How Much Sweet Feed Should I Give My Horse?

Sweet feed is a concentrate and only part of the horse's diet.

Sweet Feed Daily Allowance

Horse feeding depends on several factors such as age, activity and weight of the individual horse. For instance, according to Equisearch, a light horse will only digest between 0.5 to 1 percent of its body weight in sweet feed whereas a hardworking horse will require 1 to 2 percent of its body weight per day. Young foals can digest up to 3 percent.

Nutritional Advice

Follow feed guidelines on packs of sweet feed for the recommended daily allowance. Or consult a veterinary nutritionist for advice. Some sources suggest that sweet feed can potentially cause health problems such as diabetes, hyperactivity and Cushings Disease. Oat-based grains are recommended rather than sweet feed, which can vary in quality and contains too much sugar and molasses.

Bottom Line

Avoid overfeeding as it can damage the horse's delicate digestive system. Feed sweet feed according to feed guidelines on the pack or from advice given by a vet. Otherwise, feed your horse between 0.5 to 3 percent of the horse's body weight. Inactive horses only require the minimum feed, while hardworking horses need more for energy and young foals need the most for growth.

References

• Acreage Equines: Feeding Horses
• Equisearch: How Much Should You Feed Your Horse
• Horses and Horse Information: Sweet Horse Feed Recipies with Added Molasses
• Bird Hobbyist:The Scoop on Feeding Horses
• Understanding Horse Nutrition: Horse Feeding In Three Easy Steps