Nutrition and Feeding
Whether you’re new to horse farming or a veteran of the industry, there’s always something new to learn. Making sure your horses are getting the right nutrition is essential if you want them to be healthy. On this site, you can learn about pasture, forage, and nutrition management, different grazing systems, special requirements for your broodmares and more.
Horse Feed: Forage, Concentrates, and Supplements
Hay and grass make up a large percentage of a horse’s diet. They are good sources of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Hay quality can vary considerably, so it’s important to understand the different ways you can ensure your horses are getting the right nutrients. Join Penn State Extension's horse hay workshop for more information on cover forage testing, toxin issues, tracking hay prices, and hay storage.
Concentrates or horse grains, such as oats and barley, can also be added to the horse feed occasionally, as well as very limited fat or protein supplements.
If you’ve got broodmares in your stable, they will have different nutritional requirements from the rest of your herd and it pays to be clued up on their needs. If you’re not sure how much drinking water your horse needs Penn State Extension can help with the answer.
Grazing Systems
There are several different grazing systems you can choose for your horses. Continuous grazing, limiting turnout time, and rotational grazing all have their limitations, so choose the one that fits best your operation.
Penn State Extension offers various tools and best practices for pasture evaluation, such as this video series on horse pasture management. Keeping a close eye on residue heights is also a useful strategy to make sure you’re not over-grazing your horses. For more detailed information, check out our knowledge hub on equine pasture and environment management.
Horse Forage Sampling and Analysis
How can you tell whether the quality of your horse feed is suitable for the horses in your stable? The best way to determine the level of equine nutrition you’re providing is to have your horse food analyzed and your forage sampled. Feed analysis can be complicated to understand, but you can learn what to look for.
The correct balance of feed ingredients is essential. The variation between different horse feeds is substantial, and it can be difficult to know whether the correct nutritional content is being provided. This is particularly important when it comes to forages. Forages from the same field can change depending on environmental conditions and cutting time. Penn State Extension provides a range of different materials to help you determine the quality of your forage.
Mold and Mycotoxins in Hay
If your pasture, forage, hay and other horse food are not managed correctly, it can lead to health problems and illness. The risk of botulism, for example, is increased if your hay is wet. Mold and mycotoxins in horse hay could lead to a loss of nutrients but it could also result in heaves, or Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO).
Luckily, it’s possible to test feeds for mold and mycotoxins. Contaminated feed can be dealt with, for example, by a process of elimination, making adjustments to the energy content, or by cleaning grains. There are several other options.
Knowing how to recognize and deal with horse health issues is a vital skill to learn. Penn State Extension has a section that deals exclusively with issues relating to horse health and common diseases.
- Webinars
Free
Nutrition for the Performance Horse
When 10/23/2024Length 1 hourEvent Format Virtual | LiveExperience our free webinar on crafting diets for working horses, focusing on nutrition for different exercise types, intensities, and performance levels. Enhance your equine nutrition knowledge! - Webinars
$10.00
Horse Hay Workshop
When 10/07/2024Length 2 days, 1.5 hours each dayEvent Format Virtual | LiveThis interactive Horse Hay Workshop allows horse owners to learn more about hay production and what factors may impact its quality! - Articles
Creating the Right Mix: Understanding Nutrients in a Horse's Diet
Details the importance of keeping your horse healthy by feeding it a healthy, appropriate diet. - Articles
The Scoop on Grains and Concentrates
There are a variety of types and forms of feed that can be fed to horses. The sheer number of choices can be overwhelming! - Webinars
Free
Get to the Bottom of the Bag: Everything You Need to Know about Commercial Horse Feed
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Oct 17, 2023Event Format On-Demand | RecordedGet ready to select the perfect product for your beloved horse, and learn all about guaranteed analysis, labeling regulations, feed ingredients, and more. Join us on this thrilling journey to find the best feed for your equine companion! - Articles
Trick or Treat: Things to Think About when Giving Your Horse a Treat
Treats are a great way to both reward good behavior and show affection to a beloved pony or horse. But there are a few things to consider before giving your horse treats. - Articles
The Importance of Weighing Horse Feed
Not all flakes of hay or scoops of grain are the same! - Articles
Understanding a Hay Analysis
Interpreting a hay analysis and figuring out the amount of nutrients in hay is important for horse owners. - Articles
Mold and Mycotoxins in Horse Hay
Hay with a high moisture content is at risk for developing mold. There are a variety of health risks for horses that consume moldy hay. - Articles
Grazing Residue Height Matters
It is important to remember to keep an eye on residue heights to eliminate over-grazing and the problems that occur as a result. - Articles
Buying Winter Hay for Horses
Plan ahead when purchasing hay to save money and get the right amount. - Articles
Pennsylvania Horse Hay Producers
Find a horse hay producer in or near your Pennsylvania county. - Webinars
Free
The Hindgut Microbiome of Grazing Horses
When Watch NowRecorded Jun 22, 2022Event Format On-Demand | RecordedLearn what the hindgut microbiome is and why it is important to equine health. - Articles
Hay Feeders and the Potential to Reduce Hay Waste
The use of hay feeders can help reduce the amount of hay wasted and save money. - Articles
Transitioning Horses to Spring Grazing
Horses that were not on pasture during the winter should be transitioned gradually to lush spring pastures. - Webinars
Reducing Hay Waste
Learn tips on how to reduce hay waste to save money during the long winter months. - Webinars
Free
Dietary Fiber for Horses: It's not Grandma's Metamucil!
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Jan 30, 2020Event Format On-Demand | RecordedThis webinar will discuss the importance of dietary fiber in your horse's diet. - News
Grazing Systems for Horses
Date Posted 3/21/2017Pick a grazing strategy that best matches your management system for your operation.