Horses are extremely hardy animals, which by their nature are adapted to being on pasture for a long time and feeding on pasture. However, this does not mean that when keeping horses at home, attention should not be paid to their diet. Regardless of the purpose of the animal, be it a working horse, a sports horse or a breeding stallion, the diet should be developed in strict accordance with the physiological characteristics of the animal.

In this article we will look at the main types of feed that are used in horse nutrition, give examples of horse feeding rations, and the basic rules that should be followed when giving food to animals.

Feeding horses

Feeding horses is not particularly difficult if the animal owner follows certain rules for feeding the livestock (Figure 1).

1. A clear feed distribution schedule: It is desirable that the animal's digestive organs are occupied throughout the day. To do this, food must be given out often, but in small portions. In this case, the basis of the diet should be high-quality hay or meadow grasses, to which animals should have constant access. Feeding 3-4 times a day is considered optimal, since if there is a lack of food, the animal may develop an ulcer.
2. Constant chewing: physiologically, the horse is adapted to the fact that at any time of the day it has constant access to pasture on the pasture. When kept at home, it is also necessary to provide conditions under which the animal can constantly chew.
3. No sudden changes in diet: In the horse's intestines there are constantly microorganisms that are responsible for the digestion of a certain type of feed. In order not to disturb the microflora of the digestive system, animals should be transferred to new types of feed gradually, over two weeks. With a sudden change in diet, animals may experience intestinal disorders or metabolic disorders.
4. Access to water: The average daily water requirement of a horse is approximately 35 liters, but in the summer this figure may increase due to the heat. A sufficient amount of drinking water will help the animal maintain optimal body temperature and ensure proper transport of nutrients throughout the body. Therefore, animals must either be watered frequently or provided with constant free access to clean drinking water. In winter, drinking water must be heated.

Figure 1. Nutritional features of horses

In addition, when feeding horses, it is imperative to comply with sanitary and hygienic standards: monitor the quality of feed, the cleanliness of feeders and the health of the horses’ teeth. Only in this case will the animals not only remain healthy, but also productive.

Horse diet

The feeding ration is compiled individually for each horse, depending on the purpose of its use, age and physiological characteristics. However, there are general feeding standards that are acceptable for all animals (Table 1).

Note: The average horse weighs approximately 500 kg. To feed such an individual for a year you will need about 2 tons of oats, at least 4 tons of hay, 1 ton of carrots and approximately 500 kg of bran. The diet must include table salt (about 13 kg per year). Naturally, these figures look scary, but if you convert the annual ration figures into daily rations, the volumes of feed will not be so large.

As mentioned above, an adult horse needs to be fed 3-4 times a day, and it is better not to distribute food immediately before performing work or other physical activity. After eating, the animal must rest.

Table 1. Volumes of feed consumption depending on load

On average, one adult per day will need 5 kg of concentrated feed (for example, oats), up to one and a half kilograms of bran, 2-3 kg of succulent feed (beets, carrots or other root vegetables) and 10-15 kg of hay, to which animals must have constant access.

The nutritional characteristics of horses largely depend on the age, gender and physiological characteristics of the animals. However, the main thing that should be taken into account is the correct selection of the food products themselves (Figure 2).

Among the main feeds for horses are:

1. Green grass forms the basis of the diet in the warm season, when horses can freely eat pasture while grazing.
2. Roughage, which include hay, straw and chaff of spring crops. In this case, the main product is considered to be hay, to which animals must have constant access. In addition, it is advisable to prepare high-quality hay, which will serve as an excellent source of protein and beneficial microelements, thanks to which the animal will be strong, resilient and energetic. It is advisable to harvest hay in different fields and meadows so that the finished product contains a maximum of useful substances.
3. Concentrated feed- These are various grains. As a rule, oats are used to feed horses, but they can be supplemented with barley, corn and wheat to add variety to the diet.
4. Juicy feed are especially important during winter feeding. Animals can be given raw beets and carrots, as well as boiled potatoes.

In addition, it is advisable to include corn or sunflower silage in the diet, which is mixed with hay. However, this food is contraindicated in pregnant mares and sport horses.

