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The natural diet of a horse is foliage. Grass and hay typically make up the majority of what goes into a horse, be it through grazing in a pasture or hay in a stall. This is usually supplemented by grain and feed. There are several different types available.
Horses that are not fed a mostly foliage diet run the risk of digestive problems. However, most horses don’t have access to pastures for 24 hours of the day. Because of this, hay has become a staple of any stable.
The only time a horse owner should be careful of what kind of grass a horse is consuming is in the case of a pregnant mare. This is because fescue grass, a hardy grass that makes up a majority of pastures, presents as a danger to pregnant mares. About 75 percent of fescue is infected with endophyte Acremonium coenophialum. This manifests as fescue toxicosis in expecting mares, which results in prolonged gestation, foaling difficulties, thickened placentas, and a significant decrease or complete absence of milk upon delivery. It can last after foaling as well, as mares can be difficult to become pregnant again.
To combat this, any expectant mare should be removed from all fescue grass about 90 days prior to delivery.
Oats has been the traditional grain fed to horses. This is because it is the most nutritionally balanced. Whole grain oats contain high levels of fiber and lower levels of starch. Because of this, they are easier for horses to digest and reduce the risk of colic. Oats can make a horse much more energetic, which is why it’s popular for athletic and work horses alike. Barley is a good alternative to oats because it offers similar benefits without the risk of a horse becoming overly energetic.
Horse feed and supplements are available for purchase as well. These are designed to be fed along with hay. There are three main classifications or types of feed form. The first is textured. The second is pellets. The final type is extruded feeds. All three of the forms have the same nutrients but are processed differently.
Textured feed is also known as “sweet feed” and has individual grains or other particles. Often a sweet feed will contain molasses to sweeten things up. Pellets are a feed that come in a variety of different sizes, while extruded feeds have been taken through an extra step in their process. These are created using an excess of pressure at high temperatures. It simply depends on the horse as to which feed will work best. For example, some horses like to sort through their feed and prefer either pelleted and/or extruded feed.
For an extra dosage of nutrients, horses should have access to salt and mineral blocks. These offer further nutrients to the horse through supplements, and are recommended for any livestock.
Horses love to be brushed and taken care of. It’s a bonding experience and is often the best way to gain a horse’s trust. The essentials are:
It is important to find the appropriate tack for your horse if it is of rideable age. Here are the important components:
The final, but still essential, tools used to take care of a horse are:
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