Nutrition for horses
What is healthy nutrition for horses?Healthy horse nutrition is tailored to their natural need for high-fiber, balanced nutrition. The basis consists of good quality roughage, supplemented with an appropriate amount of vitamins, minerals and possibly energy sources such as oil or fats, depending on the horse’s work and condition. Importantly, the diet should be low in sugars and starch. Clean water and adequate free exercise complete the nutrition plan.
What is roughage and how much does a horse need?Roughage is fiber-rich plant material such as hay or grass, and is the horse’s main source of nutrition. It supports digestion, maintains healthy intestinal flora and prevents boredom. A horse should get at least 1.5% to 2% of its body weight in dry matter from roughage daily – that is about 7.5 to 10 kg of hay per day for a 500 kg horse. More is allowed, as long as it is of good quality and not too rich.
A horse’s stomach contentsA horse’s stomach is relatively small in relation to its body size, holding about 8 to 15 liters. Because of this, the stomach is designed for continuous intake of small amounts of food – just as a horse in nature would graze throughout the day. Large, sudden amounts of supplemental feed can lead to stomach ulcers or colic. Therefore, it is important to distribute feed in several small portions throughout the day, focusing on fiber-rich roughage as the first basic requirement.