Figure 2. Main feeds for horses (from left to right): green, roughage, concentrates, juicy

Certain differences also exist in the diet of animals depending on their purpose, age and physiological state. Next, we will look at nutritional recommendations for sport and working horses, breeding stallions and mares, and small foals.

Sports

The diet of sports horses is determined depending on the period of sport and the weight of the animal. For example, during rest the menu should be less intense than during training and competitions.

The diet of such horses is based on concentrates, high-quality hay, premixes and succulent feed, especially carrots. At the same time, all food products must be easily absorbed by the body and be of the highest possible quality.

On average, per day, one sports horse will need 7 kg of cereal-legume hay, 1 kg of grass meal and corn (can be replaced with other grains), 500 grams of molasses, 60 grams of table salt and 100 grams of special premixes for horses. During sports competitions associated with intense physical activity, the amount of molasses and grains in the diet is increased.

workers

The daily feed requirement of such horses depends not only on their weight, but also on the severity of the work performed. At the same time, the daily diet must necessarily include succulent, concentrated and roughage feed. For additional nutrition, premixes and feed yeast are included in the menu.

Depending on the severity of the work performed, a diet is also developed. As a rule, the higher the physical activity of the animal, the more concentrates it should be given, reducing the share of roughage. At maximum loads, 70% of the diet should be concentrates, and the rest should be roughage, succulent feed and nutritional supplements.

The average daily ration of a working horse with moderate physical activity should consist of 7 kg of hay, 5 kg of silage, 7 kg of haylage, 5 kg of oats or other grain, as well as 50 grams of premix and 40 grams of table salt.

Breeding mares and stallions

Pregnant and lactating mares must eat a special diet. This is due to the fact that food products must not only provide the adult with everything necessary, but also ensure the uniform development of the growing fetus.

Approximately, the diet of pregnant mares should consist of cereal-legume hay (3.5-4 kg for every 100 kg of live weight), a mixture of cereals (oats, barley and corn), 5-7 kg of root crops, 3-4 kg of silage and 1 kg of cake per day. In the last weeks of pregnancy, the amount of roughage should be reduced, and silage and legumes should be completely excluded from the diet.

If we talk about breeding stallions, their diet is also uneven throughout the year. During the period of sexual rest, it may be less intense, and during the mating period, the menu should include the maximum amount of foods that give strength and energy. For example, in winter, the basis of the diet (more than 55%) should be concentrated feed, which is supplemented with high-quality cereal-legume hay and succulent feed. In the summer, breeding stallions will be fully provided with the necessary nutrients when grazing freely on pasture.

During the breeding period, it is necessary to include food of animal origin in the diet: milk, meat and bone meal, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc., since these products significantly increase the quality of sperm and improve the results of insemination.

The food distribution schedule also plays an equally important role in feeding. During the breeding period, hay or green grass is given up to 6 times a day, and concentrates - 3-4 times a day. In this case, it is desirable that feed is dispensed at the same time.

Young animals

Immediately after birth, foals receive all the necessary nutrients from their mother's milk. However, for full development, young animals need minerals and other nutrients, so there must be a feeder with table salt in the room (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Nutritional characteristics of young animals

After the foal is weaned from its mother, it is gradually introduced to an adult diet. First, the young animals are given hay and green grass; later, flattened oats, cake and wheat bran are introduced into the menu. As you get older, you can also include sprouted oats, raw carrots and molasses in your diet.

Feeding horses in winter

The main difference between the winter diet and the summer diet is that animals cannot eat green grass, which forms the basis of nutrition in the warm season. In addition, as the weather gets colder, animals need additional energy to help maintain a stable body temperature.

Note: To provide the horses with everything they need, with the arrival of winter it is necessary to make some adjustments to the basic diet.

The main nuances that should be taken into account when feeding horses in winter are:

1. The basis of the diet should be bulky food, namely hay prepared from meadow grasses before flowering. You should not make hay in swampy areas because the plants growing there have a characteristic sour taste that can cause heartburn in animals. In addition, horses should not be fed clover hay, as this plant has a negative effect on the animals’ joints. It should also be taken into account that at least 6 weeks must pass between the time the hay is harvested and before feeding, so that the grass has time to dry completely.
2. Hay can be partially replaced with straw from oats or barley, but these products should only form a small part of the diet as they contain too few nutrients. To increase the nutritional value, it is advisable to chop the straw and mix it with grain concentrates.
3. If you use straw instead of hay, you must include fodder beets in your diet. However, no more than 8 kg of this root vegetable per adult should be given per day. To increase nutritional value, beets can be mixed with carrots, but before serving, all root vegetables must be thoroughly washed, peeled and chopped.
4. To replenish the body with energy, horses are given grains every day, in particular fully ripened and dried oats. As a substitute for this crop, crushed barley mixed with crushed corn and wholemeal flour can be used.

