How to Feed After a Horse

Having your own horse can be a dream come true if you love horses. If you are lucky enough to have your horse on your own property then you can spend time with it each day. Grooming, riding, and just being with your horse can be enjoyable. There is some work involved in owning your own horse though. To keep your horse healthy and happy you need to give your horse fresh water, food, and bedding each day. You also need to brush your horse, clean its hooves, and exercise it at least weekly. Periodically, you will need to shovel out the horse stall, pull weeds from the pasture, and worm your horse. At least once a year have your veterinarian examine your horse including its teeth, give necessary immunizations, and Coggins. If you are just getting a horse then you may be wondering how to feed after a horse.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Horse
• Hay
• Grain 10 percent protein
• Pasture
• Straw or pine shavings
• Barn
• Fence
• Waterer
• Salt or Trace Mineral block
• Wormer

1. Water your horse at least once a day or install an automatic waterer. You should fill several 5-gallon buckets or use a larger tank to water your horse if you do not have automatic waterers.
2. Feed your horse dry hay that is free of mold and dust two or three times a day in a clean hay feeder. Horses enjoy grazing all day when they are in a pasture because that is how their delicate digestive systems are designed. Their small stomachs are designed to process small amounts of food almost continuously. Overfeeding, feeding moldy or too rich of hay can cause colic or laminitis. Dusty hay can cause respiratory problems. Try to feed your horse around the same time each day and wait at least an hour before riding or exercising your horse. Some people use round bale feeders that horses can feed at throughout the day simulating their grazing pattern.
3. Grain your horse once a day. Take into consideration the age, size, and health of your horse when choosing grain or supplements. You must also consider your horse's activity level when deciding how much grain to give. For example, a healthy 7-year-old, ridden once a week would do fine on a quart-size scoop of 10 percent sweet feed each day. A lactating mare may need triple that amount. Elderly horses may need Calf Manna or Tiz Whiz to keep weight on and stallions standing at stud may need extra protein supplements too.
4. Graze daily when possible Pasture your horse daily if possible. Nothing makes a horse's coat shine like fresh grass. Grazing also keeps them from getting bored and cribbing.
5. Keep a trace mineral block in the stall that the horse is free to lick whenever it wants.
6. Use treats occasionally to reward your horse and encourage your horse to come to you when you approach. Most horses enjoy a carrot, an apple, or two. You can also purchase commercial horse treats similar to doggie biscuits. You may want to offer one of these treats after worming your horse to make it more pleasant. Horses should be wormed about every six weeks depending on the number of horses living together and how often they are transported to shows.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to loosen the cinch on your saddle, you may be overfeeding your horse try cutting back a little.
• If you notice your horse's ribs sticking out you are probably underfeeding your horse, try increasing feed.
• If your horse drizzles grain while eating have the veterinarian check your horses teeth, they may need to be floated.
• Contact your veterinarian immediately if your horse lays down and will not get up it could be colic.
• If you notice swelling around the hooves or legs and your horse doesn't want to walk call your veterinarian, it could be founder or laminitis.