Feeding Management Techniques for Horses Presentation Part 6: Other Factors #8895-E

Other Factors Regularly examine horse manure to look for changes in: – Consistency – Odor – Color – Composition May indicate a disorder

Other Factors When closely confined, may crave unnatural feeds If fed pelleted or cubed rations with no hay, they may decide to: – Chew wood – Eat hair – Eat Dirt

Other Factors Foals have more of a tendency to chew the tails of their mothers or eat manure than older horses Foals can easily get internal parasites from eating eggs found in manure

Other Factors Internal parasites: – Lower digestive efficiencies – Cause digestive disturbances Colic Diarrhea External parasites need to be controlled Use a lot of energy to fight them off

Summary Some horses digest & use nutrients better than others Others do not get as much out of their feed Each must be looked at individually – May get too fat or too thin

Summary Tend to congregate Social animals If fed in groups, there are basic management techniques Will eat feed from a variety of ways

Summary In the pasture, horses naturally eat from the ground In the stall, the feed may become contaminated with: – Dirt – Manure – Urine

Summary Keep stalls, feed troughs, & water clean to prevent horse from developing digestive disorders Horses should be fed at the same time two to three times daily depending on amount of exercise or work

Summary Special considerations and observations should be made of: – Foals – Pregnant – Nursing – Older horses Rations changed gradually – Too abruptly will cause harm

Summary Horse owners must: – Estimate how much feed to provide – Evaluate body condition – Make necessary adjustments in their feeding to prevent malnutrition