GOOD FOOD FOR HORSES
GRASS
Grass is the natural diet for a horse. Grass contains most of the nutrition a horse requires to be healthy, it also contains silica, which is important for dental health. Primitive horses can live of sparse rations and often have to make do with less than ideal pasture and living conditions, this is likely why problems like obesity, equine metabolic syndrome and laminitis are rare in the wild horses but occur frequently in our modern horses. Grass is not necessarily the problem, it is the lack of exercise and those with easy keepers need to limit the amount of fresh grass horses have access to. Introducing a lush pasture to a horse not used to it can cause serious problems as well but however the grass provides the best nutrition.
Grass is the natural diet for a horse. Grass contains most of the nutrition a horse requires to be healthy, it also contains silica, which is important for dental health. Primitive horses can live of sparse rations and often have to make do with less than ideal pasture and living conditions, this is likely why problems like obesity, equine metabolic syndrome and laminitis are rare in the wild horses but occur frequently in our modern horses. Grass is not necessarily the problem, it is the lack of exercise and those with easy keepers need to limit the amount of fresh grass horses have access to. Introducing a lush pasture to a horse not used to it can cause serious problems as well but however the grass provides the best nutrition.
HAY
Hay is the nest best choice for horses as not all of us can let our horses graze all year round. Finding good horse hay can be tricky, it also helps if the hay has been tested and that any shortfalls in vitamins and minerals can be compensated for with supplements. Some horses rich hay can be a problem just like rich pasture grass. Easy keepers may need to be restricted from 24/7 access to a bale feeder.
Hay is the nest best choice for horses as not all of us can let our horses graze all year round. Finding good horse hay can be tricky, it also helps if the hay has been tested and that any shortfalls in vitamins and minerals can be compensated for with supplements. Some horses rich hay can be a problem just like rich pasture grass. Easy keepers may need to be restricted from 24/7 access to a bale feeder.
GRAINS
Oats has been the traditional grain fed to horses, however horses may also be fed small amounts of other grains. Some grains like wheat are not good fr horses, the seed head of grasses would be the closest thing a wild horse would come to eating grains in there natural environment. Grains that are grown, harvested and processed as we do now are not natural food for horses. It is easy to feed too much grain to horses. Grain also does not require the chewing time or contain the silica grass does and this can contribute to things like ulcers and dental problems. A horse that over-eats a large amount of grain may colic or founder.
Oats has been the traditional grain fed to horses, however horses may also be fed small amounts of other grains. Some grains like wheat are not good fr horses, the seed head of grasses would be the closest thing a wild horse would come to eating grains in there natural environment. Grains that are grown, harvested and processed as we do now are not natural food for horses. It is easy to feed too much grain to horses. Grain also does not require the chewing time or contain the silica grass does and this can contribute to things like ulcers and dental problems. A horse that over-eats a large amount of grain may colic or founder.
CONCENTRATE MIXES
Concentrates are usually a mixture of things like grains, flax seed, beet pulp, molasses for energy and flavor, bran, vitamins and minerals and other ingredients. Commercial mix may have a number of ingredients in them or some feed mills will mix concentrated to your specifications (only practical when you have a large number of horses to fed). Concentrates like grain help make up for any shortfall in nutrition and provide a quick source of energy. Mares and foal, nursing mares, performance or working horses often benefit from being fed concentrates in addition to grass or hay.
Concentrates are usually a mixture of things like grains, flax seed, beet pulp, molasses for energy and flavor, bran, vitamins and minerals and other ingredients. Commercial mix may have a number of ingredients in them or some feed mills will mix concentrated to your specifications (only practical when you have a large number of horses to fed). Concentrates like grain help make up for any shortfall in nutrition and provide a quick source of energy. Mares and foal, nursing mares, performance or working horses often benefit from being fed concentrates in addition to grass or hay.
SALT AND MINERALS
Supplements such as salt and minerals may be included in a concentrate mix or may be offered separately. A salt block or a loose salt in a pasture or stall allows a to help themselves when they have a craving. Some salts may come mixed with minerals. Some people offer free choice minerals as well or it can be added into the horse's grain or concentrate meal. Many people find that salt is consumed more during the summer months than in the colder weather.
Supplements such as salt and minerals may be included in a concentrate mix or may be offered separately. A salt block or a loose salt in a pasture or stall allows a to help themselves when they have a craving. Some salts may come mixed with minerals. Some people offer free choice minerals as well or it can be added into the horse's grain or concentrate meal. Many people find that salt is consumed more during the summer months than in the colder weather.
WATER
Of course a horse does not really eat water, however water is a essential part of the equine diet. A horse eating pasture grass probably won't drink as much water as one on a hay only diet. However for both, clean fresh water is essential.
Of course a horse does not really eat water, however water is a essential part of the equine diet. A horse eating pasture grass probably won't drink as much water as one on a hay only diet. However for both, clean fresh water is essential.
Note's
These foods may be safe but if over eaten they can cause problems.
Remember to cut treat food into long stripes or into eating pieces.
These foods may be safe but if over eaten they can cause problems.
Remember to cut treat food into long stripes or into eating pieces.
GOOD FOOD
A-
Apples
Apricots
B-
Brown Top
Beer
Banana(Can Fed With Peel)
Blackberries
Beetroot
Broccoli
C-
Cocksfoot
Crested Dog's Tail
Carrots
Corn
Coconut
Celery
Cucumber
D-
Dogwood
E-
F-
G-
Grazing Brome
Grapefruit
Green Beans
H-
I-
J-
K-
Kale
L-
Lettuce
M-
Mulberry Tree
N-
O-
Oak
Oatmeal
Oatmeal Cookie(No Chocolate)
Orange
P-
Prairie Grass
Poplars
Pecan Tree
Plums
Peaches
Pineapple
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Peppermints
Q-
R-
Rice(Cooked)
Raspberries
S-
Sweet Vernal(Bad If Mould)
Staghorn Sumac (Shrub)
Squash
Strawberries
Swede
T-
Timothy
Tulip Poplar
Turnips
U-
V-
W-
Willow
Walnuts
Watermelon
X-
Y-
Yorkshire Fog
Z-
Apples
Apricots
B-
Brown Top
Beer
Banana(Can Fed With Peel)
Blackberries
Beetroot
Broccoli
C-
Cocksfoot
Crested Dog's Tail
Carrots
Corn
Coconut
Celery
Cucumber
D-
Dogwood
E-
F-
G-
Grazing Brome
Grapefruit
Green Beans
H-
I-
J-
K-
Kale
L-
Lettuce
M-
Mulberry Tree
N-
O-
Oak
Oatmeal
Oatmeal Cookie(No Chocolate)
Orange
P-
Prairie Grass
Poplars
Pecan Tree
Plums
Peaches
Pineapple
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Peppermints
Q-
R-
Rice(Cooked)
Raspberries
S-
Sweet Vernal(Bad If Mould)
Staghorn Sumac (Shrub)
Squash
Strawberries
Swede
T-
Timothy
Tulip Poplar
Turnips
U-
V-
W-
Willow
Walnuts
Watermelon
X-
Y-
Yorkshire Fog
Z-