Feeding Supplement to a Horse
Many horses do not get all the vitamins, minerals or electrolytes needed from grain or forage alone, so feeding your horse supplements is a good way to maintain her health. According to the Ohio State University Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, good hay combined with well-balanced grain rations are often enough to keep a horse healthy, but for horses who are unusually sluggish, spooky or sore, supplements are helpful. Hardworking horses or horses with hoof issues may also need nutritional supplements because they burn more energy than pasture horses. Supplements come in powder, pellet and liquid form and are generally combined with a horse's grain. Distributing the supplements correctly is important to help your horse stay healthy and balanced because improper doses create or increase nutritional imbalances.
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Instructions
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Measure the appropriate amount of supplement according to the manufacturer's label. Knowing how much supplement to feed to your horse is important because too much of a vitamin or mineral can upset a horse's stomach and cause her to colic.
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Distribute the supplement into the horse's daily feed ration and mix well. It is important to thoroughly mix the supplement with the horse's grain because many horses are "picky eaters" and will leave untouched powders or pellets that are separate from the grain.
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Distribute the mixture of grain and supplement into your horse's feed bucket. Watch to be sure your horse ingests all of the mixture. If your horse is a picky eater, adding small pieces of carrot, apple, molasses or another kind of treat to her feed and supplement mixture will encourage her to eat.
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Provide a full bucket of water for your horse at feeding time, because drinking water aids proper absorption of vitamins and minerals.
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Tips & Warnings
The National Research Council (NRC) is responsible for setting guidelines that outline basic equine nutritional requirements. Sending samples of your hay and grain to your local agricultural extension or to private laboratories such as Equi-Analytical Laboratories for analysis and comparison to NRC guidelines helps determine what is missing from your horse's feed and what supplements are necessary for a balanced diet.
Because every horse is different, it is important to check with your horse's veterinarian before beginning a new supplement. Your vet will also have advice about how much supplement you should feed based on your horse's individual needs.
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- Photo Credit brown horse eating image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
