SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Horse Care
Teach Me Horse Care Tips
How
To Feed Your Horse
Opinions
vary greatly on how to feed horses. Much depends on what type of work your horse does, if any.
This article is a general overview on feeding horses.
It is of utmost importance to ensure that your horse has clean,
fresh water at all times. It is a fact that horses do consume
more water in the cold months of winter, than they do during
the warmer months of the year. It is a common misconception
that the opposite is true. In a perfect world, we would all
have an automatic source for our horses, which would not freeze
up in arctic climates, and don't have to be filled every couple
of days. Not everyone has that luxury. However, there are good
ways to water your horse, and keep that water fresh, without
breaking your budget or your back.
Poly
stock tanks are available at most farm stores for a nominal
fee. These make excellent water containers, as they don't crack
when it's freezing outside. You can put tank heaters in them
to keep the water from freezing as well. It is important to
put a cage around that submersible tank heater though, to prevent
it from melting a hole in your tank. An old bathtub will also
work, as will any plastic tub. Be sure to clean the container
with full-strength bleach to kill any algae that may grow.
Rinsing your tank well will remove all the bleach and will
not harm your horse.
If you end up using a garden
hose to carry the water to your
tank, be sure to buy one that is rated for feeding. Some hoses
have ingredients in them that make them unsuitable for carrying
water for animal or human consumption. This information is
listed on the label, so be sure you know what you are buying.
Water hoses come in many different lengths, and now even come
in a collapsible form, which works very well for those colder
climates where water will freeze inside your hose if it is
left outside.
Part of a general overview on feeding horses is to be sure
you have a trace mineral block and an iodized salt
block for him. These blocks provide the essential vitamins and minerals
your horse needs daily. He will lick or chew the blocks as
he feels the need for those minerals. These blocks are readily
available at most feed stores and most farm-related stores
as well.
Feeding your horse is also a very important thing to do for
him. As mentioned before, this is a general overview on feeding
horses; it is not intended to replace what your vet may tell
you to do with your particular equine. It is important to have
a general overview on feeding horses. Depending on what kind
of horse you have, and how much or how little work he gets,
you will want to feed him accordingly.
Hay will be needed during the winter months if you live in
an area where the grass is dormant. Grain may be necessary
in cold climates to help your horse maintain a healthy weight
during those cold months too. Good quality grass hay can be
obtained from feed stores and farmers for reasonable fees.
Crimped oats or cracked or rolled corn make good feeds for
those horses needing something extra during those cold months
to assist there metabolism in keeping them warm and healthy.
Keep in mind, this is just a general overview on feeding horses,
if you should have any concerns that are not addressed in this
article, it is best to consult your veterinarian.
Overfeeding an idle horse, or one who gets fed more than he
can burn off during exercise will do more harm to him than
good. A fat horse in not a healthy horse. A good rule of thumb
is that you should be able to run your fingers along his rib
cage with light pressure and be able to feel his ribs. If you
can do that, then you can be assured your horse is in good
shape. However, if you have to lean into your fingers and apply
heavy pressure to feel his ribs, he is overweight. Overweight
horses have extra stress on their hearts with the extra fat
that builds up around them. This makes it harder for the heart
to pump blood to the rest of his body, and increases his risk
of having a heart attack.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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