SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Horse Care
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The
Nutritional Aspect of Horse Hay
Feeding the horse is something not to be taken
lightly. It is very important to be sure you know what you
are feeding your horses.
This
article is about hay for horses - a nutritional aspect.
For
the horse that spends six out of seven days in the pasture
or paddock, with little to no exercise, the hay you feed him
is very important. If the hay you feed has high alfalfa content,
then it will be high in protein. If you choose to feed him
grass hay, with about a quarter of that being alfalfa, this
would be the better choice for him.
For the horse who is worked more frequently will need the
higher alfalfa or protein content to keep his energy up to
perform his best.
When
you purchase hay, it is imperative that you know what
you are buying. Check the hay for signs of mold or mildew,
as either one will make your horse sick if he ingests it. Dust
is another factor in choosing hay. Dusty hay will give a horse
heaves, which is the human comparison to emphysema. This will
make it hard for your horse to breath and will make him cough.
Sometimes, the cough will become so bad, that he cannot be
ridden or driven, as any exertion will cause him to cough as
he breathes harder.
Once
you locate good hay from a seller, it is important to
maintain a good relationship with that seller to ensure you
continue to get the best hay. Hay for horses-a nutritional
aspect, goes a long way in making sure you get the most for
your dollar and for your horse. Horses should be fed good-quality
hay at least twice a day, with more acceptable feeding being
four times a day. Horses have small stomachs, which is why
they graze. They don’t eat huge amounts, then digest, and then
eat another huge meal. They eat in small amounts, frequently.
Good quality hay will keep your horse’s digestive system functioning
well. As the body works to digest the hay, the fiber in it,
along with the digestion process will aid in keeping your horse
warm.
Hay can be fed all year around if you choose to supplement
your horse with it and have him on grass pasture at the same
time, if both are available to you. If you do not have access
to grass pasture, it is completely acceptable to feed hay each
day.
Some people choose to feed large round bales to their horses,
if you don’t mind the mess, they work well and they also eliminate
some of the work associated with feeding several times a day.
This is fine and the horses like the free choice grazing option
it gives them. It is important to feed that same hay for horses-a
nutritional aspect, consistently. Horses have sensitive stomachs,
which do not take well to abrupt changes in their diets.
Colic is very prevalent among horses. It is in a sense, a
bad stomachache in horses, caused by many factors. One of the
most common factors is to change the horse’s diet abruptly.
If you need to change your horse’s diet, it is important to
do so gradually, so as to prevent colic. Once a horse has colic,
he will be more likely to colic again.
Some
people have the notion that alfalfa is bad for horses. From the standpoint of hay for horses-a nutritional aspect,
alfalfa is indeed very good for horses of any working level.
Excess of anything is not good. Feeding free choice hay is
never an issue; a horse will not and cannot eat himself sick
on hay. Free choice hay is a very good option for feeding,
but don’t let it stop you from tending to your horse and making
those everyday check ups on him.
Small square bales of hay, whether it is grass, alfalfa, clover,
timothy, or otherwise are easy to handle and easy to store
and transport. The hay you feed your horse is as important
as the water you give him. One is no more important than the
other.
You will need to step back and analyze your horse’s needs
and from there, make a determination about hay for horses-a
nutritional aspect, which type is best for him. If you have
further questions, it’s best to seek the advice of your veterinarian. #
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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