Feeding and Watering Flashcards
Why is food needed by the horse?
- For maintenance of life, growth, energy and repair of tissue.
- To maintain body temperature, especially in the winter.
What are the main rules of feeding?
- Feed little and often
- Use clean utensils/bowls
- Feed an hour before exercise
- Feed good quality food
- Feed plenty of bulk
- Feed at same time each day
- Make no sudden changes in diet or routine
- Feed something succulent each day (eg, apple or carrot)
- Feed according to age, work, size and temperament
- Feed correct amount
- Access to clean, fresh water
Why should horses be fed little and often?
Horses have small stomachs and are called ‘trickle feeders’ as they naturally eat small amounts almost constantly. Too much food can cause colic or the stomach to rupture in severe cases, as they cannot be sick.
Why should horses be fed an hour before exercise?
If you feed directly before, too much food in the stomach will press against the lungs and impair breathing. It can also cause colic.
Why should horses be fed plenty of bulk?
Bulk is needed in order for the digestive system to work correctly and efficiently, as it slows down the rate of digestion, allowing food to be broken down properly and nutrients extracted. A horse who goes without feed overnight should be given bulk with their first feed.
Why should there be no sudden changes in diet or routine?
- Bulk is broken down in the large intestine, whereas the feed is digested by bacteria.
- Sudden changes will not give the appropriate bacteria time to adjust to the new feed, which will then be left undigested.
Why should horses be fed something succulent each day?
They help compensate for the lack of grass, and help provide vitamins and minerals.
Why should horses be fed the right amount of food?
- An obese horse will find it difficult to work properly, as the excess weight will put pressure on the heart or lungs.
- Underfeeding a horse can cause problems such as being malnourished, more susceptible to disease and infection, and lack of energy. Muscle and tissue repair will be reduced and the horse will be more prone to accidents and injuries.
Why should horses have constant access to water?
To help aid digestion. If a horse is denied water and then eats dry feed, the feed swells up when they next drink, causing colic. Dampening feeds helps to prevent this.
What are the two main categories of feed?
Forage and cereals
What is forage?
- Forage is high fibre and low starch feeds such as hay, haylage, grass and chaffs.
- Sugarbeet is also a type of forage and many feed companies produce fibre-based mixes or pellets.
- Forage is essential and should form the basis of any horse’s diet.
What are cereals?
- Cereals or concentrates are starch rich, energy-dense grains like oats, barley and maize.
- Many feed companies produce cereal-based feeds which can vary in energy levels.
- These are only needed by horses in significant work, who need to gain weight or have trouble maintaining condition.
Why is forage so important?
- Chewing forage also stimulates saliva production, so the more they chew the more saliva they produce. Unlike humans, horses continuously produce stomach acid. Saliva helps to buffer stomach acids and reduces the likelihood of stomach ulcers, which can be very painful and debilitating to a horse’s performance.
- Forage is also important for the function of the digestive system and is beneficial for the gut microflora.
- Ensuring your horse has a healthy gut boosts the absorption of nutrients as well as having positive effects on the immune system and helps to prevent colic.
What are oats?
- A cereal high in fibre, but lacks calcium and energy.
- They have a high starch level (57%), which is quickly released and only effects a minority of horses.
- Oats are usually plump and golden, they can be fed whole but are harder to digest. They are normally rolled, crushed, clipped or bruised.
- Stored for 3 weeks max, if they are discoloured, or look small and black, do not feed.
What is barley?
- Similar to oats but higher in carbohydrates.
- Lower in fibre than oats and also lacks calcium.
- It should be fed either bruised, flaked or micronized and heat treated, as this improves the digestibility without the loss of nutrients.
- Uncooked or whole barley is fat, round and golden in colour, and is either soaked overnight or boiled for at least 4 hrs.
- Barley is fattening and good to help put weight on a thin horse, but is high in energy and should not be fed on its own.
What is bran?
- High in fibre and high in protein, but some of the protein is indigestible.
- It has a laxative effect when mixed with water, so can be used for horses with colic, but it can also be fed to a horse with loose droppings dry to have a constipating effect.
- Bran has a high level of phosphorus and almost no calcium, whereas horses need a ratio of 2:1 calcium to phosphorus for bone growth and muscle function.
- Can be fed with limestone flour or sugar beet to replace the calcium deficiency.
- It is low energy, so can be fed to horses off work.
- It should be dry, floury crumbs. When stored for long periods, it can absorb moisture, making it sour and unfit for use.
What is linseed?
- Very small brown seeds, which comes from a flax plant and is highly poisonous if fed raw, so must always be cooked. Traditionally cooked for 15 mins and then let simmer for 2-3 hours but oil can be readymade in bottles.
- It has a high oil content which helps improve hoof condition and add coat shine.
- It is fattening so should be added sparingly.
- Lacks quality protein and lacks the amino acid lysine, which is needed for growth.
What are peas and beans?
- They are a feed high in protein and amino acids.
- They should not be fed whole but split and crushed to make them more digestible.
- They are fed in a mixture of other foods as they are too rich to be used alone.
What are molasses?
- A black treacle, which is extremely sweet and fattening.
- It is used to provide energy, good condition, and gives a shiny coat.
- It has a sweet taste and is useful for fussy eaters.
- Molasses is commonly mixed in with chaff and many compound feeds.
