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How much feed is correct?

3K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  ACinATX 
#1 ·
Hi, I have a quick question. 18 yr. Old mare, no job, just a big pet. How much senior feed along with her hay is the right amount?
Thanks
 
#2 ·
This depends on so many factors. What are the nutritional values of the feed? Of the hay? Has the hay been tested, or is it just whatever you can find? Is she an easy keeper, hard keeper? Insulin Resistance risk, or Founder? Overweight, underweight, just right?
 
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#3 ·
There is no easy answer not cut-and-dry do this or that...
So...
How big is she?
What breed is she if you know?
Is she high-strung, fret easily or is she pretty calm and untroubled?
Does she crib or pace a fence line?

How much hay do you currently feed her and is she able to eat and chew it well or does she leave behind wads of balled hay?
What kind of hay do you feed? Brome grass hay, alfalfa, timothy????
All feed and hay are fed by weight not volume so knowing those numbers is a must...

How much exercise does the horse get?
Is she alone or have company that may make her "move her feet"?
Does she have pasture grass or is she out on your lawn grazing often and for how long?

It isn't the horse is this and she eats and is fed that...
There is a work to calories needed "formula" if you want to call it that that must be factored in...
There is also some experimentation and documentation when you make changes so you know if there is a improvement or regression in appearances...
I always take pictures and tape measurements so true documentation is seen and noted.
I also follow directions on feeding correct amounts found on feed bag backs of most every manufacturers products.
There is honestly always some "tweaking" to a horses diet as some horses are easier to keep weight on than others and watchful, observant eyes are a must.
**You also feed with a thought to the horse is supposed to weigh "XYZ" both if they are underweight or overweight..** You don't feed say for a 1000 pound horse if the horse is supposed to weight 1200 pounds and is thin...then again you don't feed amounts for a 1400 pound horse when your horses size has them weighing 1100 pounds...you feed for where the horse is supposed to be to be healthy.
Do not overlook her teeth being checked and taken care of and older horses need more often checking.
Check she is not carrying a worm-load either.
If it is abnormally cold she might do well to wear a blanket so she not need to use her fat stores trying to stay warm...horses can and do convert fat stores to energy when cold and drop weight quickly staying warm as them must to survive and thrive.
So many things must be taken into consideration to give you a answer...it isn't so simple.
:runninghorse2:...
jmo..
 
#4 ·
There really is no simple answer to this. Senior feed is usually a complete feed. It usually has a lot of fiber in it for older horses that have trouble eating hay. This means recommended feeding amounts are usually fairly high. You'd have to read the bag on your feed to know what's recommended.

The recommended amount on the bag is not always right for your horse though. Any changes in your horse's feed should be made gradually, over the course of a few weeks. Your horse should eat close to whatever they're eating now and if you want to increase or decrease her rations, you should do it slowly and in small stages. Deciding whether to feed your horse more or less or whether to switch feed types is dependent on your horse's body condition. If you find you have to feed a lot more or a lot less than the recommended amount on the bag of what you're currently feeding to keep your horse at a healthy weight, then it might be a good idea to make changes in other areas.

How much a horse needs to eat to stay in good body condition depends on a lot of things. It's not just about size and workload. A lot has to do with their underlying metabolism. As horses get older, it can become more difficult for them to chew and digest, and other health conditions may influence their ability to gain and maintain weight. You really have to tailor the diet to the individual horse. The quality and nutritional make up of what you're feeding has a lot to do with it as well.
 
#5 ·
She's had her teeth done, always been an easy keeper, she gets alfalfa hay from our local tack store and also Neutrena senior feed. She's very healthy, still has some spunk. I just wanted to be sure she's getting correct amounts for her age, etc.
She gets four flakes of hay and 9 qts of feed a day.
 
#15 ·
As others have said, 'it depends' is the only answer to your rather vague question. You really should learn what it takes to keep a healthy horse, if you have one, and diet is a pretty major factor. Some basic principles...

