1. Hay and concentrates can be ground and mixed together, BUT if this is done, the horses should be hand fed rather than self fed.  If self fed, they may overeat which can cause colic.  If hand feeding, they should be fed either twice or thrice a day on an individual basis.
  2. Pelleting decreases dust, decreases bulk, and increases palatability.  It also destroys the value of the roughage, predisposing the horse to colic, if another roughage source (hay) is not available.
  3. Course grinding is a good alternative to pelleting.  It does not greatly destroy the roughage quality, and reduces wear on the horses teeth, compared to pelleting.
  4. Dustiness can be reduced by 3 to 5% molasses, or dampening feed with water at time of feeding.
  5. Horses can consume and utilize silage and haylage; however, these feedstuffs frequently have mold which can cause colic.  Therefore, haylage and silage are not usually used as horse feeds.  Silages and haylages should not replace all of the hay in the diet.  A general rule is that no more than ⅓ to ½  of the hay should be replaced.
  6. Horses should be fed to their individual needs.  Should changes be required in their diet, the changes should be made gradually.
  7. Reduce grain allowance to horses on non-work days by about 50% to avoid azoturia (Monday morning sickness).
  8. Working or performing horses need extra nutrients.

 

Feeding Open Mares and Geldings

  1. Feed according to their size and activity.  The table below serves as a good indication.

% Body Weight, Air-Dry Basis

 

 

Additional

Activity

Minimum Hay

Hay

Grain

Idle

1.0

0.75*

0.0

Light Work

1.0

0.5*

0.5

Medium Work

1.0

0.0

1.0

*This hay may be replaced with grain at a ratio of 0.6 lb. grain per lb. hay

 

  1. Usually protein supplement is not required.
  2. The following should be provided on a free-choice basis:
    1. Mineral mixture of:

                                                               i.      1 part trace mineralized salt

                                                             ii.      2 part defluorinated phosphate or dicalcium phosphate, or steamed bone meal.

    1. A source of plain, loose salt (NaCl) to make it possible for the horse to replace salt lost from perspiration, without forcing them to consume unneeded calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals.

 

Feeding Pregnant Mares

  1. During first 8 months of gestation, feed the same “adequate” diet as open mares.
  2. During the last 3 months of gestation the following alterations should be made:
    1. Increase protein by 20 to 25%
    2. Increase energy by 5 to 10%
    3. Double vit. A
    4. Calcium and Phosphorus needs are doubled during the last 90 days of gestation, but these minerals should be provided free choice in a complete mineral mix.

 

Feeding Mares During Lactation

  1. Ensure good quality hay (about 50% preferably from legume)  (A total of ~1% BW)
  2. As much grain (oats, corn and(or) barley) should be provided to meet energy needs.  This should be ~1% BW also.
  3. If protein is needed, substitute protein meal (SBM, CSM, or linseed meal) at a 1:1 ratio for the grain mix to meet protein needs.
  4. Calcium and Phosphorus should be added to the grain mixture (limestone, bone meal, dical, defluronated phosphate, oyster shell).
  5. Depending upon the size of the mare, some supplemental vit. A. may be required.
  6. Incorporate 0.1 pound of trace mineralized salt in the daily grain mix of the mare, and allow ad libitum access to white salt.
  7. Note: Nursing foals relish mineral blocks.

 

Feeding Foals

  1. If mare is milking normally, she provides adequate nutrients for the 1st 3 to 4 months.
  2. During the 1st 3 to 4 months, start acquainting the foal to feeds it will be consuming later.
    1. Foals can be effectively creep fed starting at 2 to 3 weeks of age.  Less than 1 pound per day, and any uneaten portion should be removed,a nd fresh feed offered daily.
    2. The grain mixture can be offered in increasing amounts along with small amounts of hay until the foal is receiving 0.75 to 1.0 pounds daily per 100 pound of BW at weaning (~6 months of age)
  3. A typical concentrate mixture for foals follows:
    1. 40% Rolled oats
    2. 20% Cracked corn
    3. 15% SBM
    4. 10% Wheat bran
    5. 10% Alfalfa meal
    6. 3.5% Molasses
    7. 0.5% Limestone
    8. 0.5% Defluronated phosphate
    9. 0.5% Trace mineralized salt

 

Feeding Weanlings, Yearlings, and 2-Year-Olds in Drylot

  1. Feed to the animals needs using the appropriate nutrient requirement tables (NRC)
  2. Basically the same feeds are used for these horses as with older horses; however, better quality feeds should be reserved for the younger animals.
  3. Although younger horses can be raised in drylot, it is far better to allow them access to pasture.

 

Nutritional Disorders

  1. Colic
    1. Symptoms

                                                               i.      acute abdominal pain (distention of the stomach or intestines)

                                                             ii.      sweating

                                                            iii.      kicking & rolling

    1. Etiology

                                                               i.      Excessive gas production (fermentation)

                                                             ii.      Impaction (blockage)

                                                            iii.      Most associated with poor management

                                                           iv.      Overfeeding, irregular feeding, watering, etc.

    1. Prevention

                                                               i.      Proper management

    1. Treatment

                                                               i.      gastric tube to releive stomach problem

                                                             ii.      mild impactions dispersed with mineral oil (2-4 L by stomach tube)

                                                            iii.      MgSO4 (.5 to 1 g/kg by tube) acts as osmotic purative

                                                           iv.      Surgery

 

  1. Laminitis (founder)
    1. Symptoms

                                                               i.      lameness, especially in fore feet

                                                             ii.      inflammation of the laminae (see Cheeke pg 417 picture)

1.      Laminae are leaf like structures that support the coffin bone

2.      with inflammation, swelling occurs causing decreased blood flow

                                                            iii.      acute = visibly sick, sweating, hoof is hot

                                                           iv.      chronic = deep vertical cracks in hoof & heavy horizontal ridging; hoof is dry and brittle

    1. Etiology

                                                               i.      ingestion of excessive CHO's (grazing of lush pastures, grain)

1.      lactic acid, and bacterial toxins are produced in cecum

a.       lactic acid is absorbed causing a ↓ in blood pH, electrolyte balance, hemoconcentration, and arterial hypertension

b.      Bacterial toxins (lipopolysaccharide-amino acid complexes) are in the cell wall of several gram negative bacteria.  The ↓ in cecal pH causes these bacteria to die and lyse.  These toxins are absorbed because of the ↓ in blood and cecal pH.  These toxins impair the circulatory function in the hoof.

c.       Normally, lactic acid is poorly absorbed in the cecum; however, when excessive amounts of lactic acid are present, damage to the cecal lining allows lactic acid to be absorbed.

                                                             ii.      excessive exercise in unfit horse

                                                            iii.      ischemia in the hoof

    1. Prevention

                                                               i.      adequate ration & good management

    1. Treatment

                                                               i.      in grain overload, oral administeration of 1 gal. mineral oil, flush toxicants

                                                             ii.      temperature (cold packs or hot packs) early, may be beneficial