Food With Complete Nutritional Value For a Healthy Equine

Horses are herbivores and so their dietary needs are very different from other animals. They take their meals in portions and are frequent eaters. An equine’s diet must contain lots of fiber, vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy. So let us have an insight on what could be given to horses that suffice their complete nutritional requirements.

Grass

Pasture grass is loaded with proteins and fiber which makes it an ideal food choice for horses. It enhances their digestive health and works great on their teeth. However, we must be aware how much exposure we need to give to our horse so he doesn’t overgraze.

Grains

Oats, corn and barley make for a staple diet in horses. Oats are very healthy for horses and can be given in more proportions than corn and barley. Try to find raw grains to feed your pet as the processed grains are depleted of most of the nutrients absorbed by the horse’s body. Moreover, you must not feed high proportions of grains to horses as overfeeding can lead to ulcers.  

Salt

Horses need 10gms of sodium per day. Their salt requirements increase as the physical activity increases. Therefore, it is immensely important that you provide an adequate amount of salt to your equine to keep him energetic.

Hay

Hay can be given to equines when fresh grass is not available. It is a rich source of fiber, though, may lack some vitamins and minerals. To compensate for the dietary needs you can, therefore, add supplements to their diet. These supplements fulfill the dearth of nutrients which are not satiated by natural foods.

Molasses

Molasses are a great source of sugar and potassium. They give instant energy to horses that have high physical activity. And potassium is helpful in controlling water absorption by bones, muscles and organs. However, be cautious not to overfeed him as excess sugar can cause laminitis in equines.

Foods That Shouldn’t Be Given To Horses

• Cruciferous Vegetables like Cabbage, Broccoli, Kale and Brussels Sprouts
• Cattle Feed
• Silage
• Meat
• High quantity of fruits
• Dusty Hay
• Alsike Clover
• Oak
• Wilted Maple Leaves
• Yellow Star Thistle
• Rhododendron
• Black Walnut
• Blister beetles
• Taxus Species
• Jimmy Weed

If you find that the horse is not seeming well, contact the vet immediately. Always provide fresh food and do accompany it with lots of water because horses need 30-40 litres of water regularly, depending on their activity level. Deworm him if any symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, weakness or weight loss is noticed after consulting the vet. Your equine’s health completely depends on the way you care for him. So, maintain quality feeds and good hygiene of your horse. He will certainly lead a healthy life.