What do you feed your horses?

Question

What grain do you think is the best to feed horses? I know it depends on the horse, activity level, weather/climate, etc. But general speaking for a lower activity horse. I don't mind feeding out sweet feed but i feel it is to much like junk food to just feed it alone, without adding corn or oats or something. What do you think? Also, is corn good for cold weather?

Answer 1

Feeding is a complex issue and requires some considerable

thought. There is a base criteria for feeding and should be

aheared to.

1.AGE

2.Size

3.Activity level

4, Soil base.(if the horse is in pasture what is the nutriment

base of the grass,) Depending on whats in the natural feed

this can change your protein level and mineral level in the processed feeds you are using,

5.Condition of teeth and Gums.



Younger horses from weanling up to one year require a

minimum base of 18 % with a milk suppliment such as

calf manna.



Yearling to 2 year olds in training, 12 to 14 % with mineral

block added, cut the calf manna ration in half at this age.



Now we get to the activity level stage of your horses feeding

program 2 and above. Limited activity 12 % Protein, with

minimum requirement of mineral addative, Medium activity

you can still stay with a 12% Protein with a higher mineral

intake requirment. High activity level, 14% to 16% Protein

depending on the stress and work training load the colt

or filly is under.



Horses that are inactive require less protein,, 10 % is plenty

with a good hay free choice,, they will do fine, older horses

will require a lessor Protein and limited activity level 10 %

protein with a moisture added to soften the pellet for chewing

comfort and digestion enhancement.



This is a rule of thumb guideline,,It really doe's depend on

you horses metabolisum and work ethic Sweet feeds are ok,

But not in summer temps causes them to sweat to much.



Pellets will normally meet the requirments of all horses,



Hope this helps,,,, Feed a good hay this is critical for the

Fiber the horse needs,, generally free choice,, keeps them from getting bored,

Answer 2

If you go talk to most grain manufacturers they'll tell you that there's actually not a whole lot of difference between sweet feed and basic pelleted feed. Most pelleted feed is sweet feed, in pellet form. the pellet form is easier to feed, usually takes a little bit less molasses, and its easier to add stuff to it like extra vitamins. the problem is that pelleted feed is subject to a heat processing, which destroys some of the nutrients, its also easier to use really low quality ingredients, as you'll never know what's in the pellet. its a little more obvious with sweet feed.

Corn and oats are very hard to digest, with actually less nutrients coming from corn than you might think (but lots of sugar!) crimped and steamed oats are fairly well digested.

personally i prefer to make my own feeds using high quality grains - if i need to feed grain - or buy an extremely high quality feed from a local manufacturer. i dont like anything with a long shelf life as it usually has lots of preservatives in it, some of which can be very harmful.

as many have mentioned how much you feed is dependent upon many factors. the important thing to know is that as long as the horse is maintaining proper weight, you dont need to add any more grain. the only thing that may need to be added is a high quality vitamin to make up for any lacks if the horse is fed only hay

Answer 3

Feeding your horse depends on a few things, activity, type of horse and type of pasture. A pasture with more grass will require less grain. Most quarter horse type breeds do not require as much to keep them going. Ponies also do not require as much. These horses are breed to utilize what they eat more efficiently than other horses.



Thoroughbreds require more grain and feed.



Feeding also depends on climate. Horses in colder climates require more feed than those in more mild climates.



If you have a sturdy grade horse or pony type with a lot of grass in your field, you may not need any grain. This is especially true in the summer. In the winter you can feed hay and maybe a handful to a half scoop of grain. You can leave your horse on pasture in the summer. This is also better for the horses health. They can get health problems, from laminitis to obsesity, from to much feed.



Some examples, to give you some ideas.



I live in the midatlantic region of the US, and where I keep my horses, the pasture is ok, not great. They get hay year round. My thoroughbred gelding gets two scoops of 14% feed year round. My thoroughbred mare gets one scoop of 10% feed in the summer and 2 scoops in the coldest months-though she doesn't really need it.



The ponies at the place, even though the pasture is not great, only get on scoop per day. They are rather rotund.



The draft horse crosses I worked with were on excellent pasture and only the one that went on hunts in the winter got some grain, about a handful. All these horses were fat and happy.



You might want to talk to someone or look up the breed association, if you know the breed of your horse. Most breed associations have forums and you can ask feed advice there also.

Answer 4

I don't feed sweet feed, corn or oats anymore. To be more specific I'm right in the middle of a switch right now. I saw a seminar about feeding that was very informative. Sweet feed, corn and oats all have obscene levels of sugar and carbohydrates. So if your horse isn't doing much work that's the last thing he needs is more energy. Also from my own experience sweet feed tends to make them more anxious and flighty. My geldings are calming down more and more every day the less sweet feed they are getting. Also there's something about the pH levels of the stomach acid, the carbohydrates tend to make it higher and contribute to ulcers, vices etc.

I'm switching my horses to pelleted feeds, they tend to be low in sugar but have higher amounts of fat (or not, depending on what you need.) There are a ton of different good ones to look into. And if possible I would reccomend that you go to a feed seminar. Often times companies like Purina and Nutrena will have them at stables etc. And I'll admit it was kind of annoying to hear about Purina's new feed omolene so much, but the rest of the seminar was just so interesting that I didn't mind that I was being advertised to.

