What is sufficient for a horses diet?

Question

Other than an all purpose feed and forage...what else aids in a horses performance. Vitamins? Minerals? Is there ever too much? I don't want to give my horses too much...but I also dont want them missing out on a good diet either. ALSO.... I am young and pay for everything....so I AM NOT looking for pricy stuff...lol. Thanks!!

Answer 1

they like to eat carrots so you can try that and a little pinch of salt in their food helps them digest better. the also eat root vegetables (vegetables that grow out from the ground with roots) and they like apples

and do nopt over dose your horse with too many tablets or medicine it can get sick and die

give it what is needed for the day and no more than that

Answer 2

I am very happy you are asking, you are obviously trying to do what best for your horses, and I really admire that. Well I am guessing you are feeding him alfalfa hay, then i would reccomend a salt block. Other than that my horse do really well on that and they are used everyday on a ranch by a few people each. But if you email me at [e-mail] I can ask my friend she is a feed specialist.

Hope I can help!

Answer 3

I'm like you, 15 and pay for everything for one of my horses. I use Omolene 100 for both my horses, and they seem to do well with it. Then they get about 20% of their body weight in forage, hay, beet pulp, etc. which I think is the pricey part, with hay prices being so high right now (at least, in the SE USA). I like EquiMin for my horse's minerals, and depending on the horse, its age, etc. you might want a supplement, like Triple Crown 30% Supplement. That is a good feed, but not great as a base feed I've found. You can get as pricey or as inexpensive as you want, depending on your horse, so if you want to save money I'd go with an easier keeper rather than a hard keeper (that's what I pay for, it can be CRAZY sometimes all he eats!).

Good luck!

Answer 4

I just feed my horses hay and some oats every once in a while, they aren't working horses though, I know they would need something with more prtoein, like alfalfa.

Answer 5

Most horses can survive quite well on the basic all purpose feed and adequate forage. Unless you are working your horse extremely hard (like Olympic style training, endurance riding, etc.), your horse should be perfectly healthy with just that. Always leave a mineral block in your horses stall or pasture for optional extra minerals.

Answer 6

feed them your splean, I hear thats whats best for them

Answer 7

you should leave your horse   hay, a mineral block, and some water in the pasture or stall and then you should feed it oats or patriot in the morning or night ( but be carefull because usually 1 scoop is anough)

here is something to remember when giving your horse oats

1. young horses are easy to keep a good weight on

2. old horses usually tend to nead a littl e more feed

I hope this advice is usfull and very helpfull goodluck!

Answer 8

It depends on what work the horses are doing, But i usually feed garlic pellets or powder in summer for general well being and to keep the flies away, i also feed copper for coat and skin, i feed soya to younger stock, i feed stride to older stock which contains msm which is for joints and such, i would feed muscle up or a appetite increaser to a thiner horse, most horses if kept on a balanced diet between there forage and hard feed, the amounts depending on what the horse is doing etc is usually fine, and dont need a h**l of alot of supplements, But you wont notice differences in your horses over night, it takes a while for them to develop within the horse, just as it does with a human tonic or vitamin, So thats all id feed anyway...

Hope i helped some what

K C

Answer 9

I own four horses and care for three others.

Here's what I think is important:

#1.  Good pasture in season.

#2   Good quality grass hay.  This means cut when protein is high and cured properly to prevent mold.

#3     Minerals as recommended by your vet for your area.  We need extra selenium here.  I give loose salt, not a block, with minerals including selenium.

If your horse does a lot of work, vegetable oil will add more calories.  If they do work that is particularly hard on the joints, like jumping, barrels, etc., maybe a joint supplement starting at 12-14 years will add to their years of soundness.  

My vet warned me years ago not to buy pelleted feed as there was a tendency to use poor quality grains in pellets.  Now it seems better, but I am still wary of pellets and sweet feed.  I try little bit to see that it doesn't taste spoiled.

Getting enough really good hay is the most important thing.  

I currently own or care for two Hungarian warmbloods, an Arab, a quarter horse, an Arab-standardbred cross and two Icelandic mares.  

Horses do get omega-3 fatty acids from fresh grass, but maybe freshly ground flax would be good in winter.

Go by how the horse looks, enough weight but not fat.  Shiny, healthy hooves, good appetite and plenty of energy to play and be curious.  Overfeeding is wasteful and makes horses feel nervous and jumpy.  Many horses that are overfed and confined to a stall will become mean, when that is not there inborn temperement.  

If your horse is a hard keeper or elderly, soaked beet pulp can be a good addition to the feed. It doesn't add that edgy energy, but helps keep on the weight.  

I have used a lot of other things for pregnant mares and special needs horses, but hay <and healthy teeth> is most important.  Horses need to eat and chew a lot in a day.  It is important to their digestion and outlook.  Chewing keeps them satisfied.  If you have over-nutritious hay, the don't get to eat as much and they feel deprived.

Answer 10

realy depends on what ur dion whith them

Answer 11

Talk to your vet to find out what diet is best for your particular horse. We don't know your horse or his needs. What works for my horses may not work for yours. If you're changing his diet please consult your vet first!! :)

Answer 12

it depends on what kind of horse. usually a flake or two of alphalpha hay or oat hay is good food. old horses need a different diet and it also depends on the climate and the exercise the horse gets also the breed of horse. you have not given enough information on the horse, you should call a vet out and have the vet explain what the horse needs. good luck