Rules to Feed a Horse

Just like you your horse needs a balanced diet for good overall health. But your horses feed needs are quite a bit different than yours. Here are a handful of rules to feed a horse by to help you make sure your horse is eating a proper diet.
Rules to Feed a Horse By Forage First
Horses are grazing animals. This means your horses digestive system is specially equipped to continually process highfiber lowenergy food called forage. The most common forage horses eat is grass. Hay is another type.
The almostconstant munching of forage throughout the day keeps your horses teeth in good shape and helps reduce the chances of stomach ulcers colic and even boredom. Better yet almost all of your horses nutritional needs can come from forage thanks to the billions of microorganisms in your horses gut that help break down grass and hay!

If your horse doesnt have access to pasture during certain times of the year hay is a great substitute. Just remember not all hay is created equal. Alfalfa hay is high in protein and calcium while some grass hays like timothy or orchard grass hay have fewer overall nutrients and calories. Either type of hay can be right for a horse depending on his individual needs.
In addition to the type of hay pay attention to the amount your horse is getting. A good rule of thumb is that an averagesized 1000pound adult horse should consume roughly 20 pounds of hay per day. If possible feed hay flakes throughout the day instead of feeding just two meals per day.
Hay or pasture keep your horses teeth digestive system and state of mind happy. Photo by OsetrikShutterstock
The Way to Weigh a Horse
Weighing your horse is a great way to make sure youre feeding him the right amount. But how do you weigh such a large animal? A small tool called a weight tape is the perfect answer. A weight tape is thin and flexible and wraps around your horses body at the girth. Pull it snug and then read the number where the end meets to get an estimate of your