*A horse should have no less than 1.5%bwt daily in forage. If they're an 'easy keeper', this may be well enough, fed in a 'slow feed' net to prevent gorging. If they're thin or in hard work, the amount of hay/grazing may need to be more like 2.5%bwt. Preferably low sugar grass hay, if there's no grass to graze. They should be fed this free choice, or at least little & often, as it's not good for horses to go hungry for periods between 'meals'.

*IF supplementary 'hard feed' is required because they're too thin or in hard work, then it's best to avoid grainy or otherwise high sugar/starch ingredients, and provide easily digested high energy feed like alfalfa, beet pulp, etc.

*Nutritional balance may not be up to scratch, depending on what's in the hay/grazing & other feed, but you need to know what they're getting, to work out what they may need to 'fill the gaps'. A high quality 'ration balancer' may do the trick, or you may need to provide certain 'custom blended' minerals & such to a small feed(or their regular feed if they get any).

She's had her teeth done, always been an easy keeper, she gets alfalfa hay from our local tack store and also Neutrena senior feed.
WHY are you feeding her straight(?) alfalfa as forage, and feeding her 'senior feed' if she is an easy keeper? Horses, as with people, dogs, etc, are not healthy if they're much overweight & overfed. Particularly if they eat a lot of 'junk food' - high carb diet.

She gets four flakes of hay and 9 qts of feed a day.
A 'flake' & a 'quart' are rather ambiguous. You need to work out how much she's getting in weight.

I can only let her out for any period of time if I can stay with her for however long, so she's become somewhat barn sour, ... Everyone says I need to give her up, but I love this little horse,
You also need to understand that it is not good for their health & wellbeing to keep them cooped up & unexercised all the time. I am NOT saying that you SHOULD give her up, and I would not worry about what 'everyone' says, but if you love her so much, you will want what's best for her, and if after learning what that entails, if you find you cannot provide it, it would be only fair to rehome her to someone who can look after her properly.
 
#6 ·
Also, she is a Polish Arabian, 14.3 hh doesn't get much exercise, at my rental place, I can only let her out for any period of time if I can stay with her for however long, so she's become somewhat barn sour, I'm afraid. I am not allowed to ride her (health problems). Everyone says I need to give her up, but I love this little horse, and ppl in my area are strictly quarter horse ppl. I got hassled ALOT when I got her, being an Arab.
 
#7 ·
Can you please share some pictures of the horse...
To me that is a rich hay and depending upon weight of the flakes could be a huge amount of hay or not enough...
9 qts of feed sounds enormous, but when you weigh it...
No as much as you think...

Weigh your feed...
Different manufacturers also have more or less calories per pound..
Here is a list of some feeds and their calorie content per pound...
Also some information of calories per pound of hay, different kinds of hay...
https://equinenutritionnerd.files.w...net_calories-in-common-feed-brands1.jpg?w=642
http://laminitishelp.org/CalorieFeed.pdf
Calorie Requirements for Horses | Calories in Horse Feed | Dayville, WA
:runninghorse2:....
 
#13 ·
Agreed...


Based on that picture shared she looks to be doing well.
Not to fat, nor thin...
And just because she is older does not mean she must have a food change...
If she is thriving and flourishing, let her be.

If she starts to struggle to maintain then revisit what she eats...otherwise, leave it alone.

Good job. :thumbsup:
:runninghorse2:...
 
#14 ·
From your description of the amount of food, this mare , a pasture ornament, is getting, I expected to see a very fat horse.



She looks ok. She should have spunk! 18 is not old at all for an Arabian horse. I'm riding a 20 year old. (though not an Arab horse). While I wouldn't say he is spunky, he has enough energy and stamina, and eats only timothy free choice. No grain , and only a spot of alfalfa from time to time. He is still fat!


Horses vary so much .
 
#16 ·
And agree with Tiny - while in the 'old days' when horses were worked long & hard & we had less knowledge about keeping horses healthy & sound, a lot of horses WERE 'old' or washed up by their late teens. These days though, just passed middle aged is not old... for horses or people! Arabs often only tend to start serious endurance racing when they're in their early teens... She should be still within her prime.
 
#17 ·
WRT not being able to ride her -- could you find someone to lease or even free lease her? Then she would get the exercise she needs and wants, and you'd have someone to share her expenses.
 
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