Make sure that the water in your horse’s trough is clean and not frozen. Keep the trough clean as well by hosing it out every day. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
Make sure that the hay you feed your horse is free of mold and dust. [5] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
Make sure to measure the portions that you feed your horse to make sure that you are giving her the correct amount. [7] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source If the weather is hot, feed grain to your horse during the cooler hours of the day, such as early in the morning and later in the evening.
Fresh apples, carrots, green beans, watermelon rinds, and celery make great treats for your horse.
The best strategy to use when developing a feeding plan for your horse is to feed based on the desired weight, rather than the current weight. e. g. A horse is underweight and weighs 300kg. If the horse’s ideal weight is 400kg, don’t feed 2. 5% of 300kg. Feed 2. 5% of 400kg. Use the same strategy for an overweight horse. Feed based on the desired weight, and not current, meaning you will actually be feeding less that the overweight amount, meaning, a reduction of waistline for your horse.
If your horse has been out to pasture all day and has been eating lots of grass, she will not require as much hay. If your horse has had a hard workday with lots of riding, then you will need to provide more food to help replenish the extra calories she burned.
If your horse will be doing something extra strenuous, schedule her feeding for three hours before the activity.
In addition to making food changes gradually, you should also feed your horse at about the same time every day. Horses perform better when they have a regular feeding schedule. Making drastic changes to your horse’s feed or feeding schedule can lead to equine colic and founder. Equine colic is a condition that causes severe abdominal pain and may even require surgery. [16] X Research source Founder is a condition that causes poor circulation and can even lead to the separation of the hoof from the foot. Founder is often fatal.
