Diets for Quarter-Mile Horses

The American quarter horse excels at sprinting for short distances. According to the American Quarter Horse Association, the name of the breed derives from the quarter horse's skill at outracing other horse breeds in quarter-mile races. Quarter horses have been clocked at speeds as fast as 55 mph. These horses are also used in rodeos, horse shows and as working ranch animals. The diet of the quarter horse differs from other horses based on what the horse does. For example, racing quarter horses have different nutritional needs than "pasture pal" quarter horses.

  1. Basic Feeding

    • Like all equines, quarter horses are natural grazers. Their wild ancestors grazed up to 22 hours a day, munching on grass, flowers and clover. The gut of the modern domesticated horse is still hardwired to digest grass all day long. Quarter-horse owners can expect their horses to eat between 1.5 and 2.5 percent of their body weight each day. For a 1,000-lb. horse, that's 15 to 25 pounds of hay and grass every day.

    Balancing Nutrients

    • Quarter horses have specific nutritional needs, just as humans do. They need water, protein, vitamins, minerals and high-energy food. Balancing your horse's diet depends on many factors, including the horse's age, weight and lifestyle. For example, the nutritional needs of a "pasture pal" quarter horse that performs only mild activities, such as daily grazing and short pleasure rides, can be met through a diet of alfalfa or timothy hay, supplemented by trace minerals and a consistently clean, fresh water supply.

    Performance Diets

    • Quarter horses are often used as working animals. Quarter horses employed in light or moderate work for up to five hours a day require up to 70 percent more feed than pasture pals. Increased hay feed should be supplemented with grain, along with vitamins and minerals. For example, a performance horse fed 15 lbs. of alfalfa hay daily should also consume at least 6 lbs. of grain every day. Horses that perform high intensity work rely on energy mainly from stored carbohydrates, which means they must be fed carb-rich food on a daily basis, in addition to increased feed similar to horses with lighter workloads. These horses require large portions of grain in addition to hay, water, and vitamin and mineral supplements. For exact calculations of feed intake, consult a veterinarian.

    Balancing Calories

    • Most quarter horses are easy keepers, which means they gain weight easily and thrive off smaller portions of feed. However, a quarter horse that begins to gain weight noticeably is at risk for many health problems, including colic and founder. Maintain a balanced diet for your quarter horse to keep him both happy and healthy. When balancing your horse's diet, you may want to ask your vet for recommendations, or if you have prior experience with horses, simply experiment with increasing and decreasing feed by a few pounds and observing the effects. However, hay intake should never be lower than 1 percent of your horse's body weight. That means a 1,000-lb. horse should consume at least 10 pounds of hay per day.

    Cold Weather

    • Weather has a significant impact on a quarter horse's diet. It's difficult for horses to maintain their weight in cold weather without an increase in feed. If rain and wind are common occurrences in the cold season, increasing feed is especially vital. For every 10 degrees of Fahrenheit below freezing, or 32 F, you should add 2 lbs. of extra hay each day. In windy and rainy climates, you can increase feed up to 15 extra pounds per day. Besides increasing your horse's caloric intake, be sure to also provide a warm, dry shelter and waterproof blanket when necessary.