How to Grain a Horse Before Working

Wild horses are designed by nature to exist on grass and forage. However, domesticated horses have a more demanding workload and sometimes need the extra energy provided by feeding grain, also known as "hard" or "concentrate" feed. The amount of feed required will vary according to the height, weight, breed and workload of your horse, and should be carefully calculated because over-feeding can lead to behavioral and health problems. Always leave at least an hour after feeding grain before you work your horse because horses have very delicate digestive systems. Working a horse will a full stomach can cause cramps which may lead to colic.

Things You'll Need

  • Weight tape
  • Bucket
  • Scales
  • Halter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your horse's weight. Stand it up squarely on a flat surface and pass the weight tape around its body just behind the front legs. Pull the tape sufficiently tightly that it just flattens the coat, and take the reading.

    • 2

      Calculate the amount of food required. As a rough guide, horses in medium work (trail riding, arena work) need around 2 pounds of food for every 100 pounds of body weight. Most of this food should be hay or other long forage such as alfalfa; only 20 to 40 percent should be grain. A horse weighing 1,000 pounds would need around 20 pounds of food a day, of which only 2-4 pounds should be grain.

    • 3

      Measure the food. It is always better to use a pair of scales to measure food, rather than a feed scoop or guesswork, to get a more accurate result. This is especially important if you are watching your horse's weight. Remember to reduce feed quantities if your horse is having less exercise than usual.

    • 4

      Split the grain into at least two meals a day, preferably three. A horse has a very small stomach for its size and is designed to "trickle feed," with forage constantly passing through its system. A large quantity of grain ingested all at once can cause blockages and gas that can lead to serious digestive problems.

    • 5

      Tie your horse up and place the bucket on the ground. Horses feed more naturally from ground level rather than a manger, and it allows them to stretch their neck muscles properly. Wait at least an hour before riding your horse, and always warm up slowly to give the horse a chance to settle.