MAY 2014 THE RIDER /7 The Way of Horses


only receiving the minimum amount of six pounds of hay can only be fed six pounds of grain. This only provides the horse with 12 pounds of feed for the entire day. Not enough! Here is better rule to


By Eleanor Blazer Copyright @ 2014


every year to find good quality hay for horses. Some areas of the country are experiencing drought; other parts too much rain; others are losing farm land to development. Many horse owners are


system requires at least 1/2 pound of good quality for- age per 100 pounds of body weight for healthy gut func- tion.


1,200 pound horse needs six pounds of hay per day. Notice the statement:


This means a


“for healthy gut function”. This amount will not increase weight, maintain a pregnant mare, provide enough energy for perfor- mance or support a young growing horse. To make up for the


wondering: “What am I going to feed my horse?” The equine digestive


Need Hay? It gets more difficult


follow when feeding horses: Mature horses at mainte- nance activity level require 1.5 – 2.0% of their body weight in dry matter. (That amount changes based on age and activity level.) So a 1,200 pound horse needs to consume a minimum of 18 pounds of good quality feed. If the hay is of poor


quality and contains weeds or coarse stems more will have to be offered. You want your horse to waste what he cannot or should not eat.


lack of nutrients in the hay, grain and supplements are fed. A “rule of thumb” when feeding horses is you should never feed more than 50% of the diet in concen- trates. At this rate the 1,200 pound horse that is


calcium, very low in phos- phorus, and low in B vita- mins, but can provide a source of highly digestible fiber.


vide enough long stem fiber to maintain normal gut func- tion, so use it as a hay exten- der. Make your hay last longer by feeding up to half the forage requirements in


Beet pulp does not pro-


uct of the sugar beet indus- try. It does not have a high sugar content as the sugar was removed during the pro- cessing of the beets. (Sugar content will increase if molasses was added.) Beet pulp is high in


hay or the hay is poor? The answer is – beet pulp, hay cubes, chopped hay or com- plete feeds. Beet pulp is a by-prod-


But, what if there is no


beet pulp. It is not necessary to


soak beet pulp unless your horse bolts his feed. Soak- ing gets more water into the digestive system, which is always a good thing. Just do not let it ferment. Hay cubes are a good


high in protein (generally 17%) and should not be fed as the only available forage if your horse has adrenal gland problems. Alfalfa/grass cubes


alfalfa/grass cubes are avail- able. Hay cubes will always contain at least 50% alfalfa. The alfalfa helps hold the cubes together. Alfalfa cubes will be


source of long stem fiber. The forage is dried, chopped, and compressed into cubes. Alfalfa


and


products designed to provide a balanced diet and fiber in one package. Beet pulp or alfalfa is usually the fiber source. When feeding complete feeds it is recom- mended to feed at least ½ pound per 100 pound of body weight per day in long stem fiber (hay or cubes). This amount will help satis- fy the horse’s need to chew and help keep the hind gut working properly. Keep in mind it is


usually contain 12 – 14% protein. It’s best to offer cubes


bagged hay products on the market. These products pro- vide a good source of long- stem fiber. It can be used as the sole source of forage or as a hay extender. Complete feeds are


amounts of hay in the diet. There are also chopped,


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on the ground. You’ll notice the horse will push the cube against the surface and bite into the chunk - decreasing the risk of choke. The hard cubes can


also be soaked for ten min- utes before feeding. This will help soften the cubes and also get more water into the digestive system - always a good thing. Do not feed cubes by


as the only source of forage and the recommended feed- ing rate is 1.5 to 2.0% of the body weight per day. They can also be used as a hay extender…replacing equal


hand as this will increase the probability of choke. Hay cubes can be fed


important to make gradual changes in the equine diet. The microbes in the diges- tive system must adjust to the change in the diet. Take at least seven days to make feed changes - blending the old with the new. With some research


and diligence we can still provide our equine friends with high quality forage.


* For information about car- ing for and feeding horses take the online courses “Sta- ble Management” and “Nutrition for Performance Horses” taught by Eleanor Blazer. Earn certification or work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in equine studies. Go to www.horsec- oursesonline.com for more information. Visit Eleanor’s web site at www.theway- ofhorses.com


www


.net


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