Horse Nutrition Helps
The basic facts are that an 800-1000lb. horse requires 16-20 lbs. of roughage/hay each day, fresh and clean water, shelter from the rains, wind and snow,
exercise and companionship. The economy, combined with gas prices, and a continuous shortage of quality hay, have forced responsible horse owners to look
into backup options when they cannot find the nutritional hay that their horses need.
In addition, the cold Winter months make it necessary to increase a horse's feed by 10-15% in order to compensate for heat loss. Through research I have
found some good basic guidelines for accomplishing this. Please have your veterinarian review your own horses' needs before you make changes to their diet.
Each animal is different. Changes to diet should be made slowly, over a 7-10 day period if possible. Daily feed should be divided into at least 2 feedings
per day for each horse.
Aged, underweight, or horses with poor dental condition will benefit from a good, balanced complete feed, with vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fats
in pellet form. These are easier to digest when an equal amount of warm water is added and allowed to sit for five minutes, helping make it easier to chew.
Just for an example: An 800-1000lb. senior horse would need 16-20lbs. Allegra Senior per day if unable to eat hay. A fit, non-working 1000lb. horse needs
15 lbs. of Allegra Senior per day for maintenance, when hay is unavailable. (Reduce Allegra Senior by 1 lb. for each 2 lbs. of hay fed.)
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Skinny Whinnies' Winter Mash Recipe
Per horse, prepare the following:
8-10 lbs. Beet pulp (add hot water and let soak for at least one hour)
4-6 lbs. Alfalfa cubes (add hot water and let soak too)
10 lbs. Allegra Senior (add equal amount warm water and soak for five minutes)
After soaking beet pulp and alfalfa cubes, allow to cool (not HOT to touch), then add the soaked Allegra Senior grain and stir. Carefully avoid over-feeding
of crabs/sugars (corn, oats, apples, etc.) as this can easily damage your horses' health.
Finally, to help put on weight, stir in one of the safe oils/fats, as needed, and serve mash warm.
Optional:
1/4 c. Wheat Germ Oil, corn oil, or rice bran
1/8 c. Flax Seed (freshly ground with coffee grinder)
Season with a raw, shredded carrot or apple (not too much)!!!
* So Important!!!
Always have fresh, clean water available, and a salt lick. Ideally, keep water trough de-iced with floating tank de-icer. Another option is to break surface
ice regularly with a clean object. A hatchet will do the job. Break the ice around the edges as breaking the ice in the centre of the bucket as the container may crack or break the container’s sides.
This is a basic article and I will toninue to expand on the topic of diet and feed. |