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Deciding how to feed your horse can be very confusing. When you go to the feed store, there will be multiple brands of horse pellets and many varieties within each brand. How do you know what your horse needs? And how much should you give them?
Should you trust the amount suggested on the label? or are they just trying to sell more product? Even your vet may not be able to give you a clear answer. They don't spend a lot of time on nutrition and supplements at veterinary college.
I'm sure you already know that hay is most important item in the horse's diet. Horses eat hay - but which type? Make your life easier and consult with the experts at MadBarn. They will help you determine what quality of hay you really need and then what else is required to keep your horse in tip top shape. They'll even advise how much hay to budget so that you don't run out before the summer grass is ready.
Even if you don't end up using their products, they have a great feed comparison tool that is free to use. See the chart to the right. This tool can help you determine whether your feed is meeting the nutritional requirements and allow you to experiment with options that might save you some money.
The top brands spend an incredible amount of money to grab your attention. Have a look at the ads in the arena at the Stallion Stakes or World's Greatest Horsemen. Those do not come cheap. But are the products better than less expensive options?
In many cases, MadBarn can help you find a solution for a much more reasonable cost. That leaves you extra money for fancy blankets or entry fees or whatever else you and your horse desire!
Regardless what you are currently feeding, MadBarn can help. If you have a hay anlaysis, input that to get started. But if you are not sure, just select the type of hay and your location. They do a great job of estimating nutrition based on this alone.
Next, check how the hay you feed is meeting their needs. This is where you need to start. Once you know what's missing, you can look for the best source of the specific nutrient(s).
To the left is an analysis of a typical mixed grass hay from Ponoka, Alberta. In the table, you'll see a column showing each nutrient, then the amount required (as determined by National Research Council - I input 500 kg for horse weight and moderate work load) and then how well this hay meets the need. Things look pretty good at the top of the chart - except for Sodium. And that's an easy fix - just add 2 Tbsp loose salt to their feed bucket each day.
When we start looking a little deeper we see that trace minerals and vitamins are indeed missing from this hay. You can use this chart to figure out how to top up your hay to meet these needs. The first nutrient we notice is Cobalt, then Iodine and Selenium. Copper and Zinc are also low but not as deficient.
MadBarn provides articles that explain what each nutrient does and how a deficiency might be noticed in your horse. Is your horse's coat losing it's depth of colour? That might be the copper deficiency. Cobalt, Zinc, Iodine and Selenium deficiencies all have impacts on your horse's health.
Contact MadBarn and get your horse's diet on track for success!
Contact their nutritionist, they will personally evaluate your feed program and help you to optimize it for your horse's health and your bank balance.
