Feeding Horses.

This research finds that the most effective feeding of horses to maintain their health and work capacity involves a balanced regimen of food, grooming, stable quality, and a nutritious diet that includes hay and oats. The discussion addresses proper feed quantities and potential issues from overfeeding as well as the premature death of horses due to overwork.

Feeding Importance

• The researcher emphasizes the importance of feeding horses a high-nutrient diet in small quantities due to their relatively small stomach sizes compared to other animals. The horse’s dietary requirements are especially important when they are performing hard work.
• The primary recommendation for their diet includes hay and oats, which are high in nutritional value and can be compactly presented for the horse’s consumption. For aged horses or those that eat rapidly, bruised oats are suggested.
• The daily quantity of oats required by a horse performing hard work in good condition is around twenty pounds. However, this quantity can vary depending on the horse’s appetite and work load.

Negative Impacts of Overfeeding and Overworking

• The research also identifies the harm of overfeeding and overworking horses. While feeding more may initially increase the horse’s work output, consistent overfeeding can lead to health problems and potentially premature death.

Alternative Foods

• The researcher examines the value of other foods as well. For example, Indian corn can be a cheap and worthy addition to oats, given it’s used in a ratio of one-to-six. However, its downside is that it may cause sluggishness in the bowels, but this can be counteracted by adding an equivalent proportion of bran in the diet.
• Beans, despite their heating tendency, can supplement oats because of their high nutrition content. However, they are primarily recommended for hard-worked, older horses above seven years.

Additional Considerations

• The research stresses that horses cannot be maintained on a grain diet alone. Their stomachs also require a certain level of physical distention to function properly, which can be achieved by feeding hay or straw. The recommended allowance for this is about 20 pounds per day.