Keep Horses Healthy with Proper Feeding

Newsdate: Sun, 29 Jul 2012 - 09:23 am
Location: LEXINGTON, Kentucky

Horses have a specialized digestive system based on their natural feeding pattern of continuous ingestion of grass and other forage. Variations to this pattern can easily lead to gastrointestinal upsets that can have serious consequences. Problems are more often due to poor feeding management rather than feed itself. The following points are important in keeping a horse's digestive system functioning smoothly.

Managing equine feed for gut health

Managing equine feed for gut health

Variations to horses' natural feeding pattern can easily lead to gastrointestinal upsets.
© 2012 by April Raine

Owners of horses should realize that horses were not designed to eat large meals of readily fermentable carbohydrate, and must ensure adequate fiber intake, which more closely mimics the horse's evolutionary adaption to eating.

  • More frequent and smaller meals almost always decrease feeding-related problems. Within reason, regularity of feeding is crucial.
  • Eliminate the possibility of bad feed. Proper storage of feed is crucial to the prevention of mold, rancidity, and loss of feed quality.
  • Feed by weight, not volume. The bulk densities of feeds vary significantly, and feeding “by the scoop" is not appropriate.
  • Encourage adequate exercise and prevent all classes of horses from becoming too fat.
  • With the help of a veterinarian, maintain functional dentition and routinely deworm.
  •  Immunization for botulism may be considered, especially when feeding midgrade forage. Starting with a healthy horse aids in allowing maximum feed utilization and decreased feed usage.

Dig deeperTM

http://equimed.com/blogs/juliet-m-getty-phd/free-choice-forage-feeding-%E2%80%93-beyond-the-basics

About the Author

Flossie Sellers

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As an animal lover since childhood, Flossie was delighted when Mark, the CEO and developer of EquiMed asked her to join his team of contributors.

She enrolled in My Horse University at Michigan State and completed a number of courses in everything related to horse health, nutrition, diseases and conditions, medications, hoof and dental care, barn safety, and first aid.

Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in horse care and equine health is now a habit, and she enjoys sharing a wealth of information with horse owners everywhere.

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