Pasture quality significantly impacts a horse’s nutritional balance. Good quality grass-legume pastures can provide adequate nutrients for adult horses doing light work or for pregnant mares, assuming they also have access to iodized or trace-mineralized salt. However, the specific nutrient requirements of horses are not completely understood, so owners must pay close attention to their horse’s condition.
How Does Pasture Quality Affect a Horse’s Diet?
The nutritional content of pasture changes throughout the year. Lush, early spring pasture is high in water and protein, so horses performing medium to heavy work may need a high-energy supplement like grain. Late fall and winter pastures are low in water and protein, potentially requiring protein and vitamin A supplements.
What are the Best Types of Pasture for Horses?
Good quality grass-legume pastures are generally sufficient for horses. High-quality legume hays, especially early bloom alfalfa, are beneficial for growing or lactating horses. Early horsemen favored grass hays like timothy, prairie grass, orchard grass, and bluegrass for racehorses because they were typically free of mold and dust and slowed the rate of passage through the intestinal tract. However, these hays are low in digestible energy and protein and must be supplemented.
What Supplements Might Horses Need Based on Pasture Quality?
Depending on the pasture quality, horses may need supplements to ensure they receive a balanced diet. During times when pasture is very high in water and protein, horses may need a high-energy source, such as grain. When pasture is low in water and protein, horses may require protein and vitamin A supplementation.
How Can You Tell if a Horse’s Pasture is Good Quality?
Visually assessing the pasture can provide insights into its quality. A good quality pasture should have a mix of grasses and legumes, be free from weeds and toxic plants, and have a dense, healthy growth. Soil testing can also help determine the nutrient content of the pasture.
What are the Risks of Poor Pasture Quality for Horses?
Poor pasture quality can lead to various health issues in horses. Deficiencies in essential nutrients can result in weight loss, poor coat condition, and decreased performance. Moldy or dusty feeds can cause forage poisoning and respiratory complications, and silages can cause botulism and digestive upsets.
How Much Should Horses Eat Based on Their Weight?
Weanling foals need about three pounds of feed per hundred pounds of live weight daily. As they get closer to maturity, this drops to one pound of feed per hundred pounds of live weight daily. Horses usually reach their mature weight before they are four years old, and 80% of their mature weight before they are two years old.
Paying close attention to pasture quality and supplementing when necessary will help keep your horse healthy. Would you like to learn more about specific nutrients horses need?