Feeding Practices for Horses

Dr. Courtney Heaton from Mississippi State University Extension Equine discusses equine nutrition, focusing on grains, complete feeds, commercial mixes, textured feeds, ration balancers, and alfalfa. The video emphasizes the importance of feeding by weight, not volume, and provides guidelines for different feed types. It also highlights the need for grain analysis and offers contact information for further inquiries.

Why might some horses require grains or concentrates in their diet?

• Grains are cheaper than forage.

• Grains are easier to digest than forage.

• All horses need grains for energy.

• Some horses have higher metabolisms or need extra calories.

What is a key characteristic of a complete feed?

• It can be fed as the entire ration for horses with specific needs.

• It is only for young horses.

• It contains no moisture.

• It is always in a textured form.

What is a potential downside of feeding complete feeds?

• They are always more expensive than other feeds.

• Horses may miss the long stem forages they are used to.

• Complete feeds are not nutritionally balanced.

• They are only suitable for young horses.

What is a common concern with textured feeds?

• They are too dry for horses.

• They contain high levels of sugar and non-structural carbohydrates.

• They are not palatable for horses.

• They are difficult to store.

What is a benefit of commercial mixes?

• They are only for performance horses.

• They are always cheaper than other feeds.

• They contain no pellets.

• They provide consistent ingredients and are suitable for various nutritional stages.

What is a ration balancer designed for?

• To be fed in large quantities.

• To replace all forage in a horse's diet.

• To balance the diet of easy keepers with low feeding rates.

• To provide high calories for weight gain.

What is a characteristic of alfalfa pellets?

• They are a type of grain.

• They are only for horses with dental issues.

• They are always mixed with molasses.

• They can replace forage but may not satisfy the need for long stem forage.

Why is it important to feed horses by weight rather than volume?

• Volume is more accurate than weight.

• Weight ensures the horse receives the correct amount of nutrients.

• Volume is easier to measure.

• Weight is only important for young horses.

How can you ensure accurate feeding when using a coffee can?

• Weigh the feed using a scale after zeroing out the bucket weight.

• Estimate the weight based on volume.

• Only use the coffee can for water.

• Use a standard scoop instead.

What should you do if you have questions about feeding your horse?

• Only follow the instructions on the feed bag.

• Consult an extension specialist, equine nutritionist, or veterinarian.

• Guess based on what other horse owners do.

• Ignore any concerns unless the horse shows signs of illness.