Feeding on a budget? Or just clever feeding?
With so many supplements and additives readily available on the market, it is all too easy to forget the basic principles of horse feeding. Here at Animal Friends, we follow these principles to ensure your horse is getting all the correct nutrients and forage he needs without wasting your money.
The importance of roughage
It is essential to make sure that your horse is always receiving enough forage, as this keeps his digestive system functioning and healthy. It should also cater for the bulk of his overall energy requirements.
Since roughage is the most important element of a horse’s diet, you should always use the best quality forage as you can.
5 ways to make sure you are feeding good quality hay
- Free from dust or mould
- A good colour. Hay varies from greeny/grey to fawn but the greener it is the better.
- Smell pleasant, an almost sweet smell is ideal.
- Have no trace of dampness.
- It should be free from weeds such as docks, thistles, nettles, bracken and most importantly, ragwort as it is highly poisonous.
How much roughage should I feed?
Feeding ad-lib hay is usually recommended unless your horse is overweight; you should aim to feed at least 1% of bodyweight for each 12 hours he's stabled. To make it simpler; if your horse weighs 550kg, and is stabled overnight from 6pm to 6am, you should be giving him approximately 5.5kg of roughage at night.
If your horse maintains a good weight on the forage he is currently on, you must make sure he is receiving the correct vitamins and minerals. Although your horse will get some from the forage, it's unlikely he'll get everything he needs as in the UK we aren’t lucky enough to have perfect hay or grass.
Keeping it simple
The most important thing to remember is to keep it simple. There are many balancers or supplements, which can be all too confusing when deciding which one to buy for you horse. The most cost effective options is a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement. It will contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals and is usually recommended alongside a high fibre diet.
Hay is the single most important source of nutrition for your horse, so rather than bulk his feed out with costly compound foods such as mixes and nuts, it is always best to feed hay to maintain a healthy gut which is also economical on your wallet.
