Feeding Your Horse

FEEDING YOUR HORSE Feeding your horse might seem simple-put him in a field with a water trough, right? Follow these steps to ensure his diet meets his nutritional needs. CALCULATE YOUR HORSE'S WEIGHT Step 1 TO GUIDE YOUR FORAGE AND CONCENTRATE FEED RATIONS. BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS= HEART GİRTH IN INCHES? X LENGTH IN INCHES 330 *Length of your horse is the front point of his shoulder blade to the point of his rump. Step 2 SCORE YOUR HORSE'S CURRENT BODY CONDITION FROM 1 TO 9. 1...2. 4 6. 7...8...9 UNDERWEIGHT NORMAL OVERWEIGHT Get the Horse Body Conditions Poster at: www.cafepress.com/thehorsemag/10044718 WORK WITH A VETERINARIAN TO Step3 DETERMINE YOUR HORSE'S DAILY NUTRIENT NEEDS BASED ON: Weight Health Breeding Status Age Activity Level Status PROVIDE ACCESS TO FRESH, Step 4 CLEAN WATER AND SALT AT ALL TIMES. The average 1,000-pound horse drinks about 10 gallons of water per day. FORAGE IS THE BASIS OF A HORSE'S Step 5, DIET. YOUR HORSE SHOULD CONSUME 1.5-3% OF HIS WEIGHT DAILY. -CONCENTRATES If your horse only has access to LOW-QUALITY HAY or has QUALITY nutrient needs higher than what FORAGES his hay provides, he might need supplements and concentrates to provide those missing nutrients. Choose a balanced feed to compliment your horse's hay and meet his nutrient needs. PERFORMANCE, LACTATING, NURSING, Step 6 BREEDING, OR SENIOR HORSES MIGHT REQUIRE SUPPLEMENTAL VITAMINS AND MINERALS. Work with a veterinarian or a nutritionist to balance your horse's diet with either a high-quality commercial feed or individual ingredients. MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR Step7 HORSE'S DIET GRADUALLY, AS SUDDEN CHANGES CAN PUT HIM AT RISK OF COLICKING. O Old Feed O New Feed Still confused? Speak up! Ask your veterinarian and equine nutritionist for feeding advice or visit TheHorse.com/nutrition to learn more about feeding horses. SPONSORED BY: the] HORSE LATINUM PERF ORMA NCE www.PLATINUMPERFORMANCE.COM (800) 553-2400