Feed

Question
Hi, I am about to go nuts....I have a 15 yr old gelded Arabian that was a rescue, I got him last april and he has been in a boarding situation. Well I am now the one who calls the shots of what and how much he eats and there are so many different types and as many ideas of what and how to feed. He is healthy, a pasture potatoe for now, but I work him about 3 times a week lightly. I give him 12 lbs of grain a day in two feedings, and four flakes of bermuda hay that has been tested at 14% protein. His grain is a mix of All stock, and pelleted hay, he is happy but I want to be sure I am not slowly causing a problem with what he is eating, it's the same feed he ate while boarding and I have yet to change it for lack of not knowing what is ideal for my boy. He has no pasture to eat, hence the hay, he will go through fences if he does not get hay, I have asked you questions previously and you have been a great help, he was a rescue with other horses and was very buddy sour, no more. Anyway please if you can what is the best way to keep a healthy weight, and keep him happy at the same time, his hooves are lacking something but they are overall in good shape.Someone told me I could feed him fruits and veggies with legumes and maybe oats daily and he would be great that would get pretty costly I would think. Can you give me any suggestions on the best way to feed him, he still has a bit of that I was starved attitude but so not pushy just always hungry.

Answer
Hi BJ,

Thanks for your question.  You're absolutely right, there is not shortage of opinions on how to feed a horse properly.  I'm a kind of 'less is more' kind of person, and really believe that we should feed horses what they were designed to eat.  

Horses are designed to eat pasture (grass or legume), and lots of it.  When there is no pasture, they should eat hay, and lots of it.  Grain of any type should only be fed to balance out a diet and provide what the hay can not.  Feeding too much grain can cause a myriad of metabolic disorders, and cost you a lot of money!  If you sat down and figured out your feed costs, pound for pound, hay is by far your cheapest and your BEST investment...and it keeps your horse healthy.  The best way to know exactly what (if any) grain you need to feed, balance a ration.  I can give you some help with that if you provide me with your horse's weight, by using my 'Ration-X' software.  But just to give you an example of what I mean:  I have a 21 year old Appaloosa stallion, weighs 1250 pounds and lives outside year round (blanketed in the winter, with a run-in).  He eats 1 full bale of second cut mixed mostly grass hay (about 35 pounds) per day.  He has access to salt and water free choice and in balancing his ration all he needs besides hay is 1/2 pound of Purina Optimal mineral/vitamin supplement per day...and he is perfectly fat (BCS 5.5)!  

Keep in mind that horses are born foragers, and by feeding as much grain (and as little hay) as you do, you have really cut down on how much eating he does in a day.  A horse would naturally spend 19-20 hours a day foraging and eating slowly.  Given what you feed your horse, I would guess that he doesn't spend that much time chewing.  So although his diet may be rich in nutrients and provide what he technically needs to eat, it doesn't meet his behavioural needs and what you end up with is that 'always hungry, pushy' behaviour that you've mentioned.  I would strongly urge you to wean your horse off that much grain and start increasing the amount of hay you are feeding.  Less is more.  Then balance his ration to ensure that you are still meeting his nutrient requirements and feed only what grain you need to.  Both your horse and your pocket book will be much happier.

Thanks, Corlena