About Horse Feed Nutrition

Horses in the wild get all of the nutrients they need through grazing and drinking water. However, because of the limited access kept horses have to natural foods, these nutrients need to be provided through commercial feeds, hay and possibly supplements.

  1. Water

    • Horses generally drink about 10 to 12 gallons of water a day, and a horse should always have access to clean, fresh water.

    Salt

    • Horses should also have free access to salt at all times.

    Roughage

    • Roughage consists of hay, grass, alfalfa cubes, or pellets and chopped hay (or chaff); this is necessary in the horse's diet to keep the digestive tract working well.

    Energy

    • Horses get their energy from carbohydrates, fats and proteins, adequate amounts of which are usually provided in commercial horse feeds designed specifically for your horse's lifestyle. Horses involved in light work, for example, need less protein than a lactating mare, growing foal or high-performance horse.

    Minerals

    • The important minerals and vitamins for horses are calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium, which most horses can get from grazing and sunlight. Deficient minerals and vitamins can be provided in commercial horse feeds or supplements.