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What Do Horses Eat? Horses are herbivores that primarily eat grass, hay, and grains, with their diet designed to meet their nutritional needs for energy, growth, and overall health.
Ensuring a balanced diet is crucial for keeping horses healthy and happy, whether they live in pastures or stables.
The Basic Diet of Horses
Horses rely on a combination of forage (like grass and hay) and grains to get the necessary nutrients for their bodies. Their digestive system is designed to process high-fiber, low-energy foods, which makes roughage the foundation of their diet.
Forage: Grass and Hay
Forage should make up the majority of a horse’s diet, providing essential fiber that supports proper digestion.
- Grass: Horses naturally graze on grass, which is high in fiber and low in energy. Grass also provides necessary vitamins, minerals, and moisture to keep horses hydrated.
- Hay: When pasture grass is unavailable or insufficient, hay serves as the primary substitute. Hay should be clean and free from mold, dust, and contaminants. Common types include timothy, orchard grass, and alfalfa, each offering different nutritional benefits.
Grains and Concentrates
While forage is essential, some horses—particularly those with high energy needs—require additional grains or concentrates.
- Oats and barley: These are commonly fed grains that provide extra calories and energy. Oats are more easily digested than barley, making them popular for horses with higher energy demands, such as working or racing horses.
- Commercial feeds: These formulated feeds include a balanced mixture of grains, vitamins, and minerals tailored to a horse’s specific needs, such as growth, lactation, or performance.
Dr. Susan Garlinghouse, an equine nutritionist, notes, “A balanced diet is vital for every horse, but the specific needs will vary based on age, workload, and health condition. Horses should get most of their energy from fiber, with grains or concentrates used sparingly to meet extra energy demands.”
Water and Hydration
Water is just as important as food in a horse’s diet. Horses should have constant access to clean, fresh water to stay hydrated.
- Water needs: A horse can drink anywhere from 5 to 10 gallons of water a day, depending on the weather, workload, and diet. Hay-fed horses may drink more than those primarily eating fresh grass due to the lower moisture content in hay.
Nutritional Requirements for Horses
A horse’s nutritional needs depend on factors like age, activity level, and health, requiring a balanced intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Carbohydrates from hay and grass provide energy, while proteins, especially from sources like alfalfa, support muscle development, particularly in younger or working horses.
Fats, such as vegetable oil or flaxseed, offer extra calories without overloading the digestive system.
Horses also need essential vitamins (A, D, E) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus), which can be supplied through commercial feeds or supplements.
Diets should be adjusted based on workload, with performance horses needing more energy-dense foods, and less active horses relying mostly on forage with minimal grain.
More information about the specific dietary needs of performance horses can be found in this detailed article on equine nutrition.
Common Feeding Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Feeding horses can lead to issues if not done carefully, with common mistakes including overfeeding grains and providing insufficient forage.
Overfeeding grains can result in problems like colic, laminitis, or obesity, so it’s essential to measure portions based on the horse’s weight and workload, keeping grains as a small part of their diet.
Forage, such as quality hay or grass, should always be the main focus, as it provides the necessary fiber for digestive health, while grains should serve only as a supplement.
Type of feeds horses shouldn’t eat
Feeding your horse inappropriate foods can lead to serious health issues.
To ensure their well-being, avoid giving them large quantities of fruit treats, as these can cause colic, obesity, and even lead to laminitis.
Limit fruit snacks to one or two wedges of apples or carrots per day.
Avoid stone fruits with pits, as they pose a choking hazard. Stay away from chocolate, sugary foods, bread, cakes, and meat, all of which can harm their health.
Vegetables from the cabbage family, as well as potatoes and tomatoes, can cause gas and discomfort.
Never feed them garden waste or grass clippings due to the potential presence of toxins and weeds, which may lead to colic.
Additionally, avoid feeding horses mouldy or dusty hay, which can damage their lungs, and bran unless specifically prescribed for their diet.
For more healthy food for horses, visit our website about can horses eat blueberries.
Treats and Supplements for Horses
While treats aren’t essential for a horse’s diet, they can be used as occasional rewards. It’s best to choose natural, low-sugar options like carrots and apples, which provide a small nutritional boost.
For horses with dietary restrictions, sugar-free treats are ideal. Supplements, on the other hand, are helpful for horses with specific needs.
Joint supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin can support horses with arthritis, while vitamin and mineral supplements are beneficial for those lacking pasture access or variety in their diet.
Conclusion
Horses thrive on a diet rich in forage, such as grass and hay, with grains and concentrates added based on their energy needs.
A balanced diet provides essential nutrients like fiber, protein, and vitamins, helping horses maintain a healthy digestive system, energy levels, and overall well-being.
Feeding horses correctly is crucial for their health and longevity.
FAQs
Horses should eat about 1.5% to 2% of their body weight in forage daily, which is around 15-20 pounds of hay for a 1,000-pound horse.
While some human foods like carrots and apples are safe in moderation, others, such as bread or potatoes, should be avoided as they are hard to digest.
