Compiling an Appropriate Diet

A suitable diet can be formulated based on the horse's needs. A horse’s requirements depend on factors such as age, body weight, gender, and the intensity of exercise.

Once you know your horse's daily requirements, you can formulate a diet that meets those requirements. The foundation of every diet is roughage such as hay, grass, etc. However, roughage does not provide sufficient vitamins and minerals to meet daily requirements. For this reason, horse feed is often supplemented with concentrates, which provide essential vitamins, minerals, and additional energy and protein when the horse has higher nutrient requirements.

There are various types of concentrates formulated for different purposes. The composition of the concentrates depends on the intended use and the level of activity the horse performs. Some concentrates are specially formulated for recreational horses and contain less energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. In contrast, there are also concentrates designed for sport horses, which are more nutrient-dense to meet the increased requirements. Additionally, there are concentrates specifically produced for pregnant or lactating mares or young-growing foals.

Tips for Managing Feeding Costs

Feed prices have risen in the past year, making it important for horse owners to avoid unnecessary costs. Below are some tips to help you keep your costs as low as possible without compromising the horse’s nutrient requirements.

As mentioned earlier, the total amount of feed a horse needs daily depends on several factors such as body weight and intensity of exercise. To determine the amount of roughage, we use the rule of thumb that every horse should receive at least 1.5% of its body weight in kilograms of roughage to maintain a healthy and well-functioning digestive system. (see blog: The Importance of Optimal Digestive Health for Horses).

There is a wide variety of concentrates available, with amounts differing by type and brand. Manufacturers provide feed bags with feeding instructions that indicate how much feed your horse needs daily. By following these guidelines, you can avoid overfeeding, ensuring a bag of concentrate lasts longer, and your feed costs remain lower.

It is also important to keep track of your horse's Body Condition Score (BCS).). If this score becomes too high, it means your horse is getting too much energy from the diet. The body stores excess energy as fat. Besides the fact that a high BCS is not beneficial for the horse’s health, it also means you're paying for nutrients which the body does not utilise. Therefore, keep a close eye on your horse's BCS to prevent unnecessary costs.

For the health of the digestive system, it’s important to provide the horse with multiple smaller portions or unlimited roughage throughout the day. Sometimes, however, it’s not possible to provide horses with unlimited or multiple small portions of roughage, or your horse may finish its portion too quickly. You should make sure horses don’t have to go too long without some roughage to chew on. In such cases, you can use a 'slow feeder' or hay bag to ensure your horse can make the most of a portion of roughage. This also prevents waste as horses are less likely to spill, and roughage won't mix with bedding.

Supplements are used to provide the horse with extra support that the basic diet may not sufficiently offer. Supplements can help fill nutritional gaps and provide the opportunity to tailor the diet to the individual needs of the horse.

To save costs on purchasing supplements, it’s important first to determine what kind of support your horse needs. Then, compare nutrient dosages in different supplements. Some supplements may be more expensive but have a better effect on the body due to the correct dosage, compared to a supplement with too low dosages. If the supplement doesn’t have the desired effect, it's a waste of money. Every horse owner wants the best for their horse, but avoid buying unnecessary supplements that your horse doesn’t need.

 Overall, consider what your horse needs daily and supplement it when necessary. Start with the basics and keep feeding simple and easy. By doing so, you'll save unnecessary costs.