nutrition nutrition feeding horses correct balanced nutrition critical component proper horse care horses non type known horses stomach humans unlike humans utilize plant fiber largely comes grass hay like cattle digest fiber plant matter use multi stomach horses use digestive system known break practical terms horses prefer eat small amounts food steadily day nature grazing pasture possible modern practices human schedules favor feeding horses twice day important remember underlying biology animal determining feed quantities digestive system horse somewhat delicate horses unable food eat poisonous option long complex large balance beneficial upset rapid changes feed factors susceptible leading cause death horses horses require clean high quality feed provided regular intervals ill subjected abrupt changes horses sensitive reason fed contaminated materials lawn fed horses places contamination failure process allows mold toxic digestive system horses members genus adapted evolutionary biology eating small amounts kind food day long wild horses ate prairie grasses semi arid regions traveled significant distances day order obtain adequate nutrition digestive system work best small steady flow food change day day begins mouth animal pieces forage picks finer foods grain sensitive lips teeth horse called forage food ground carries food stomach enters stomach acute angle creating way valve powerful mechanism junction horses area digestive tract horses suffer choke illnesses related improper feeding stomach small horses small stomach size limits feed taken time average sized horse stomach capacity gallons works best contains gallons reason continuous foraging small day better large meals stomach begins thirds food stomach processed small feet long holds gallons gallons major digestive organ percent nutrients absorbed liver acts combined small flows constantly adaptation slow steady supply food reason providing fodder horses small large section large known water gut hind gut blind ended feet long holds gallons gallons small opens plant fiber food approximately seven hours material leaves passes large produce complex proteins reason horses changed slowly able modify adapt different chemical structure new abrupt change diet cause new materials properly large small remainder large large feet long holds gallons semi liquid matter main purpose absorb broken twists turns common place type horse called small feet long holds gallons area majority water absorbed balls formed foot long acts holding chamber waste expelled body nutrients like animals require main classes nutrients survive water energy primarily form proteins minerals water water makes horse body weight essential life horses live days water dangerously lose natural body water critically important horses access fresh clean adequate supply water average horse drinks gallons gallons water day hot weather eating dry forage hay consuming high levels salt potassium horses drink water cool weather lush pasture higher water content hard work mare water requirements times greater normal need great deal water horses spend little time drinking usually minutes day spread episodes water plays important grains horses eat mixed mouth moist easily horses produce gallons day energy nutrients protein sources energy fat protein critical building block muscles tissues horses heavily exercised growing pregnant need increased energy protein diet horse energy diet exercise high spirited difficult handle fat exists low levels plants added increase energy density diet fat kilogram energy times source store large quantities flows continuously liver directly small fat necessary nutrient difficult digest utilize large quantities able digest greater fat cattle horses benefit fat provide visible benefit horses fat diet risk developing main energy source rations usually fed form hay grass grain readily broken small absorbed fiber horse large break release energy sources volatile found nearly feed source corn highest normally certain conditions sudden large amounts high sugar feeds cause worst potentially fatal protein parts body especially muscle blood hair cells main building blocks protein hay good sources protein easily added diet adult horses require protein diet higher protein important young growing minerals horses subjected hard work extreme conditions usually adequate amounts diet receiving fresh green supplement needed feeding low quality hay horse stress illness traveling showing racing eating grain different balance nutrients forage requires specialized prevent minerals minerals required maintenance function skeleton nerves muscles include calcium potassium commonly found good quality feeds horses need trace minerals copper normally adult animals maintenance levels consuming fresh hay pasture receive adequate amounts minerals diet exception salt needs provided free choice certain trace minerals including copper situations health problems including diseases occur horses trace mineral intake properly supplemented calcium needed specific ratio adult horses tolerate ratio total higher ratio calcium avoided time ultimately lead number possible bone related problems young growing horses years special needs require feeds balanced proper calcium ratio trace minerals number skeletal problems occur young animals diet hard work increases need minerals potassium horse system required horses intense training especially hot weather types feed consume approximately body weight dry feed day adult horse eat food months age eat weight day solid feeds placed categories hay grass including grain rations prepared mineral recommend animal diet weight horse working hard requires energy use grain increased percentage forage decreased horse energy content needs work performing forage horse body weight day known plant materials classified grasses found hay contain blend grasses nutrients available forage vary greatly maturity grasses management environmental conditions grasses tolerant wide range conditions contain necessary nutrients commonly grasses include coastal bermuda orchard grass kentucky type forage provided horses pulp left processing sugar high energy fiber usually