Feeding Naturally, part 1. By Lisa Ross-Williams.

In this section...
A Natural Way of Living, part 1
A Natural Way of Living, part 2
Feeding Naturally, part 1
Feeding Naturally, part 2
Natural Horsemanship Revealed
Healthy Hooves, the Natural Way
Lisa presents an interview with Linda Parelli
Lisa presents an interview with Buck Brannaman
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Horses are natural grazers and foragers. But unfortunately, many horses have had to change their fundamental eating habits, either because of human convenience or lack of knowledge. In many areas of the country horses do not have free-choice feeding either because pasture is not available or because it's easier on the people to keep these horses in confined spaces, feeding them on a one or two times a day schedule.

The way the horse's digestive system is set-up and works, he needs to be fed small quantities numerous times a day. The horse's actual stomach is small and holds only one to four gallons of food. This food moves out of the stomach into the gut track very quickly causing the horse to feel hungry about an hour after he has finished the meal. By only feeding 1-2 times per day, not only are we taxing their systems, but we're making our beloved partner feel hungry twenty hours of their day and night. Pity the poor creatures who are fed only concentrated pellets, grain or even cubes; they finish their food so quickly, they feel hunger for almost twenty-two hours of their day. In addition to hunger, the intestinal bacteria can become unbalanced due to infrequent feeding. This imbalance can result in stomach disturbances, diarrhoea, and colic.

For horses who don’t live on pasture or the one they do have is over-grazed, dividing your horses daily amount into multiple feedings or offering free-choice hay and scattering small piles in the area, you will re-establish the natural way of eating, wake up the foraging instinct as well as mentally challenging him to work for his food. By feeding different types of grass hay such as Bermuda, Timothy, Orchard, mixed or grain hay and offering small amounts of alfalfa gives the horse not only different textures and tastes, but also a variety of nutrients. Variety is important because sometimes horses that are fed only one type of hay, often cut from the same fields, may develop nutritional deficiencies. Even though the hay may be the same type, nutrient and mineral content in the hay will vary depending on the soil in which it is grown.

Both the type of feed and the way it is fed are major factors in whether a horse will or will not develop stomach ulcers. It is estimated that 60-90% of mature horses have gastric ulcer disease. Boarding practices, chemical use, and performance training also play a factor in this disease. These ulcers can range in severity from mild stomach lesions that can heal on their own, to some that will cause permanent damage, while some can be serious enough to perforate the stomach wall causing death. Indications of this disease may be poor appetite, poor muscle and hair condition, and intermittent colic, although many affected horses may show no outward signs.

This condition causes the stomach tissue to be damaged by stomach acid. Because a horse is meant to graze on an almost continual basis, his stomach is set up to constantly produce acid and this digestive acid is used to start the breakdown of this food. When there is food is the stomach, this acid is absorbed properly and along with the saliva helps to neutralize this acid and keep it in check. By allowing the horse free access to pasture or grass hay and cutting down on grain and concentrated process feeds, you will be lowering your horses' risk of this often serious disease. In fact, normally horses that are on pasture full time do not have ulcers.

Just remember that there is more to feeding than just offering free-choice hay as not all hay is created equal when it comes to the health of the horse. There are major differences between legume hay like Alfalfa and Clover, and grass-type hays like Bermuda, Timothy, Orchard, Brome, Oats, and Rye. Because of these differences, when feeding on a free-choice basis, use grass rather than legume hays. Use alfalfa as a condiment and grass hay as the main course.

One difference is that alfalfa can have 50% or more calories and protein per pound than grass hay, and many times it is fed in the same quantities as the grass hay, or worse yet, offered as the only feed. No horse needs this much protein or calories. In addition to the higher calories and protein, alfalfa also has a high calcium to phosphorus ratio, often 4-1 and higher. The proper ratio for healthy horses should be 2-1 and no more than 4-1.

Furthermore, a study conducted at the University of California at Davis confirms that horses fed a diet rich in alfalfa may run a higher risk of developing enteroliths. These rock hard mineral deposits, also known as stones, build up in the stomach or intestine and can cause colic and death. The study revealed that horses suffering from stones had a higher pH concentrate in their colons and more alfalfa in their diets. It is also known that Cushings, Insulin-resistant, and chronic laminitic horses as well as ponies & burros are very susceptible to the ill-effects of Alfalfa.

By offering grass hays on a free-choice basis and limiting the amount of alfalfa, a good balance can be obtained. A simple formula to decide how much alfalfa to feed will enable the caretaker to monitor this intake. Take 1-2% of the horse’s body weight and divide this by four. This will give the appropriate poundage of alfalfa to give the horse daily in addition to grass hay.

For example; in the summer, Jake a 1000 lb. Quarter Horse ridden an hour four times a week would receive a third of 1% of his body weight in alfalfa a day. To find the poundage amount take weight (1000) multiplied by 1% totals 10. Now divide 10 by 4 resulting in 2.5 lbs. of alfalfa per day. In the winter months, when a horse needs more calories and protein, he may need an increase in the percentage by a half or full percent.

However, this calculation must be based on the individual horse, depending on his metabolism, activity level, and age. Here’s another example.

Nitro is a 1000 lb Polish Arab endurance horse who trains 3 hrs a day five days a week and covers many miles. He might need a quarter of 2.5% of his body weight. 1000 x 2.5%=25 divided by 4=6.25 lbs of alfalfa.

This brings us to another important point. WEIGH YOUR HAY!! Most people just grab a flake or so and throw it in. But as you will discover when you start weighing your hay, flakes can vary considerably in weight; not just from bale to bale but even within the same one. You can pick up a scale at many feed and farm supply stores very reasonable and it’ll pay for itself in no time based on the hay you will save.

Stay Tuned for Part II of this article.

Naturally,
Lisa.

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