Is it healthy to have a grass and hay only diet for a show horse?

Question

My horse has been living outside 24/7 for the past couple of months, he is not fed grain, and i still work him about 4 times a week. Last show season he lived inside with turn out and was given a high fibre type grain...

he seem's much happier living outside, and is not over weight.

Is it okay to keep him off grain and continue to show, work and train him. Will he be healthy?

oh and keep in mind, i'm not doing prelim or anything, just entry level stuff.. so it's nothing major..

Answer 1

my horse gain too much weight eating like that.He is also a show horse.we had to take him off fiber because he was slowing down and was bloating.

Answer 2

I WOULD PUT HIM ON SOME HORSE FEED, JUST A SCOOP A DAY. BUILD UP STREGNTH AND THAT BUT IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION! =]

Answer 3

I don't grain my barrel horse and he gets ridden 1-2 hours everyday during the week and 8+ hours on the weekends. Some hay has enough protein to sustain a working horse. Just keep an eye on him and if he stays in good condition, there's no reason to grain him! Just make sure he's getting his minerals from somewhere.

Answer 4

I would say it's ok but it would be better for him to have at least half the grain he needs. Give him nutrina(a supplement)my horse loves it and it gives them the nutrients they need. If you feed him that almost everyday or at least when you can, you don't have to give him oats.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

Hello,

YES, you don't have to feed grain!  As long as your horse is in good weight!  YOU are lucky EASY keepers is what horses are called that maintain their weight without all of the stress and fussing and supplemental feeding!

We have barrel racing, team roping, ranch sorting and trail horses 11 all together.  ALL are easy keepers!  Having to struggle with grain, etc. to keep weight up is a pain, we have had a few of those in the past.  NOT any more!  And life is much simpler, the horses are healthier and easier to care for.

WE have excellent shiny coats, and no hoof problems!  Don't worry!  

YOUR lucky!  Good luck at the shows!

Answer 6

As long as your horse maintains his weight and energy levels, and his coat remains shiney, he's OK on his current outside diet.  

Horses love to have the freedom to come and go, just like people.  No wonder he's much happier!

Enjoy your guy!

Answer 7

If you truly want to culture a hair coat, mane and tail you'll keep your show horse out of direct sunlight to avoid sun bleaching his hair coat.  You'll also have him on a hay,  processed grain, and daily wormer that will put the "bloom" on him, (no pasture time)....I've yet to see a show horse be competitive in a halter class or rail class thats been allowed to be outside 24/7...it doesn't pencil out...those folks who do culture hair coats and focus on putting the bloom on, keep their horses' fit and well trained will beat you every time in the show pen....

In the breed shows that I attend (AQHA) you cannot drag a pasture horse in there and expect to be competitive...just won't happen.   The competition is just to stiff...the others are playing for all the marbles and guaranteed they'll beat you.

Remember one thing, what's best for the appearance of a show horse isn't necessarily the best thing for a horse's mental attitude....your horse will lose some good mental therapy not being outside 24/7.  But, you have to make the determination how badly you care to win.  Some people will have a small paddock off the back of their stalls to allow that show horse, who has a fly mask on and fly sheet on, some outside time...this is usually in the am hours or late afternoon or early evening hours to avoid direct sunlight.

Since you're not heavily into showing right now your horse should do fairly well; just remember, should you make the commitment to really get out there and chase points you and your horse will be making some sacrifices.   It's a lot of really hard work.

Most of all, just enjoy your horse with whichever way you decide to go!!

Answer 8

I would not do this for a show horse. Show horse need a shiny coat and need vitamins and they get those from grain. I have a couple darker and lighter horses that get bleached out in the sun so there are left inside all day and turn out at night. You could probably just have them on a hay and grass diet for the winter month if your not showing ur horse then.

Answer 9

I ride my horses 5 plus times a week plus show extensively I do not grain nor do my horses need it.  Good hay, good pasture is all they need.  Don't by into the graining trend - if you want that show perfect shine - I spend at least 1/2hr grooming starting with a curry ending with a soft brush and you will get the shine with some elbow grease.  Groom after you ride also.  

IF you find he is loosing weight as you increase your training or through the summer heat than you might want to consider grain.