Answer 5

We feed the best grass hay we can find and the grain is a processed feed by LMF, called Avila's Pro Pellets, (probably two cups per day), we're not feeding a large amount of grain as their workload is reduced right now, Grand Hoof, for hair and hoof growth, a daily wormer, and NW Horse Guard for selenium.



Corn does provide heat but hay is truly the best heat producer as digestion is the function that keeps a horse warm. Corn has a downside to it...you must watch for mold!

Answer 6

I have three horses and one mini donkey. I use to feed the horses and donkey sweet feed. They made some of the funnest faces I have ever seen. Spoke with my vet about the "sugar" content. Came out and looked at the horses and advised me to feed them 3 cups of straight oats twice a day for health weight gain for winter time. The mini only gets 1 1/2 cups of oats. It has made a big difference. When the horses were on the sweet feed, they farted really bad and smelled to high heaven. With the oats, I do not notice the problem at all anymore. That and they don't make the funny faces!

Answer 7

I only have one horse that is ridden regularly, he gets 3/4 scoop Horsemen's Edge 12% Sweet and 1/2 Scoop Strategy Pellets 2X's a day. The other pasture ornaments get 1/2 scoop 10% sweet and 1/2 scoop Equine Sr. They are all on hay free choice all day and come into the barn at night where they get the grain. Everybody is fat and happy.

Answer 8

Personally I would not feed sweet feed at all.



If I were you I would go into a feed store and talk with someone. Look at Triple Crown, Nutrina, Buckeye. A brand along those lines.



My horses get grass hay as a filler. and then nice 80% alfalfa twice a day. My only horse that gets grain is my 21 year old gelding.

Answer 9

i use sweet feed but i will mix it with more oats in the horses feed and i only feed my horse a scoop twice a day with some hay and yeah i like feeding corn to my horses in the winter if i dont have anything else to feed mine do fine as long as i throw some hay

Answer 10

Donkeys are not horses. They will founder much quicker than horses. Horses don't eat barley straw where as it is needed for donkeys. Do not feed donkeys sweet feed! You are looking for problems. Do some quality research.

Answer 11

I don't have an indoor riding ring so I only ride when the weather is nice but, I feed my horse mixed grain from Tractor Supply. It seems to suit her fine. She is an Appaloosa so she is really hipper all the time. She seems to good on this grain though. Good Luck!

Answer 12

i feed 2 qts. of sweet feed (not mixed with anything else, and the horse doesn't get any other kind of grain) to my gaming horse and to my pasture pal horse. sweet feed gives high- energy burning horses the energy they need, and also fattens them up a bit for winter. that's why my pal horse getsthis grain. once winter's over, she's gonna get off of it while gaming horse stays on. so, sweet feed gives energy and fat. it can go either way or both.

Answer 13

My Thoroughbred gets free choice grass hay and is turned out on pasture for 12 hours or more per day. He gets about two pounds of Triple Crown Senoir per day and a vitamin suppliment.

The paint mare gets turned out wearing a grazing muzzle for about 12 hours and then gets about three flakes of grass hay and a cup of feed with vitamin suppliment.

She has weight issues even if she is worked every day so she needs to wear the garzing muzzle to limit her intake.

The rest of the thoroughbreds get Triple Crown in the am and pm and free choice grass hay with pasture access about 12 hours. They all get a vitamin suppliment to make sure they are getting everything they need and we have really been very pleased with the Triple Crown line of feeds. They are very high quality feeds and the company has done much research about equine nutritional needs.

Answer 14

I'm in the UK and have 3 horses and 1 pony

i feed my two thoroughbreds alfa a sugar beet boiled barley equilibra a feed supplement and baileys high performance feed,they are in hard work and they get 7 sections each of haylage every night.

my youngster gets alfa a sugar beet and spillers pony nuts.

my pony is fed blue chip feed supplement dengie hi fi and sugar beat each horse has farriers formula added as well

i used to feed mne a cup of sunflower oli but with the feed and supplements they are on there is no need

Answer 15

I feed my horses Poulin grain Endurance and 10/12. The Endurance has 6% fat and 11% protien. The 10/12 has....10% fat and 12% protien, it is a performance feed.

Answer 16

I feed my horses sweet feed .... I get the 100lb bags from the Amish....... Since it is cold out , I mix the feed with corn to help keep them warm in the cold.... ( I Live in M.D. )

Answer 17

Try Balanced Horse Feeds UK . They have an answer for everything !

Answer 18

I feed alfalfa. Then some times flax seed( oil,ground or whole, a natural sand reducer), corn oil(2 tablespoon), sometimes bran mash.

Answer 19

My horse gets alfalfa in the mornings and bermuda at night. At night she also gets nutrena life design compete, corn oil, along with biotin supplements, cosequin optimized, and smooth run plus*. <-highly recommended supplement

Answer 20

Hello, im afraid Im not much use to you as the type of feed we use in England is different to you , but its great hearing the American terms that you use.

Answer 21

my horses are barrel horses and me and my mom feed them sweet feed but it depends on what your horses do like jumping horses, walking horses, walk trot horses, that is what it depends on

Answer 22

i usually feed them some hay

Answer 23

sorry i dont have a horse, but if i have it, i will feed my horse with a turbo charge! need for speed!! yeeaahh!