Hay for Horses Ц A Nutritional Aspect

Articles on Horses | Topics: horses, horse, equestrian

by Caltha Stuart

Feeding the horse is something not to be taken lightly. It is very important to be sure you know what you are feeding your horses.

This article is about hay for horses-a nutritional aspect.

For the horse that spends six out of seven days in the pasture or paddock, with little to no exercise, the hay you feed him is very important. If the hay you feed has high alfalfa content, then it will be high in protein. If you choose to feed him grass hay, with about a quarter of that being alfalfa, this would be the better choice for him.

For the horse who is worked more frequently will need the higher alfalfa or protein content to keep his energy up to perform his best.

When you purchase hay, it is imperative that you know what you are buying. Check the hay for signs of mold or mildew, as either one will make your horse sick if he ingests it. Dust is another factor in choosing hay. Dusty hay will give a horse heaves, which is the human comparison to emphysema. This will make it hard for your horse to breath and will make him cough. Sometimes, the cough will become so bad, that he cannot be ridden or driven, as any exertion will cause him to cough as he breathes harder.

Once you locate good hay from a seller, it is important to maintain a good relationship with that seller to ensure you continue to get the best hay. Hay for horses-a nutritional aspect, goes a long way in making sure you get the most for your dollar and for your horse. Horses should be fed good-quality hay at least twice a day, with more acceptable feeding being four times a day. Horses have small stomachs, which is why they graze. They don't eat huge amounts, then digest, and then eat another huge meal. They eat in small amounts, frequently.

Good quality hay will keep your horse's digestive system functioning well. As the body works to digest the hay, the fiber in it, along with the digestion process will aid in keeping your horse warm.

аHistorical Quote

The poet alone knows astronomy, chemistry, vegetation, and animation, for he does not stop at these facts, but employs them as signs. He knows why the plain, or meadow of space, was strewn with these flowers we call suns, and moons, and stars; why the great deep is adorned with animals, with men, and gods; for, in every word he speaks he rides on them as the horses of thought.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

Hay can be fed all year around if you choose to supplement your horse with it and have him on grass pasture at the same time, if both are available to you. If you do not have access to grass pasture, it is completely acceptable to feed hay each day.

Some people choose to feed large round bales to their horses, if you don't mind the mess, they work well and they also eliminate some of the work associated with feeding several times a day. This is fine and the horses like the free choice grazing option it gives them. It is important to feed that same hay for horses-a nutritional aspect, consistently. Horses have sensitive stomachs, which do not take well to abrupt changes in their diets.

Colic is very prevalent among horses. It is in a sense, a bad stomachache in horses, caused by many factors. One of the most common factors is to change the horse's diet abruptly. If you need to change your horse's diet, it is important to do so gradually, so as to prevent colic. Once a horse has colic, he will be more likely to colic again.

Some people have the notion that alfalfa is bad for horses. From the standpoint of hay for horses-a nutritional aspect, alfalfa is indeed very good for horses of any working level. Excess of anything is not good. Feeding free choice hay is never an issue; a horse will not and cannot eat himself sick on hay. Free choice hay is a very good option for feeding, but don't let it stop you from tending to your horse and making those everyday check ups on him.

Small square bales of hay, whether it is grass, alfalfa, clover, timothy, or otherwise are easy to handle and easy to store and transport. The hay you feed your horse is as important as the water you give him. One is no more important than the other.

You will need to step back and analyze your horse's needs and from there, make a determination about hay for horses-a nutritional aspect, which type is best for him. If you have further questions, it's best to seek the advice of your veterinarian.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Hay for Horses Ц A Nutritional Aspect" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by DogsPetsCats.com.

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