Instructions
Allow the horse to eat feed and hay alongside his mother before he is weaned. Horses who are accustomed to eating feed and hay before being weaned are more likely to easily adjust to being weaned and lose less weight in the process.
Avoid setbacks at weaning time by having the foal eat the same feed and hay as he did with his mother. You can slowly change his feed to a higher quality by mixing the feed a little at a time. Slowly add in more of the new feed until it completely replaces the old feed.
Use a safe feeder for the young horse. Horses, especially young horses, can get hurt on almost anything. Use a feeder made of smooth material without sharp corners, screws or bolts to catch on their skin. Feeders placed on the ground are best, allowing the horse to eat with their head down in a natural position.
Keep young horses separated when feeding. If several horses are allowed to eat together, you won't know how much feed each horse is getting. Some may be getting too much which can lead to colic or other digestive problems.
Feed foals a good quality feed with a protein percentage of at least 12 percent. Higher protein amounts can be fed if the horse is fed low quality hay. Special feeds are made for young horses that contain all of the nutrients and vitamins the young horse needs.
Give the young horse access to good quality hay or grass at all times. Alfalfa hay is high in protein and should be fed in small amounts. Too much protein in the hay and feed can combine to overload the horse. If the feed is a lower protein, alfalfa hay can be a good supplement.
How to Feed a Growing Horse
Feeding horses can quickly become a science when trying to figure out the correct ratios and percentages. Feeding a growing foal is even more important to get right because what he eats now can affect his entire life. Learn how to properly feed a growing horse by following these steps.