higher protein calcium energy grasses require warm weather good soil produce best nutrients generally higher protein grass higher minerals particularly calcium incorrect ratio calcium high protein desirable growing horses subjected hard work calcium ratio balanced feeds prevent bone hay dried mixture grasses cut field dried storage hay cut early seed heads fully mature stems plants tough thick hay green good indicator nutrients hay color sole indicator quality smell texture important hay analyzed laboratories reliable way tell values contains hay particularly compressed processed hay consistent quality convenient ship store easily obtained areas suffering localized hay shortages concentrated forms horses somewhat prone choke hand hay soaked break apart pulp thick state useful source food horses tooth problems dental disease tooth loss age structural known round term grass sealed plastic bags form forage frequently fed united_kingdom continental europe seen united_states type hay stored fashion remain completely sealed plastic holes tears stop preservation properties lead mold plastic hay introducing contamination dies inside plastic subsequent released entire straw fed animals little value providing fiber filler slow horses eat grain fast provide additional fiber horse meet needs concentrated feeds straw stalls absorb grains crushed grains common form concentrated feed referred corn grains present called popular grain horses lower energy value higher fiber content grains form loose mass stomach suited digestive system grains corn usa british english second grain provides twice energy equal volume low fiber characteristics easy feed corn causing horses seldom fed corn caution horse owners corn poisonous fed horses fed horses needs processed crack seed hull allow easier frequently fed combination corn mix informally referred acronym corn wheat generally concentrate wheat added diet horse supplemental nutrition usually form mash wheat high fed carefully cause ratio touted effect use considered unnecessary horses unlike humans obtain sufficient fiber sources mixes feed manufacturers combine grains add additional mineral create complete feed easy owners feed predictable quality prepared feeds manufactured form retain grains original form cases dust increased grain mixes added usually called sweet feed united_states coarse mix united_kingdom feeds referred nuts easier result wasted feed horses generally eat easily grain expensive complete rations eliminate necessity forage average modern horse good hay pasture light work usually need horses subjected stress age intensive athletic work reproduction need additional nutrition extra fat protein added horse diet mineral hundreds thousands commercially prepared mineral market tailored horses specialized needs meal common protein supplement averages crude protein protein meal high quality proper ratio essential meal meal meal common feeding practices horses need quality forage water salt mineral block grain necessary grain fed quantities carefully monitored horse feed measured weight volume example different volume corn continuous access feed possible consistent natural feeding behavior provide small day instead large ones daily gauge feed weight tape provide reasonably accurate estimate horse weight tape measures horse barrel tape convert approximate weight actual amounts fed vary size horse age horse climate work animal addition genetic factors play role animals naturally easy keepers good means thrive small amounts food prone health problems hard keepers poor meaning prone thin require considerably food maintain healthy weight usually good source recommendations appropriate types amounts feed specific horse animal trained develop rations recommendations numerous books written topic feed manufacturers usually offer specific guidelines select properly feed products company united_states local office provide educational materials expert recommendations feeding require forage possible recommend available times animal lead safe feed forage water supplemental salt feed forage hay concentrated nutrition fed smaller amounts grass hay mixture types plant pulp fed usually soaked water hours prior feeding order minimize risk choke problems usually soaked proportion pulp parts water pulp usually fed addition hay occasionally replacement hay fed old horses longer properly available form soaked significantly longer pulp rations designed complete feed contains hay grain meeting horse needs rations hay pasture provided minimum half pound forage horse order digestive system functioning properly meet horse urge horses natural conditions spend hours day modern needs forage met little hours day depending quality grass available recent studies address level non structural high level causes difficulties animals prone storage determined looking forage hay pasture grasses tested levels feeding fed recommended provided quantities greater horse body weight day needs contain higher percent race horse grains possible loose mass feed helps prevent linked high concentration grain diet particularly noticed modern studies affecting race horses general portion grain concentrated feed grain mature idle horses horses work depending age intensity activity energy requirements fed horses hour heavy need adjusted level performance excess grain inadequate exercise lead behavior problems trigger health problems include tying horses prone condition possible risk forms horse relatively uncommon usually fatal concern triggered excess protein lack forage diet allows organisms exacerbated stress access water horses normally require free access fresh clean water want avoid kept water longer hours time water need temporarily limited quantity horse hot heavy long hot horse continues work drink fill periodic intervals provided common sense horse forced drink extremely cold water sources horse needs cooled walked minutes allowed water wants time concern water needs offered cooling process hot horse properly cooling offered water minutes walked mechanism immediately kick following heavy reason offer periodic water cooling period slightly horse higher risk developing additionally lead