How to Feed Horses Naturally

Let your horse graze on as much good quality pasture as possible. Most of your horse's nutritional needs can be met solely through unlimited access to high-quality forage such as pasture grass. The constant grazing of small mouthfuls is beneficial to their digestive design, reducing the chances of colic or other digestive disturbances. Additionally, horses are moving almost constantly when they are grazing in this natural environment, which is also good for their digestion. If you question the quality of your pasture grass nutrition, send a sample to your county extension agent.

Provide unlimited access to clean, fresh water. Your horse will drink 10-12 gallons of water daily and should be able to easily find water at all times. When grazing in the wild, horses receive some supplemental moisture from the pasture grass or legumes such as clover and alfalfa, and gravitate toward a water source. A running water source, such as a stream, is better than a pond with standing water, but either one can be subject to contamination from animal feces or agricultural runoff such as pesticides or fertilizers. Most horse owners need to use stock tanks, even in large pastures. Change the water frequently, particularly in warm weather, or use techniques such as adding goldfish to preserve the water quality.

Scatter supplemental hay or alfalfa on the ground if your horse needs supplemental forage. If your pasture quality does not test to a nutritional standard for your horse, or if you need to add supplemental forage during winter months, try to mimic the horse's natural grazing instincts by spreading piles of hay on the ground. This allows the horse to eat "on the hoof," moving from one pile to the next, much as it would in a natural grazing environment. If your horse is stalled, remember that eating the hay off the ground is more natural to him than eating from an overhead feeder, which can also cause eye or respiratory irritation from falling chaff or dust.

Divide any necessary supplemental feedings into several feedings. Your horse may not be getting adequate nutrition or an adequate amount of forage on pasture alone. This is not uncommon for certain horses, especially working or competition horses. Remember, there are many skinny horses in the wild; fortunately, you have the ability to supplement your horse's food intake with additional hay or grain. Dividing this supplemental grain and hay into more frequent, smaller feedings throughout the day is better for the horse's digestive tract than one or two larger feedings and can reduce the chances of colic.

Supplement your forage with fruits and vegetables. Commercially prepared grain is always an option, but it is not the only option; horses naturally seek out available fruits and vegetables in the wild. If you are tracking the nutritional content of your forage, you can try fruits and vegetables that offer whatever additional support your horse might need. Some options include watermelon, which can also cool your horse down; mango, bananas, guava, pear, grapes, various berries and raisins. Remove any pits from such fruits as mangoes or cherries before feeding. Good vegetables to try include broccoli, green beans and -- of course -- carrots. Try a small sample to see if your horse likes it before incorporating on a regular basis.