Brenda Khan
Horses have very specific dietary needs due to their unique digestive systems. They are non-ruminant herbivores, meaning they have a small stomach and a long digestive system that requires a high-fibre diet of small meals consumed over a long period. As such, the foundation of a horse's diet should consist of forage (plants), with grass being their natural food. Horses also require access to fresh, clean water at all times. In addition, horses may need pelleted grain/concentrates or supplements to help with deficiencies or high-energy demands.
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What You'll Learn
Horses need to eat little and often
Horses are non-ruminant herbivores, meaning they have a unique digestive system that requires a high-fibre diet. Their long digestive system has a small stomach capacity of 2 to 4 gallons for an average-sized 1000-lb horse. This means they can only eat small amounts at a time, and they need to eat little and often.
In the wild, horses roam and graze on pasture grass throughout the day. This is their natural food and is great for their digestive system. Good pasture contains most of the nutrition a horse needs to be healthy, including silica, which is important for dental health. Horses can eat up to 15 pounds or more of forage a day. They can consume up to 3% of their body weight in hay daily, but this depends on other factors such as their size and activity level.
Horses that are worked or ridden will need more food to avoid becoming underweight. Horses exercising, growing, pregnant in late gestation, or early lactation need increased energy in their diet. Signs of energy deficiency include weight loss, decreased physical activity, milk production, and growth rate.
Horses also need access to fresh, clean water as much as possible, but at least twice a day. Water keeps their digestive system working properly and helps avoid ailments.
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Forage should make up the bulk of their diet
Horses are herbivores with a unique digestive system that requires a high-fibre diet. Their long digestive system means they need to eat small amounts over a long period, and they spend most of their time eating. Forage, which includes pasture grass, hay, and haylage, should make up the bulk of their diet. This is because it takes horses a long time to chew forage, so they can only intake small, consistent amounts over time.
Forage is a natural food for horses and is great for their digestive system, although they should not eat too much lush grass in spring as this can cause laminitis. Horses should eat around 1.5 to 3% of their body weight in hay or haylage per day. For example, a 500kg horse would require approximately 7.5 to 10kg of haylage daily, depending on its individual needs and activity level. Horses that are worked or ridden will need more food during the day or they will become underweight.
Forage provides calories, protein, vitamins and nutrients, and if it is good quality, horses do not need much more. Horses that are not subjected to hard work or extreme conditions usually have more than adequate amounts of vitamins in their diet if they are receiving fresh, green, leafy forages. In addition, horses that are allowed to graze on pasture grass are likely to drink less water than those on a hay-only diet.
However, sometimes a vitamin/mineral supplement is needed when feeding low-quality hay, if a horse is under stress, or not eating well. Grain has a different balance of nutrients than forage, so requires specialised supplementation to prevent an imbalance of vitamins and minerals. Horses that are in intense training, especially in hot weather, may require electrolyte supplements as sweating depletes sodium, potassium, and chloride from the horse's system.
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Horses need access to fresh water
Horses need access to fresh, clean water as part of their diet. While horses don't "eat" water in the same way they eat food, it is an essential part of their diet. Horses that eat pasture grass may not drink as much water as those on a hay-only diet, but fresh water is vital for both.
Ensuring your horse has access to water at least twice a day is important. If they don't have access to water, they should not drink immediately after eating, as this could cause a blockage from undigested food moving too quickly through their digestive tract. Horses have a unique digestive system, with a small stomach capacity of 2 to 4 gallons for an average-sized 1,000-pound horse. Their stomachs produce gastric acid constantly, as they are meant to be grazing in pastures daily.
Good hydration keeps their digestive system working properly and helps to avoid serious ailments. Horses should eat little and often, grazing throughout the day, and their diet should be high in fibre and consist of forage (plants). Horses require multiple meals a day to prevent digestive issues like ulcers.
Salt blocks are recommended for horses, as they encourage them to drink more water.
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Horses need vitamins and minerals
Horses are herbivores with a unique digestive system, requiring a high-fibre diet of small meals consumed over a long period. Their diet should be rich in vitamins and minerals, which can be sourced from various foods.
Vitamins are either fat-soluble or water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A, D, E, and K, while water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and B-complex. Horses that graze on fresh, green forages usually have adequate vitamin levels. However, vitamin supplements may be necessary in certain cases, such as when feeding low-quality hay or when the horse is under stress or not eating well. Vitamin D, obtained from sunlight, is only required for horses kept in stalls for 24 hours a day. Vitamin E, found in fresh green forages, is beneficial for horses under heavy exercise or stress.
Minerals are essential for the maintenance and function of the skeleton, nerves, and muscles. These include macro-minerals like calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfur, and trace minerals like selenium, copper, zinc, and iodine. Adult horses consuming fresh hay or pasture typically receive sufficient minerals, except for sodium chloride (salt), which should always be accessible. Sweating depletes sodium, potassium, and chloride, so electrolyte supplementation may be beneficial for horses that sweat profusely or undergo intense training.
The foundation of a horse's diet should be forage, including grass or hay, with additional feed or supplements tailored to their specific needs. Horses require multiple meals daily to prevent digestive issues. Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and vitamins are also crucial components of a horse's diet. Common feed options include hay, pasture, concentrates (grains), and commercial feeds. Supplements should be added based on individual dietary requirements.
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Horses need fats and oils
Horses are herbivores with a unique digestive system that requires a high-fibre diet. They are designed to graze throughout the day, eating small amounts of food steadily over a long period. Their diet should consist of forage, which is usually pasture grass or hay.
Fat can be added to a horse's feed to increase the energy density of the diet, particularly for horses that are exercising, growing, pregnant in late gestation, or in early lactation, as these horses need increased energy in their diet. Horses that are not subjected to hard work or extreme conditions usually have adequate amounts of vitamins in their diet if they are receiving fresh, green, leafy forages.
Supplements may be added to a horse's diet depending on its needs. Horses subjected to stress due to age, intensive athletic work, or reproduction may need additional nutrition. Extra fat and protein are sometimes added to the horse's diet, along with vitamin and mineral supplements.
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Frequently asked questions
The foundation of a horse's diet should consist of forage (plants), such as pasture grass or hay.
Horses need access to fresh, clean water at all times. They also require carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins.
Horses are herbivores, so meat should not be included in their diet. Dairy products, excess fruit, cruciferous vegetables, garden clippings, avocados, and bran are also harmful to horses.