weight loss horse produce adequate amounts decreasing feed dry forage consumed especially important horse owners encourage horses drink risk horses losing great deal water hot weather work cold weather horses natural tendency drink cold environment encourage drinking owners add feed water especially apple juice cold warm water near freezing temperature special feeding issues miniature horses usually easy keepers need feed sized horses smaller evolved living conditions horses use feed efficiently easily high risk especially fresh grass particular danger develop little hour grazing lush pasture incorrect feeding concern simple need diet relatively low higher fibers miniature horses particular need fewer pound pound regular horse prone regular horses higher risk developing syndrome important track weight pony carefully use weight tape fed based weight rate forage forage water salt mineral block require hard working pony needs ratio forage recommended designed horses added minerals provide insufficient nutrients small serving sizes needed pony requires feed designed specially designed called pony nuts special feeding issues like hardy generally need concentrated feed horses need protein horses best grass hay mineral supplement fed need half horse requires like horses require fresh clean water likely drink hot like need protein fiber horses tract marked differences structure horse efficient food thrive forage similar sized pony need eat body weight day dry matter fully understood efficient thought different population large horses possibly increased gut retention time best allowed consume small amounts food long periods natural arid climate meet needs hours grazing day average pasture stressed drought worked long hours access pasture require hay similar dried forage ratio grass require salt mineral access clean fresh water like lush climate prone risk treats people like feed horses special treats sugar specially manufactured horse horses need treats risk choke horse owners allow horses given treats issues horses develop given treats particularly tendency bite hand fed reason horse trainers riding instructors discourage practice treats allowed compressed hay common generally harmful acceptable best cut horse specially manufactured ordinary grains added generally cause problems fed small quantities types human foods potentially dangerous horse fed includes bread products meat products candy alcoholic common practice horses weekly mash wheat mixed warm water ingredients regularly places warm soft meal treat horses enjoy considered helpful effect necessary old horse poor teeth benefit food water mash help provide extra warm meal cold weather horses far fiber regular diet humans assistance unnecessary risk wheat provide excessive diet feed unusual contents fed week trigger bout feed storage hay concentrated feeds kept dry free mold types contamination cause illness horses feed kept outside exposed moisture develop mold quickly fire hazards hay stored open shed inside horse barn kept kind cover storage space fire hazard usually kept barn enclosed shed secure door gate animals feed storage area critical horses accidentally getting stored feed eating time common way horses develop illnesses related improper feeding important horse feed contaminated remains dead animal potential source uncommon situation example mice birds poorly stored grain trapped hay accidentally contain snakes mice small animals caught machinery harvesting process feeding behavior horses anxious stressed long periods time meals best fed regular schedule creatures habit easily upset changes routine horses herd behavior higher ranked animals herd eat drink low status animals eat food little available feed higher ranking horses lower ranking ones eating herd pasture meets needs individuals important feed horses separately spread feed separate areas sure animals roughly equal amounts food eat situations horses kept placed separate depending needs overweight horses kept separate thin horses rations adjusted accordingly horses eat undesirable ways feed eating fast lead choke circumstances dental issues horses teeth continually life worn eat develop uneven wear patterns interfere reason horses need dental examination year particular care paid dental needs older horses process grinding uneven wear patterns horse teeth called floating performed specialist illnesses related improper feeding choke life threatening horse severely affected care necessary properly treat conditions conditions life threatening implications long term health horse horse disease description symptoms connected abdominal pain occur number digestive mild excess gas life threatening caused change diet planned change takes place quickly accidental change horse getting barn unfamiliar plants possible including insufficient water irregular feeding schedule stress illness horse limited capacity harmful substances horse travel way digestive system expelled choke choke common nonetheless commonly considered emergency common cause choke horses food thoroughly usually eating food quickly especially sufficient access water dental problems painful difficult horse expel immediate treatment required unlike humans choke horses cut horses susceptible disease causes common related sugar horse certain types food particularly pasture grass high early spring late fall consuming excessive quantities grain growth disorders young horses fed diet improper calcium ratio time develop number growth disorders including angular limb conditions grouped popular term contracted properly treated damage permanent treated caught time given proper care improper feeding practices corrected young horses fed rapid growth order shown sold particularly high risk adult horses improper diet develop range problems dusty hay fed horses common cause known chronic condition horses involving characterized breathing tying known tying condition horses susceptible cases linked genetic horses prone condition usually occurs day rest grain followed work day pattern clinical signs led archaic nickname monday morning sickness condition related proper diet management help minimize risk attack
Equine nutrition