Answer 10

Grain is totally non-necessary if your hay/grass is nutritious and not missing any essential elements.  Horses were made to survive on grass, they did not eat grains in the wild and survived just fine!

So we know grain is not essential.

But it is helpful at times.  If your horse is underweight, it is extra calories, although you can boost the calories with a minimum of grain if you add oil to their feed.  Grain can add extra protein to a growing horse's diet, but once again, studies have shown that many of our modern horses actually grow too fast and can develop joint problems, so even then you want to watch that you don't over-do-it.

Grain can give your horse extra energy, but this isn't often a problem with our modern horse that seldom works more than 1/2 hour a few times a week.

So I think you can continue with your hay/grass and do totally fine.  I show Paints at the breed and open level, and they too are living in 24/7 turnout.  It is so good for their minds and their bodies.  My horses get a small amount of grain twice a day, but mainly to add some suppliments.  I give each mature horse about a cup of whole oats, and to that I add whole flax and a mineral suppliment, and occasionally salt.  The oats is mainly a treat to help them eat the flax and mineral.  By doing this my show horses have a nice shiney coat and healthy hooves without the problems of excess grain.

Studies from natural barefoot horse trimmers have indicated that excess grain actually contributes to alot of hoof problems such as long toe syndrome, founder (even when your horse doesn't truely founder but gets a similiar type of chronic hoof growth) and such so in my opinion the grain's benefits aren't worth the problems.

Good luck and happy showing.

Answer 11

If your grass/hay is good quality then it should be fine ( grass is the natural diet that they evolved to live on).

Watch his weight - you will be able to tell if he needs more than he is getting. Good grooming will give you the shiny coat.

This is all well and good at low competition levels. If you go to higher levels you'll need to supplement his feeding and hype his energy levels.

Edit - of course he is happier outside - being stuck in a stall all day is boring, that's why they start developing stable vices to occupy themselves.

Answer 12

Horses are designed to live on grass. If he'll stay in good condition, not just fat but build muscle as well, on grass and hay just consider yourself lucky.

If he's on lush grass he shouldn't really need any excess suppliments but if you want to give them to him just to be safe just mix them in with a cup or even half cup of grain. Be sure to give him the same everyday.

Horses stomachs develop live bacteria that help them to digest whatever food they are currently eating (hence the old adage that when chanding feeds mix the old feed in in gradulally over several days. I think it takes around 5-7 days for the specialized bacteria to develop)

He definately needs a salt/mineral suppliment if he's not being given grain (or even if he's not getting the manufactorer recomended amount as minerals ect are based on that amount.) You need to get him a salt/mineral suppliment specially designed for horses, the standard trace mineral blocks are designed for cattle and do not have what equines require. I personally use Nutrena 12:12 Equine Salt & Mineral but other brands made for horses are just as good.

Answer 13

if hes doing good dont change it. :)

Answer 14

Absolutely!

Answer 15

YES definitely, my old horse was a thoroughbred and we constantly had problems trying to put on weight he was hard fed morning and night the only way to maintain a bit of weight on him, my sisters horse also a thoroughbred lived in the same paddock and couldn't smell toms feed without putting on weight!  as long as he stays happy and his usual weight id be thankful

Answer 16

i would say its okay as long as he is getting enough, but if you want a shiny coat and shiny hooves and all that fancy show stuff, belive me if this is from the economy, i can feel it too, we own a ranch with 32 mares that are bred every year and some show, 3 stallions that show, and this year, so far 21 foals, and 5 geldings all show except for some off the foals, some of them do halter, now imagine that feed bill, for a good diet!  hope that helps you should feel lucky you dont have this bill

Answer 17

Feed grain if you think you need it... you may only have to feed 1 cup a day if you do. Make sure he has access to salt though, either a salt block or free choice. That is VERY important.

Answer 18

If your grass and hay tests out to include the nutrients that you horse needs to do what he needs to do, there is not reason to feed grain.  Horse's tummies aren't even designed for hard grain, it should only be used to bring up the content of nutrients that your grass or hay may be lacking....it's a good way to get meds down them, but there are other ways as well...in my opinion, feeding hard grain is highly overrated.  Now, I will take a step back and say that I feed a high fat content, soft pellet, Sr feed to my older horses...it's easier for them to utilize the nutrients that they are fed.