Feeding Your Horse the Essentials: Hay, Water, Grain, and Salt

A well-fed horse is a healthy horse. And a healthy horse can perform his best. To that end, it just makes sense that good feeding practices are a regular part of your day as a horseman. Here are some basics when it comes t feeding hay, water, grain, and salt.

Hay

Hay comes in bales weighing anywhere from 40 to 75 pounds, and these bales are further divided into sections called "flakes," which are each about three or four inches thick. Bales are held together by string or wire; be sure to pick these up after unwrapping your hay. Recycle them or throw them out; string or wire left lying around can cause accidents!

How many flakes do you feed your horse? Well, that is very personal and depends upon the size and feed needs of your horse, as well as how much pasture he has access to. A good rule of thumb is to talk to your vet about how many flakes per feeding your horse requires. Once you figure out how many pounds of hay your horse needs, be sure to weigh the flakes. Not all flakes weigh the same, even if they look similar in size!

Good hay should smell sweet, like newly cut grass. It is also very important that you inspect each flake for dust or mold. Moldy hay smells musty and has telltale white or gray patches. If you come across hay like this, don't feed it to your horse! Horse's who are fed moldy or dusty hay are prone to coughs and other illnesses.

How do you feed hay? It can be fed in a feeder or manger, hay net, or on the ground. If you go the hay net route, be sure the net is tied safely and is high enough so that your horse can't get a leg caught in it. If you feed hay on the ground, which is the most natural way for a horse to eat, make sure it is in a clean, dry place that is free of manure or sand.

Water

Your horse should have water available at all times, and should be able to drink freely when he chooses. Is there ever a time your horse should not have unrestricted access to water? Absolutely! When he is hot and sweaty. Be sure to cool your horse down first, and then let him have all the water he wants.

So how much water does a horse need per day? About 12 gallons! Wow! And that goes for the cold weather as well. Don't think that just because it's cold out your horse doesn't need to drink as much. He does. Horses often get dehydrated in cold weather because their water source freezes or the water is too cold. If you live in a cold environment there are a number of heating elements you can use to make sure your horse's water source remains unfrozen and drinkable.

Remember that horses will only drink clean water. If your horse drinks out of a trough, make sure it is frequently cleaned.

Grain

Grain is a concentrated feed, and the most important thing to know about it is that too much can make your horse sick. Since most horses will eat as much grain as they have access to, it is extremely important that it is kept locked up.

How much grain does your horse need? Again, it depends upon size and how much pasture your horse is getting. Some easy keepers require no grain at all. Again, it is best to ask your vet how much grain a particular horse needs.

Grain should be fed after water and hay, and only after your horse is completely cooled down if he has been ridden. If you are feeding more than one horse, you may want to separate them during the grain phase of their feeding. Otherwise, they may fight over the available grain; some horses might not get their share, while others might get more than their share.

Salt

Salt is really important for your horse's health, especially in hot weather. Salt comes in blocks in the plain variety, or also laced with iodine and trace minerals. A good rule of thumb is to have a salt block in your horse's stall, as well as one in the pasture. A horse who has free access to salt will lick it whenever he needs it.

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