Horse Diets: What are you feeding your horses? Do you feed them “whatever is cheapest” or “whatever is on sale”? Do you feed one thing during the summer, and switch to another feed for the cooler months? Are you feeding a GOOD QUALITY hay? Do you feed just once a day? Do you bounce from brand to brand?

All of these habits can be very dangerous for your horse. While the average adult horse, that is either a pasture ornament, or just used for an occasional pleasure ride, in good health can do well on a lower quality, cheaper priced feed, a young, old, or breeding horses needs a better source of nutrition.

Horses have a very small stomach when compared to their overall body size. Dumping large amounts of feed, as in feeding once a day, can over fill the stomach and lead to illness, even colic. A horses feeding routine should be consistent and should consist of at least two feedings a day of a concentrated feed product, while three is better, it’s not something that most of us can do.

Horses need access to quality grass or good quality hay throughout the day and evening. Studies have shown that the saliva produced when a horse eats helps to PREVENT gastric upset and ulcers. Stop by Arcola Feed and lets talk about your horse, horse diets, and what we can do to help your horse.