It is important that horses need a sufficient amount of clean drinking water not only in the summer heat, but also in winter. However, in order to prevent the development of colds, the water must be heated before dispensing and ensure that it does not freeze in the drinking bowls.

Feeding a horse at home: daily ration

The preparation of a daily diet for a horse is carried out individually, depending on the gender, age and purpose for which the animal is used. On average, with a light load, the daily menu of an adult should consist of 70% roughage and 30% concentrated feed (Table 2).

Table 2. Daily norms of necessary feed

To develop muscles and provide energy, the diet also includes soybeans and alfalfa, which contain large amounts of protein. In addition, these products contain fiber, which normalizes digestion, and calcium, which strengthens bones and teeth. However, it should be borne in mind that an excess of alfalfa can cause overload of the kidneys, so 1-2 kg of this product per day will be enough for one adult.

Calculating the daily intake of dry concentrated food is very simple. To do this, the horse's weight must be multiplied by 2%. The resulting number will correspond to the required daily amount of forage and grain concentrates. However, if the animal is subjected to intense physical activity, the weight should be multiplied by 2.5%. Green grass, hay and drinking water can be given in unlimited quantities, leaving them in feeders and drinkers throughout the day.

You will learn more about keeping and feeding horses from the video.

Owning a horse is the dream of many farmers, because it is not only an assistant, but also a true friend. However, with the onset of cold weather, this large animal can turn into a real whim, and you definitely need to be prepared for this. This article will reveal the main questions and problems that a novice farmer may encounter, and will also tell you how to avoid troubles and easily endure frosts.

Features of keeping a horse in winter

A horse is an animal that requires constant careful care, and especially in winter. At this time, all organisms are susceptible to disease and stress, so it is necessary to approach their maintenance during the cold season very carefully in order to avoid problems.

Stable preparation

The horse will spend most of its time in the stable, so the “house” must be well prepared.

Important! Poor ventilation and old hay can cause serious problems with the animal's respiratory system.

There are several basic rules that must be followed in winter when arranging a home for a horse:

• it should be a warm, spacious, well-groomed, well-ventilated place;
• bedding (straw or hay) must be changed daily;
• get rid of all unnecessary or dangerous objects (sharp corners, nails, hanging lamps).

Proper care

In the cold season, you need to take into account the seasonal needs of your pet, so for good health in the cold season you need to:

• walk him at least 6 hours a week;
• if necessary, additionally cover with special blankets;
• brush the fur regularly (helps the blood flow and warm the animal);
• change food and water daily;
• Hay should be added every day (the more often the better).

Did you know? Scientists have proven that the biofieldhorsescan relieve stress and diseases of the nervous system. Many psychologists practice horse therapy as the best way to get rid of depression.

If it is not possible to go out for walks often, the horse needs to be entertained with something: your attention, toys, treats.

Feeding in winter

A balanced diet and clean water are the key to strong immunity and health of your pet. In winter, the body requires a special diet to replenish the energy spent on heating.

Subtleties of nutrition

The winter diet has its own characteristics, so do not forget to include the following foods and supplements:

1. More hay. Dry grass should be in unlimited access for constant chewing: firstly, it will warm the animal; secondly, it is a kind of entertainment for the horse. Adding oats and barley (straw) will be a big plus.
2. Fresh vegetables. Beets and carrots should be a must-have daily supplement. Wash the root vegetables well and cut into cubes. Daily portion - 5-7 kg.
3. Cereals. This type of nutrition saturates the body with energy and warms the body.
4. Vitamin supplements. In winter, it is very important to add vitamins to the food: fish oil, yeast.

A medium-sized horse (500 kg) per day should receive 8-10 kg of hay, 5 kg of dry grass, 7 kg of vegetables, 4 kg of grain + vitamin supplements and three drinks a day.

