Diet Plan for My Light Working Horse

Proper diet is an essential part of protecting the health of your horse. Whether your horse is in active competition or just used for light riding, it is important to follow a sensible feeding regimen. There are many commercial horse feeds to choose from and many more custom blends that be ordered. When choosing a feed for your horse, it is important to consider a number of factors, including the age of your horse, the type of work he is being asked to perform and any underlying health conditions that may exist.

  1. Provide Quality Forage

    • Horses are natural grazers, and it is important for horse owners to make sure their equine companions have plenty of quality hay available. In fact, hay should form the foundation of your horse's diet, especially if your horse is only used for light work and riding. When choosing hay, be sure to examine the bales carefully--fresh hay will have a pleasant aroma and not contain a lot of dust. If you notice a bad smell or lots of dust, your hay could be moldy, and that mold could harm your horse. Light riding horses should have access to good grass or Timothy hay, while harder working horses can benefit from Alfalfa hay.

    Pasture Feeding

    • If you have access to good pasture, it is a good idea to allow your horse to graze at will. Grass and other roughage should form a large part of your horse's diet. If grass is not available, good-quality hay can be a suitable substitute, but, if you can seek out good pasture, it will be well worth the trouble. Just be sure to introduce your light riding horse to pasture slowly if he has been eating only hay. Horses who overindulge on lush fresh grass can suffer from colic--a potentially life-threatening condition.

    Top Quality Feed

    • While forage like hay and grass are vital to your horse's good health, most light riding horses will need some additional food in the form of grain. When choosing a commercial feed for your horse, be sure to consider the age of your horse as well as how he is used. If your horse is over 15 years old, a top-quality senior feed may be a good choice. Senior feeds are designed to be more easily digestible. Protein content is another important consideration for the light-use horse. Horses who are used for only light riding will need a feed with a protein content between 10 to 14 percent, while horses who perform more strenuous tasks will need a feed with a higher protein content to keep their muscles in top shape.