Are there specific grains that should be avoided for active horses?

For active horses, it’s generally best to avoid moldy or dusty grains in order to prevent forage poisoning and respiratory complications. While oats are typically the preferred grain for horses due to their bulk, other grains like corn, barley, wheat, and milo can be used as more affordable alternatives. It’s important to ensure that any grain you feed your horse is of good quality and free from contaminants.

Which Grains Should Active Horses Avoid?

Are moldy or dusty grains bad for horses?

Yes, moldy or dusty feeds should be avoided because horses are extremely susceptible to forage poisoning and respiratory complications.

Should horses avoid silages?

Yes, silages of all sorts should be avoided since horses and mules are extremely susceptible to botulism and digestive upsets.

What grains are acceptable for horses?

Acceptable feeds for grazing animals include hundreds of different grasses, legumes, bushes, and trees.

What grains are preferred for horses?

Oats are the preferred grain for horses because of their bulk.

What grains can be substituted for oats?

Corn (maize), barley, wheat, and milo can be used whenever they are less expensive.

Feeding Considerations for Active Horses

What are the nutritional needs of horses?

The specific and exact nutrient requirements of horses are poorly understood. Usually, these may be supplied economically from pasture forage, harvested roughages, and concentrates.

How much should I feed my horse?

Weanling foals require three pounds of feed per hundred pounds of live weight per day; as they approach maturity, this requirement drops to one pound of feed per hundred pounds of live weight daily.

What is "grain-burnt"?

"Grain-burnt" describes a digestive disturbance attributed to overfeeding with grain.

What are complete horse rations?

A large and ever-growing number of horses stabled in cities and suburbs where sufficient roughages cannot be grown provide a large market for complete horse rations, including roughage, which are tailored to the total needs of specific animals according to their particular function at a given time, such as growth, pregnancy, lactation, or maintenance.

Understanding which grains to avoid and how to properly feed your active horse can help keep them healthy and performing at their best. Would you like to explore more about creating a balanced diet for horses?