Watering rules

Watering is one of the most important points in the winter diet, and it must also be treated responsibly:

• water the horse at least 3 times a day (20-40 l);
• water must be clean and at optimal temperature (8-15°) and in constant access, since the animal absorbs large amounts of dry food.
• Give electrolytes (water with mineral supplements) to drink, which replenish the energy expended during hard work.

Possible winter problems

Winter is a time of seasonal illnesses not only for people, but also for animals, so it is necessary to be especially careful about horses.

Winter blues

Blues in horses primarily manifests itself in behavioral disturbances.

During the period of exacerbation, the animal acquires so-called bad habits:

• begins to chew on stalls;
• kicks with its hooves and hits everything it can reach;
• an air bite appears (the animal swallows air through the larynx and literally grunts).

This behavior is often the reason that the animal is bored and has little room to splash out a huge amount of horse energy.

Many people consider this condition to be harmless, but this is a big misconception. Manifestations of blues can lead to dental problems, colic (from excessive gas formation) and injuries.

Important! In order to avoid boredom, the horse needs to be entertained with something. Horse- an animal that requires constant communication with humans. He needs to devote a lot of time, and during his absence, provide him with special toys.

Getting rid of the blues is much more difficult than preventing it. But if your pet is still sad, it means he doesn’t have enough attention.
You can entertain your horse in the following ways:

• increase walking hours;
• add more hay (the horse will chew and be distracted);
• supply the stable with toys;
• find friends for your pet (horses in neighboring stalls);
• devote more time to the animal (combing, stroking, talking affectionately).

Respiratory disease

One of the most common problems is respiratory disease. And this also applies to horses.

The causes of such diseases are:

• dampness (molds in the hay and surroundings);
• dust and dirt;
• insufficient ventilation.

If your horse begins to wheeze and cough, contact your veterinarian immediately. In most cases, the doctor prescribes treatment with antibiotics, changing the animal's living conditions to more favorable ones (improved ventilation, clean environment). Lack of proper treatment can lead to disastrous consequences.

Colic

Colic, unfortunately, is also a common problem. The disease itself appears due to a lack of fluid in the body, which contributes to the stagnation of food in the intestines.

Most often, a veterinarian will help get rid of colic on the spot. However, in advanced cases there is a possibility of surgical intervention.

Injuries

Winter is the most traumatic time of the year, as there is a high probability of falls on slippery surfaces. The time has come to “shoe” the horse in special winter horseshoes. They have spikes, which significantly reduces the risk of falling.

Regular winter walking is important, as stagnation can cause injury. As soon as the horse gets freedom, out of habit he will want to warm up, and he can easily overdo it. Constant muscle activity is the key to their health.

Features of winter driving

When it comes to winter riding a horse, the most often asked questions are how to prepare the animal for a walk and how to “cool down” its hot muscles before returning to the stall.

Our ancestors believed that if a horse lies down on the snow, it will not lead to anything bad. On the contrary, such behavior was regarded as a sign of the speedy arrival of spring.

Preparing to ride

So, it's time for a walk, but before you leave, you need to prepare for the upcoming winter run.

Proper preparation of a horse for a walk consists of the following steps:

1. Warming up the reins(using a special gel or boiling water). Cold iron will simply stick to the animal's oral mucosa.
2. Hoof cleaning. At the end of the procedure, it is necessary to treat the surface with oil or Vaseline to prevent a snowball from forming on them.
3. Warm up. It is necessary to warm up both the horse and yourself before winter riding.
4. Artificial heating. Some short-haired breeds need to be covered with special blankets (blankets).

Direction while driving

During winter walks, the location of the ride is important. It is advisable that this be a proven area or a place with a good overview. The snow height should not exceed 5 cm.

There are contraindications for travel:

1. Ice. Even a horseshoe with a rubber tread does not fully guarantee that a horse will not fall on ice, especially when running.
2. Deep snow. It can hide holes, stumps and other obstacles underneath.
3. Wet slopes. The horse will easily slip and fly down along with the rider.
4. Dirt, a large amount of which can hide dangerous objects. This can cause you to slip or get loaded.

