Rules to Feed a Horse

efficient as when they were younger. Therefore if you own a senior horse he may need a special diet.
Special senior feeds are available that are balanced for all the nutrients he needs and are easier for an older horse to eat. These are complete feeds that can be fed to meet 100 percent of his requirements but it can get expensive and may not be necessary.
You may consider soaking your horses hay to make it softer to chew and to reduce dust. He may even need to switch to hay cubes or pellets that can be soaked into a softer gruel.
There are lots of ways to enhance a senior horses diet to make sure hes getting the right nutrients. Remember to weight tape your senior horse regularly so you can catch any weight changes early.
Senior horses dont digest nutrients in their food as well as young horses so a change of diet may be needed. Photo by Vera RevaShutterstock
A Balanced Diet
Just as you dont necessarily eat the same foods as your friends not all horses should be fed exactly the same way. The amount and type of grains supplements and forages you give your horse depend completely on his age breed health and how and how much you ride him.
Although this may sound complicated dont worry. Commercial horse grain mixes from the feed store are balanced so they contain what your horse needs to stay healthy.
Vitamins are abundant in goodquality pasture and most hays. Offering a trace mineral salt block the brown type provides extra minerals and takes care of your horses salt requirement which horses will selfregulate. If youre not sure you can provide a plain white salt block and a vitaminmineral supplement per label directions.
To learn more about what your horse needs to eat talk to your veterinarian who can explain more about your horses dietary needs and the best rules he or she uses to feed by.
Understanding your horses diet and feeding what he need s should result in good health a shiny coat nice muscle tone and fuel for your next ride!