Feeding, Watering and Nutrition
The horse as a hindgut fermenter
Horses are trickle feeders whose digestive system is designed for near-continuous intake of fibrous forage. The basic rule is forage first: a minimum of roughly 1.5-2 percent of body weight per day in dry matter, mostly as pasture or hay. Concentrates are a supplement for energy needs, not a replacement for forage. Feed little and often, and change diet gradually over 7-10 days to protect the hindgut microbes.
Nutrients and water
Understand the roles of water, energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, and the balance of calcium and phosphorus. Salt and mineral supplements may be needed where forage is deficient. Water must be clean, available and unfrozen; a horse may drink 20-60 litres per day, more in heat or work. Electrolytes matter after heavy sweating.
Feeding management and risks
Feed by weight, not volume, using scales. Feed at consistent times. Avoid feeding on the ground where sand ingestion causes sand colic. Risks include choke from bolting dry feed, laminitis from excess soluble carbohydrate, gastric ulcers in intensively managed horses, and colic from abrupt change. Never feed mouldy hay or lawn clippings.
Traps to watch
- Feeding concentrates before forage.
- Assuming a scoop is a standard weight.
- Changing feed suddenly.
- Forgetting water intake when assessing a horse's condition.
Rule of thumb
"Forage, then water, then concentrate, then supplements." If an answer prioritises grain over hay, it is usually wrong.
Worked example: A horse loses weight in winter. First check forage quantity and quality by weight, teeth and worm burden, then add a balanced concentrate gradually. Adding oil or a high-energy feed before checking hay is the classic wrong answer.