Horse cooling

After a run, a hot animal should not be immediately sent to the stall.

Before feeding the horse and leaving it in the stable, you need to let it cool down by following these steps:

1. Check ear temperature. They should be warm. If they are hot, you need to lead the horse a little so that they cool down.
2. Dry the wool. Using a towel, just ruffle the surface of the body (this will help the moisture evaporate faster).
3. Remove snow from fur and hooves. Lubricate the horseshoes with Vaseline again.
4. Comb the fur. This will promote blood flow and warm the animal.
5. Short-haired horses must cover with a special natural blanket.

So, caring for animals in winter is always a troublesome task, because during this cold season they need more warmth, vitamins and attention.

But if you follow simple rules (some are described above) and devote maximum free time to your pet, then no winter can harm the health of the horse.

The horse is a herbivore, adapted for long periods of time on pasture. Its feeding should correspond as much as possible to its morphological characteristics and be of high quality and easily digestible. Let's look at the basic rules:

1. Regularity. This is one of the main rules of animal nutrition. In this case, food juices will be produced at a certain time, and food will be easily digested. Feeding “as necessary” often causes diseases of the stomach and intestines.

2. Rest after feeding. Ideally, rest should last at least an hour and a half before and after meals.

3. Sequence and distribution of feed. First they feed hay (straw), then succulent feed and grain. It is better to give half of the daily amount of roughage at night, the second half is divided equally into morning and afternoon feeding.

4. Water. The animal should be given water at least three times a day. The daily need for water is 35-45 liters. Please note that in the hot season it increases by one and a half to two times. Never give cold water to a sweaty and tired horse!

5. Hygiene. It is important to keep feeders clean and use high quality feed.

Choosing feed for a horse

A horse is an animal for which the quality and composition of its feed is extremely important. Its range has recently expanded significantly, but many owners prefer to use traditional feed: hay, silage, oats, straw. For feeding horses, grass granules, root vegetable processing products, briquettes, mixed feed, vitamin mixtures, etc. are produced. Each owner decides for himself whether they should be included in the horse’s daily diet.

Of the roughage feeds, it is considered the best meadow and cereal-legume hay. High quality hay is an excellent source of nutrients. Feed of this type in small volumes (up to 10 kg) is fed without preliminary cutting. If there is more hay or straw, it is recommended to cut them up and mix them with concentrated feed (oats, wheat, peas, cake, etc.)

In winter, hay makes up up to 50% of a horse's daily diet. These products should not be overused if the horse is a working horse.

Some horse owners use hay from different fields for feeding. This allows you to diversify the composition of herbs.

Straw- roughage that can replace hay. It is low in protein, but quite high in fiber. Oat, corn and millet straw is suitable for horses; it must be mixed with hay in cuts not exceeding 2 cm.

Chaff It is superior to straw in the content of useful substances. It is fed moistened or steamed or mixed with other succulent foods.

The best concentrated feedstuff is oats. It can be included in the daily diet without mixing. Oatmeal feed is quickly digested, has a beneficial effect on digestion, and contains a lot of protein and B vitamins. Animals with good teeth can be fed whole grains; horses with bad teeth and young animals are given crushed or flattened oats. Other types of feed grains must be crushed. Barley, rye, wheat, and corn are well suited for feeding horses.

The preferred legume for horses is peas or vetch. Such feed should be given only in crushed, flattened or ground (coarse) form, but not more than 2 kg. per day.

Juicy feed ( tubers and root vegetables) perfectly complement the diet, they contain up to 90% water, little protein, but enough vitamins, microelements and fiber. For feeding, carrots, sugar beets (especially useful for working horses and lactating mares), and potatoes are used. They are pre-washed and crushed, sometimes mixed with other feed. Potatoes can be steamed or boiled. Feeding horses with sprouted, low-quality potatoes is not allowed.

Horses are also well suited for this type of feed: sugar beet molasses. This product goes well with roughage, increasing its taste. Working horses are given molasses (no more than 1.5 kg), after diluting it with 4-5 liters of water.

Often used from succulent feed corn or sunflower silage. It should be given to the horse mixed with hay.

Good to use in winter and early spring haylage. This is green grass preserved with carbon dioxide. In terms of nutritional value, haylage is comparable to hay and is close to green grass in terms of sugar content. Haylage is readily eaten by animals and in winter can replace half the daily requirement of hay.

