Accurately feeding your horse a balanced diet that meets his nutrient requirements is critical for his well-being and performance. Learn how to avoid some of the most common feeding mistakes and improve your horse’s nutritional management so your horse can feel and look his best.
Mistake #1: Feeding the Wrong Amount of Calories
When a horse needs to gain or lose weight, or maintain his current body condition, it comes down to calories. “Obesity or poor body condition scores are all consequences of not understanding calories,” says Natalie Sullivan, MS, PAS, equine nutritionist and owner of On Course Equine Nutrition, in Missoula, Montana.
“I frequently have clients that struggle to either put weight on or elicit weight loss for their horses. It’s really a very simple problem to solve. It comes down to knowing where calories come from.” (See Mistake #2.)
Mistake #2: Feeding the Wrong Type of Calories
In addition to the number of calories, the type of nutrients providing the calories is also important. “Many owners do not understand how protein versus fat versus carbohydrates provide calories to horses,” says Sullivan. It is critically important to nutritional management but not commonly understood. Foe example, fats generally provide more calories per pound than proteins.
“The right kind of calories depends on your horse’s body condition score, behavior, metabolism, and the owner’s personal preferences,” says Sullivan. “The truth is, there’s no right or wrong. A lot of professional riders come to me, and they want to pick their horses’ (energy levels) up, whereas many amateur riders might prefer a calmer demeanor which can be manipulated with differing calorie sources in the diet.”
Mistake #3: Over- or Undersupplying Nutrients
Feeding a balanced diet to avoid nutritional deficiencies relates to choosing the correct feed products for your horse’s unique situation. “Senior feeds are extremely popular, but there is a misunderstanding of calories and dilution of nutrients, more specifically, the calorie versus vitamin and mineral content,” says Sullivan.
Products that provide more supplemental calories, such as a senior feed, will in turn have a lower inclusion of vitamin and minerals per unit of measure. Therefore, feeding a cup, or a few cups of senior feed will not provide the necessary vitamins and minerals to balance your horse’s diet “Owners often think that feeding a small amount of senior feed is adequate as it has the word ‘complete’ in the marketing, so they think their horse is getting everything they need which is not the case,” says Sullivan.
Mistake #4: Failing to Weigh Feed
Feed according to the bag’s label, and keep tools in your barn for weighing your horse’s feed to be sure he receives the right amounts. “Know how much your horse weighs, the weight of an average flake (of hay), and the weight of their feed,” says Sullivan. “It takes out so much guessing. It’s simple, but the numbers are very powerful and provides a ton of clarity.” This can help ensure he receives the right amount of nutrients and calories.
Take-Home Message
Start by taking the time to weigh your horse as well as his hay and concentrates. Then ensure his feed supplies the correct amount and type of calories for his individual needs. Enlist the help of an equine nutritionist or veterinarian if you have any questions or issues. By avoiding these common feeding mistakes, you will help support your horse’s nutritional well-being and performance.
