Equine Nutrition: The Horse Feeding Guide to Optimal Health

This horse feeding guide offers a detailed look into the principles of equine nutrition for optimal health. It provides practical information on calculating your horse's individual energy requirements and how to adjust feeding plans according to workload.The book emphasizes the benefits of a forage-first diet, showing you how to determine how much hay horse owners should provide per day. It covers methods for assessing forage quality and strategies for extending feeding time. A central theme is the comparison of grain and forage for horses, outlining the targeted use of concentrates and the potential risks of overfeeding. You will also learn about the role of supplements, including the effective use of a ration balancer to address nutrient gaps in the diet.Furthermore, the guide addresses pasture management that horses rely on for well-being. It details how to prepare for the grazing season, implement rotational grazing, and manage risks such as high fructan content in grass. Special attention is given to feeding strategies for specific health concerns. Discover practical feeding techniques for colic prevention by understanding common feeding errors and how to manage dietary changes safely. For owners of metabolically sensitive equines, the section on the laminitis diet for horses provides guidance on creating a low-starch, low-sugar feeding plan. Additionally, the book covers the unique dietary needs of older equines, with specific advice on feeding senior horses to support them through their golden years.