Green food used in the warm season. To avoid digestive upset, the horse is gradually transferred to grass feed; first, it is better to feed freshly cut grass without taking the animal out to pasture. Do not feed stale green matter and grass with frost.

A source of protein, phosphorus and B vitamins are bran. This is a good feed for all age groups of horses. The daily norm of wheat and rye bran for horses is up to 4 kg.

Compound feed for feeding horses are factory mixtures consisting of several components that are combined depending on the age group. Divided into:

• full-feed
• concentrates
• feed additives.

In small quantities, as vitamin supplements, can be fed to horses corn, flax, soybean and other cakes and meals, containing a lot of protein and the essential amino acid lysine. Flaxseed cakes are often included in the diet of breeding and sport horses for shiny coats.

Good energy supplement for working horses – dried pulp. It is pre-soaked in water in a ratio of 1:4.

If there is a lack of protein, sick and weakened horses and young animals are given animal feed ( meat and bone meal, fish meal, skim milk, etc.). They are necessary for a balanced diet, taking into account the average daily needs of the horse.

Sources of vitamins and microelements in a horse’s diet include:

• salt (30-60 grams per day)
• chalk (up to 60 grams per day)
• bone flour. Added only in case of lack of calcium and phosphorus in the diet (up to 110 g per day)
• dicalcium phosphate (for calcium and phosphorus deficiency) and disodium phosphate (for phosphorus deficiency)
• fish fat
• ordinary yeast
• premixes for horses. A mixture of vitamins and microelements to enrich diets.

Approximate daily diet

An average adult horse eats about 2 tons of oats, 5 tons of hay, half a ton of bran, 1 ton of succulent feed, 13 kg per year. salt. Thus, the approximate daily ration of a horse weighing 500-600 kg is:

• 10-15 kg. hay
• 5 kg concentrated feed
• 1-1.5 kg. bran
• 2-3 kg of succulent food.

Feeding working horses

The daily feed requirement for working horses is determined depending on the body weight and the amount of work the horse does (light, medium and heavy work).

Horses' daily diet includes roughage, concentrated and succulent feed. Yeast and premixes are suitable additives. The harder the work, the less roughage is given, and the component of concentrates reaches 70%.

The approximate feeding ration for working horses is 7 kg. hay, 7 kg. haylage, 5 kg. silage, 5 kg. oats, 50 g additives (premix), 40 g salt.

Approximate structure of the diet of working horses

rude	juicy	concentrates
Work performed	% daily feed requirement
		50-60

Feeding sport horses

Feeding of such horses depends on the body weight of the animal and the sporting period (rest, preparation, competitions). The basis of nutrition for sports horses is concentrates, hay, carrots and premixes. Feed must be of good quality and easily digestible. An approximate diet consists of 7 kg of hay (cereals and legumes), 1 kg. corn, 1 kg grass flour, 400-500g. molasses, 100 g premix, 60 g salt. During the competition period, the amount of molasses and concentrated feed is increased.

Feeding mares

Feeding pregnant and lactating mares has its own characteristics. An approximate diet is: hay (grain and legumes, 3.5-4 kg per 100 kg of live weight), a mixture of concentrated feed (40% oats, 35% barley, 25% corn), 1 kg of cake, 5-7 kg of carrots and beets, 3-4 kg of silage. In the last weeks of pregnancy, the amount of roughage and succulent food is reduced, and silage and legumes are replaced with other food or excluded from the diet.

Feeding foals

Early foals receive the necessary substances from their mother's milk. At this time, the need for minerals arises, so the foal should have free access to a feeder with salt. The turning point is weaning from the mother. The diet includes hay, flattened oats, wheat bran, and cakes. It is useful to give molasses, sprouted oat grains, and carrots. As the foal grows, its diet is changed to meet its nutritional requirements.

Proper feeding of horses ensures their high performance and high reproductive rates.

Feeding is also of great importance in horse breeding. It is necessary to strictly observe the standards for feeding horses, to correctly prepare feeding rations, which, in combination with good maintenance, care and training, are one of the main conditions for raising high-quality breeding horses.

