The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Feeding Grains

6K views 41 replies 6 participants last post by  iridehorses 
#1 ·
I have a few questions regarding feeding grains such as oats to my Arabian gelding. First off, he'll be 15 years in April, and has been a hard keeper in the winters, unless I really get his weight up during the fall. The problem for me is, I'm always afraid of feeding too much grain, I'm so worried he'll colic if I'm giving him too much. Right now I'm maintaining his weight, (the temperature these past couple winters has gone down to -50 C ) so I give him 3-4 cups of rolled oats with flax seed about three times a week.

Here is something I found though, this website - How Much to Feed your Horse?

...suggests how much grain to feed your horse once you put in their body weight, workload and body condition. Last time I measured my gelding, his body weight was around 960, he might be 1000 lbs now. I do light work with him, and his body weight is normal. The calculations though say to feed him 2.3 kg/5 pounds of grain! I measured my grain on my kitchen scale, and 5 pounds is 16 cups! Wouldn't that be too much? I have an 8 quart feed bucket, and the suggested amount of feed almost fills it full. Plus since he's an Arab, he does tend to get pretty hot with too much grain.

I just want to feed him properly, but I'm concerned and a little confused, how much is too much, and how much is too little? Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
-Shay
 
See less See more
#3 ·
instead of feeding "grains" use things like beet pulp, alfalfa pellets/cubes, up to 2lbs of rice bran, 2lbs of flax.

You also need to feed the same thing everyday two or three times a week is not enough.. you also need to ensure he is getting proper nutrition.

and free choice hay/pasture is a must for any horse especially in the cold weather
 
#4 ·
He is on free choice hay, which is good. And when he gets really thin I feed him oats mixed with beet pulp and canola oil. But aside from the hay, to help maintain his weight I would first like to know if that website I posted is accurate. Also if feeding him about 8 - 10 cups of grain is okay?
 
#6 ·
depends on the grain..
I would not throw 5lbs of oats at him in one feeding

I would say NO it is way overfeeding which is what most of us have always done...

I would offer him a good vitamin/mineral supplement free choice hay and IF he needs more which it sounds like he might offer it in the way of beet pulp or alfalfa pellets. Many times the sugars and starches are hard for a horse to digest passing into the hindgut and causing issues. If you stick with mainly forages for your calories it is safer and easier for the horse to use those calories
 
#8 ·
that article also does not state GRAINS it say concentrates.. which can be anytype of fortified feed product. I don't see how any website to try to do what that one is doing there are too many vaiables involved

man I always stink at spelling but tonight is super rough
 
#23 ·
Sure, just like I am the king of England.

If you have pasture that is one thing, but to just feed hay year round 24/7 will result in hay belly, guaranteed.

Sorry to disagree. My horse has hay in front of him virtually 24/7 and he DOES NOT have a hay belly.

I do have a happy horse and.............no he has not been inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame but he has been named horse of the year for dressage and jumper.
 
#14 ·
You are the one who has not got a clue how to take care of horses. With what I have told this person they will do just fine. How many horses have you owned that have been inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame?

I rest my case with that one. The person who started this thread do go ahead and take my advice for all its worth and you will do just fine, your horse will have a great coat, great hoofs and most importantly be healthy.
 
#24 ·
Even during the summer months you have hay in front of him?

Nothing beats grazing if you have the pasture to do so. If not and you do have hay in front of him everyday of the year 24/7 how in the world does your horse not have a hay belly should be the question.

Congrats for your horse by the way.
 
#25 ·
Even during the summer months you have hay in front of him?

Nothing beats grazing if you have the pasture to do so. If not and you do have hay in front of him everyday of the year 24/7 how in the world does your horse not have a hay belly should be the question.

Congrats for your horse by the way.
You bet he has hay summer or winter.

He is the epitomy of a hay burner, and he is warmblood. Why no hay belly ? Well he is worked and he is an easy keeper in that he doesn't lose weight but he doesn't gain much either.

This is why you can't state blanket statements as there WILL be a horse that will prove you wrong.
 
#27 ·
Pasture when you can. Presently my stallion is boarded and for the most part does not have access to pasture. The other horses at the farm have that advantage, not mine. I have had him at pasture before and there usually was a round bale out there to supplement his food for in the late summer the grass becomes pretty much useless.
 
#29 ·
24/7 hay YEAR ROUND 1lb Ration Balancer and pasture when avaliable


this is a former starving horse on 10lbs of Equine Senior and free choice hay
before

after 30 days with 1lb ration balancer and 1lb alfalfa pellets


now
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top