What are the main dietary causes of obesity in horses?

The specific dietary causes of obesity in horses are not well-documented in the provided search results. However, the text does mention general feeding practices and nutrient requirements for horses.

What are the General Dietary Guidelines for Horses?

While the exact dietary causes of obesity aren’t specified, understanding general horse feeding can help prevent overfeeding. Horses can usually get the nutrients they need from pasture forage, harvested roughages, and concentrates. Good quality grass-legume pastures, along with salt, can maintain an adult horse doing light work or pregnant mares. Lush spring pastures, high in water and protein, may need extra energy from grain for horses doing medium to heavy work. In contrast, winter pastures low in water and protein may need protein and vitamin A supplements.

What Types of Feed are Best for Horses?

High-quality legume hays, like early bloom alfalfa, are good for horses, especially those growing or lactating. Moldy or dusty feeds should be avoided because horses are very susceptible to forage poisoning and respiratory issues. Grass hays, such as timothy, prairie grass, orchard grass, and bluegrass, were preferred by early horsemen because they were usually free from mold and dust and tended to slow down the rate of passage through the intestinal tract. However, these hays are low in digestible energy and protein and must be adequately supplemented. Silages of all sorts should be avoided since horses and mules are extremely susceptible to botulism and digestive upsets.

How Much Should Horses Eat?

Weanling foals need about three pounds of feed per hundred pounds of live weight daily, decreasing to one pound as they mature. Horses typically reach mature weight before four years old, with 80% of their mature weight reached before two years old.

What Else Should I Keep in Mind When Feeding Horses?

Horses’ needs can vary based on weight, temperament, and past nutrition. Foals start eating pasture grass, forage, or hay around three days old and grain at three weeks old.

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