How to organize proper feeding of horses? To ensure proper feeding of horses, it is important to determine the amount and composition of feed. A properly formulated feed ration should consist of varied and high-quality feed containing the necessary proteins, minerals and vitamins. When preparing a diet, preference should be given to those feeds in which the feed unit is cheaper.

Feeding standards for horses. Feeding rates are determined in accordance with the live weight of the horse and the nature of the work.

For each feed unit, the diet of working horses should contain at least 70 g of digestible protein, 4-5 g of calcium, 4-5 g of phosphorus and 10-15 mg of carotene. The need of working horses for table salt (in addition to that contained in feed) is approximately 30-50 g per head per day.

A horse weighing 400-500 kg, working with a normal load, with an oat-hay diet drinks 4-5 buckets (40-50 l) per day, and in hot weather - 7-8 buckets (70-80 l) of water; when feeding freshly cut grass - in hot weather, 4-5 buckets (40-50 l) of water.

Feeding standards should reflect, to the greatest possible extent, the actual need of animals for nutrients, while creating the prerequisites for increasing the productivity of the horse and reducing the cost of feed per unit of work performed by it. Feeding standards should be clarified for each individual animal, in accordance with its individual characteristics, in order to prevent a decrease in the fatness and productivity of the animals.

Feeding order. Horses are usually fed 3-4 times a day; work horses used for heavy work up to five times.

The horse is given water at least three times a day, and in extreme heat - four. Pregnant uteruses should not be given cold water to drink in order to prevent abortions. You should also not give water to horses that are hot at work. Before drinking water, they are allowed to stand for 1-2 hours. It is forbidden to water horses if they have just eaten clover, alfalfa or other legumes.

The feeding order is as follows: first the horse is given roughage, then it is given water, succulent feed and then oats. The established feeding hours and the order of food distribution can only be changed if absolutely necessary.

All horses, without exception, are given salt. It is best to place lick salt in the feeders.

Feeding pregnant mares. During the first half of pregnancy, mares are fed in the same way as working horses. From the second half of foaling, they are given one feed unit for fetal development, and 3 months before foaling - 2-3. From the second half of pregnancy, mares are given less roughage (no more than 2 kg per 100 kg of live weight) and are not given much protein-rich feed. It is better to exclude straw from the diet completely. Hay for pregnant mares is of the best quality. It is very useful to introduce root vegetables into the diet - red carrots or fodder beets. A good remedy to prevent abortion is sprouted grain.

In winter, pregnant mares not used for work are released into bases or levadas, and are also given a walk in the steppe at a distance of 5-6 km at a pace. In spring, pregnant mares are provided with better grazing. 2 weeks before the foaling, walking in levadas or grazing of brood mares is stopped and replaced with “hand-on” reining for at least 2-3 hours a day.

Feeding suckling mares. In the first months after foaling, a working mare produces 8-10 liters, a trotting mare 10-12 liters and a heavy mare 12-18 liters of milk per day. Milk feed (red carrots, beets) and protein-rich feed (bean hay, bran, cake) are introduced into the suckling mare's diet. In spring and summer, suckling mares are grazed on the most abundant pastures, but pasture grass is not enough for suckling mares, and they should be fed with concentrates, giving at least 2-3 kg per head per day.

Feeding stud stallions. Stud stallions must always be in a stud body. They should not be allowed to become either emaciated or obese. Both of these negatively affect the stallion’s sexual energy and the quality of the semen.

Producers are fed less abundantly during the pre-breeding period; during mating, they increase the amount of concentrates and diversify the feed ration by introducing bran, millet or peas into it. Valuable stallions are given 5-10 eggs and cow's milk per day. It is necessary to introduce carrots into the diet of producers, and green grass in summer. It is necessary to organize grazing of stallions in levadas with sown grass, at least 3-4 hours a day. If it is not possible to organize a walk, the stallions are given a ride at least once a day for at least an hour or used for light work.

Breeding producers with a live weight of 450-500 kg during the breeding period are recommended to be given 9-10 feed units and 0.9-1 kg of digestible protein per day.

In summer, stallions are given 25-35 kg of green grass, reducing the amount of hay by 5-6 kg.

