Horse Nutrition Basics: What Every Owner and Rider Should Know
Quick Answer
Horses are hindgut fermenters that evolved to eat small amounts of forage continuously. A balanced equine diet consists primarily of hay or pasture, supplemented with grain for horses in work.
Key Takeaways
- Forage (hay or grass) should make up the majority of a horse's diet
- Horses should have access to fresh water at all times
- Grain is a supplement, not a staple — only feed what's needed
- Sudden diet changes can cause colic — transition slowly
- Body condition scoring helps assess whether a horse is over or underweight
Understanding What Your Horse Eats
Horses are fascinating animals from a nutritional standpoint. They evolved as grazing animals on the open plains, designed to eat small amounts of low-quality forage almost continuously throughout the day. Understanding this evolutionary background helps explain why proper nutrition is so important — and why some common feeding practices can be harmful.
The Foundation: Forage
Forage — hay or pasture grass — should make up the majority of a horse's diet. A general guideline is 1.5–2% of body weight in forage per day. For a 1,000-pound horse, that's 15–20 pounds of hay daily.
Types of hay: - Grass hay (timothy, orchard grass, bermuda): Lower in calories and protein, suitable for most horses - Legume hay (alfalfa, clover): Higher in calories and protein, good for growing horses, lactating mares, or horses in heavy work - Mixed hay: A blend of grass and legume hays
Quality matters: Good hay should be green, smell fresh, and be free of dust, mold, and weeds.
Water
Fresh, clean water must be available at all times. Horses drink 5–10 gallons per day under normal conditions, more in hot weather or during heavy work. Dehydration can quickly lead to colic.
Grain and Concentrates
Grain (oats, corn, barley) and commercial feeds provide concentrated energy and nutrients. They should be fed only when the horse's workload or life stage requires more calories than forage alone can provide.
Important: Grain should never replace forage. Too much grain and too little forage is a recipe for digestive problems, including colic and laminitis.
Salt and Minerals
Horses need access to salt (sodium chloride) at all times, either as a loose salt or a salt block. A complete mineral supplement may be needed depending on the quality of the hay and local soil conditions.
Feeding Frequency
Horses' digestive systems are designed for continuous small meals. Feeding large amounts of grain twice daily can overwhelm the digestive system. If grain is fed, smaller, more frequent meals are better.
Warning Signs
Watch for: - Weight loss or gain - Poor coat condition - Lethargy or behavioral changes - Signs of colic (pawing, rolling, not eating)
At StoneCrest Stable, our horses are fed according to individual nutritional plans developed with our veterinarian.