution to purchasing commercial horse feeds is to choose the grains yourself, which you can feed either individually or combine to generate a musli. In cases like this, you will likely have to buy a grain crusher and put the grain through the crusher before feeding to horses. The reason behind that is that uncrushed grain can be an large part undigested by the horse because so many of the grains are swallowed whole (rather than chewed) and hole grains simply pass through the digestive system. Most moderate-sized stables use this approach because it reduces the expense of grain feed by 50% to 75% as compared to the commercial bagged feeds. Needless to say, it takes a bit more time and therefore is less convenient than the commercial feeds, and something needs to invest in the crusher (a couple of hundred dollars).

Although a bag of grain or musli appears expensive in comparison with the same quantity of hay, grain is much higher in energy therefore the amount of grain necessary for a horse's daily energy needs is a lot lower than the quantity of hay. Consequently, based on local prices, they may be substantially cheaper than hay. Many brands of musli have added sugar (e.g. in the form of molasses or beetroot pulp), which further escalates the amount of energy.

These products are fed to horses used for sport, not only for the quick energy that they provide, but also because they result in a much trimmer body. Hay and grass aren't only bulky in themselves, but also result in additional bulk regarding digestive gases and food in various stages of digestion or elimination. Consequently, for activities such as racing or jumping, the dietary plan of competition horses is normally high in grain or musli.

As the above discusses, the advantages of these kind of feed include convenience, potential cost savings, and a slim torso for competition. In addition, horses which are old, sick or under-nourished can reap the benefits of having their normal diets supplemented by these high-energy foods, especially through the winter if they require additional energy to help keep warm.

Against these advantages, there are numerous of disadvantages. These energy-dense foods usually do not offer the bulk, fiber or mental stimulation required by horses. If the foods are fed as a supplement to the original diet of hay and straw this is simply not an issue. However, when such foods from the majority of the horse's diet, having less bulk and fiber can result in various digestive issues (ulcers are common in such cases) and having less stimulation can result in stress and the development of undesirable habits (such as cribbing or repetitive movements).

One should also take note that when these high-energy foods are fed excessively, they can result in carbohydrate overload, evoking the serious illness laminitis. As some horses are more prone to this than others, due to breed type or previous health background, you should consult with your veterinarian before feeding large quantities. If your horse's current diet is already rich (e.g. spring grass) then one should take professional advice before supplementing it with any grain or musli products.

Mash

Mash is comparable to musli in that it is a high-energy food made from grain, although mash tends to be an increased energy food than musli. An integral difference between the two is that musli is designed to be soaked in water, where it breaks down to create a mush or soup. It is used as a supplement for old or sick horses, especially during the sunshine where it is usually made out of warm (not hot!) water to greatly help rewarm chilled horses. An additional advantage is that it plays a part in the horse's water intake (unlike dry feeds), which is a benefit for horses which do not drink enough (a standard problem with older horses).

Unfortunately, many horses lift their head from their feeding bucket while eating, and in the case of mash this can bring about them dropping a fair bit on to the floor. Furthermore, if they toss their heads while eating (e.g. if startled by way of a noise), it will result in the mash being sprayed on the walls. All such mess should be cleaned up to avoid the growth of mold or fungus. Alternatively, one may desire to feed them from the bucket outside.

There are advantages and disadvantages to high energy foods; see the above discussion on grain and musli for an explanation of these.

Feed Variations

The above discusses the main types of horse feeds. Each one of these types has a number of sub-types. For instance:

Grass. There are different types and qualities of grass. Furthermore, according to the pasture, you will have differing levels of other herbs (e.g. clover). In addition, the nutritional value will undoubtedly be affected by the makeup of the soil, in addition to the amount of sun and rain. Consequently, some pastures are more nutritious than others; this is simply not always an advantage as overly rich pasture can cause laminitis.
Hay. As grassland varies in nutrition, so also does the hay that is made from it. Furthermore, hay varies based on how it really is made (e.g. how much it is dried, how long it is left in the field before baling) and how it is stored (temperature, moisture, sunlight) and also how long it is stored.
Grain. There are various forms of grain, which vary within their nutritional qualities. Depending on the types and ratios of the various grains you use, whether directly or in the form of musli or mash, the meals could have different nutritional profiles. In addition, the nutritional values will be suffering from the addition of non-grain additives such as for example: minerals, additives, fiber, filler, sugar in various forms.

In particular, there are many different types of musli, designed to use different grain and additive mixtures to create feeds aimed at specific types of horses. For example, one will discover musli products which claim to utilize an optimum mix for: senior (old) horses, foals, pregnant mares, nursing mares, sport horses, show and competition (gives a stylish and shiny coat), complete feeds (intended to be used as the sole food rather than a supplement) and so on. These speciality foods vary in terms of the ratio of macro-nutrients (e.g. proportions of protein, fat, complex carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates), the types and amounts of micro-nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and the source used (e.g. fiber from beet-root has different characteristics than fiber from alfalfa regarding speed and ease of digestion).

Unfortunately, different manufacturers have different and conflicting views on what these specific requirements are. For example, senior food in one manufacturer will use higher than normal levels of sugar because it is an easily digested energy source for older horses with reduced digestive capability, while senior food from another manufacturer use lower than normal levels of sugar in order to avoid problems of Cushings disease and insulin resistance which are more common in older horses. Given these opposing and conflicting approaches, it can sometimes be hard to find out in case a speciality food is actually better or worse for the horse. Consequently, you should discuss with a veterinarian your individual horse's condition and requirements before making a decision on which of the speciality foods is most suitable for your specific horse.

Fruit and Vegetables

Although huge amounts of fruit or vegetables are not a natural diet for a horse, smaller amounts as treats are suitable. Ahead of feeding, they must be cut into small irregular pieces, as round pieces (e.g. a small whole apple) can become stuck in the throat and cause choking.

Acceptable fruits include: apples, bananas (peeled), pears. Acceptable vegetables include: beetroot, carrots, celery, parsnips, swede and turnip.

Usually do not feed onions, potatoes, rhubarb, tomatoes. Do not feed sour fruits. Be cautious of large amounts of sweet fruit as excessive sugar can result in weight gain, laminitis, or blood sugar imbalance. In case a fruit or vegetable isn't on the acceptable list, do not feed to your horse without first consulting a veterinarian.

Final Notes

You need to be consistent in everything you feed your horse. If you travel with your horse and are unsure that you will be unable to obtain the same kind of food on your trip, make an effort to take enough of his food to feed him and soon you return, or make arrangements to obtain his normal food during the time away.

If you need to change your horse's diet, you need to do so gradually. Likewise, if you are getting a new horse and intend to change his diet, it is wise to get yourself a level of his old food to be able to gradually change him over. When changing a horse's diet, you need to carefully watch his behaviour and activity to make sure that you can find no adverse results (e.g. colic, laminitis, food allergies).

Determining the very best diet for the horse is an important and serious matter, especially if it is weak (old, very young, sick, dental issues) or has a weight issue (over or under) or has a food related medical history (colic, laminitis, allergy, insulin resistance, etc.). You should create a suitable diet with a veterinarian or equivalent professional, predicated on a knowledge of your individual horse's specific requirements and intended use. An eating plan that is as natural as possible (e.g. grass) is normally the healthiest for the horse, unless it has specific requirements for other styles of food.

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