Feeding the young. Feeding sucklings and weanlings. The first period of growth of the organism is the most favorable period for the targeted rearing of young animals. Therefore, the best results are obtained by abundant feeding of young animals under the age of 1 year. From the second month of life, the suckling is fed oats, preferably rolled oats. In the first days, they give 0.3-0.5 kg per head; at weaning, the amount is increased to 2.5-3.5 kg per day.

It is better to feed foals separately from mares, for which purpose the queens are tied in a stall. A special base is built on the pasture to feed foals. At 6-7 months of age, foals are weaned from their mothers.

Weanlings are given the best feed available on the farm.

In late and warm autumn, you need to use autumn pasture.

When transferring to stall housing, weanlings are given carrots, alfalfa, clover or good steppe-cereal hay, oats (rolled) and bran. Young animals need to be fed 3-5 times a day.

Corn is a valuable feed crop for horses. Corn must be used as grain, succulent (silage) and green fodder.

Hay for horses began to be usedat the beginning of the 1st millennium AD, and this became a significant milestone in the maintenance of maned assistants. After all, before this, horses could only be used where grass grew all year round. And the introduction of hay into the horse’s diet made it possible to use these animals, for example, in Northern Europe, which means that people could move great distances and fight effectively.

What is hay and how is it prepared for horses?

Hay is one of the most important components of a horse's diet.

Hay is grass that is cut in the summer, then dried and stored until the next harvest. The grass is dried to such an extent that it does not mold. Thanks to this, hay can be stored indoors without special packaging.

An important property of hay for horses is the amount of water that it binds in the digestive tract. Approximately 2.5 - 3.5 liters of water per 1 kg of hay. A similar phenomenon is associated with chewing and mixing hay particles with digestive juices and saliva. This fluid is the horse's internal water supply.

Why do you soak hay for a horse?

Hay is quite difficult to make. It needs to be dried in the field for several days before being baled or rolled. But in countries with frequent rains, this is problematic, and if the hay gets damp in the field, mold fungi grow in it. They do not necessarily cause illness, but can provoke respiratory allergies, especially if such hay is fed in a stall that is poorly ventilated.

Hay that has been piled wet also needs extra attention because bacterial activity causes the temperature of the hay to rise. It harbors molds that infect the horse's respiratory tract, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exogenous allergic alveolitis in humans.

To rid the hay of dust consisting of mold spores, it is soaked. During soaking, mold spores and dust are either washed out of the hay or, once wet, stick to the grass stems, so that the horse does not inhale them, but swallows them.

Soaking hay is not easy; it requires a large tank and a lot of water. And in winter, the water also freezes, so it’s very unpleasant to tinker with such hay. In summer, the water deteriorates quite quickly, as the nutrients that get into it from the hay decompose. Therefore, the water used for soaking hay should not be poured near rivers or wells - it pollutes the environment.

As for the time for soaking hay, some believe that 10 minutes is enough, and some keep the hay in water for a day. Studies show that the optimal time is 30 minutes, although sometimes it is necessary to soak the hay for evening feeding in the morning.

Keep in mind that as a result of soaking, some nutrients are washed out of hay, such as proteins and sugar, and its nutritional value is reduced.

Which hay is best for a horse?

Hay can be used for seed or meadow hay.

Seed hay is a mixture of grasses that were specially sown for the preparation of this type of feed. The most commonly used are ryegrass, timothy and perennial ryegrass, or a mixture of these. This hay is quite coarse and has relatively few nutrients.

Meadow hay is harvested on special pastures and contains a greater variety of grasses than seed hay. Therefore, the nutritional value of meadow hay is slightly higher than that of seed hay.

How much hay does a horse eat?

The amount of hay is individual for each horse.

An approximate calculation of the amount of daily feed is 2 – 2.5% of the horse’s weight, and the ratio of hay and concentrates varies depending on the load the horse bears. However, this is only an approximate figure.

Some horses eat 10 kg of hay a day, while some don't eat 20 kg.

Ideally, access to hay should be constant. However, if you see that your horse is eating a lot and gaining excess weight, the amount of hay he eats can be limited by installing so-called slow feeders. Thanks to the small cells of these devices, the horse does not remain hungry, but receives hay constantly, but in small portions.

Slow feeders can also be a good solution if the horse is not so much eating the hay as trampling it.