STABLE MANAGEMENT
By
Eleanor Blazer
LESSON NINE
FEEDING HORSES
A
major duty when managing a stable is feeding horses. A stable with a reputation of having skinny
horses or reoccurring colic issues will not attract business nor is it a humane
way to treat horses.
The
equine digestive system is very delicate.
The quantity and quality of feed plays a big part in the horses’ health
and the success of a well run stable. The first step to providing good
nutrition is to understand the unique digestive system of the horse.
THE EQUINE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Equine
lips have almost a prehensile (adapted to wrap or fold around an object)
ability. They can separate oral
additives from grain, chose the tender shoots of grass and untie a lead rope. A
horse's meal starts at the lips which gather feed and make it available to the
teeth.
The upper premolars and molars
(back teeth) are set wider than the lower arcade. This configuration keeps the teeth from
meeting squarely when the horse is not chewing.
In order to make good contact the jaw must move back and forth.
This side to side movement and
the natural misalignment of the upper and lower teeth causes the teeth to wear
at an angle. Malocclusion, a term used to 
describe teeth that do not meet
properly, occurs. Points (sharp edges),
ramps (excessive lower premolar height), hooks (a tooth overhangs the opposing
tooth, waves (the arcade of teeth becomes uneven) and other tooth wear patterns
develop. An equine dentist or
veterinarian can attempt to eliminate tooth wear problems so the horse can chew
comfortably.
Another unique characteristic
to equine teeth is they do not grow - they erupt. Teeth are formed soon after foaling and the
entire unused tooth is stored in the dental socket until needed. 4 ½ to 5 inches of tooth lies below the gum line in a young horse. This amount must last the horse his entire
lifetime. As the exposed surface wears away it appears that the tooth is
growing, but the fully formed tooth is actually being forced up from the dental
socket.
The equine dentist or
veterinarian attempting to correct malocclusions must be careful not to become
overzealous when grinding down the exposed surface. An inexperienced operator with a power float
can take years off a horse's life expectancy.
Once the horse has moved the
feed back to the molars he begins to chew.
The chewing action stimulates three pairs of salivary glands. A horse will produce five to ten gallons of
saliva per day.
The production of saliva is
very important to the digestion of feed.
Saliva contains buffers that protect the stomach from acids, and
contains some enzymes that start the breakdown of carbohydrates. Saliva moistens the feed so it is easy to
swallow.
Horses being fed a complete feed
(grain and forage in one product) or a diet consisting of mostly pellets do not
get enough chew-time. Horses in a
natural environment will graze 18-20 hours per day, producing large quantities
of saliva. Horses in confinement are
lucky to get four hours of chew-time.
Horses that bolt their feed may
not chew feed long enough, reducing the amount of saliva produced. Several large
rocks placed in the feeder will slow down the concentrate consumption and cause
the horse to chew for longer periods of time.
This will also decrease the chances of choke caused when feed is not
being moistened or broken down before swallowing.
Providing adequate amounts of
long-stem fiber (grass, hay, hay cubes or chopped hay) will aid the production
of saliva. Pelleted products will not
achieve the desired result. The product
must contain particles at least three-quarters (3/4) of an inch long.
Once
the horse has sorted, chewed and softened feed with
saliva he swallows. The slurry travels
down the esophagus and into the stomach.
The
esophagus, a muscular tube about fifty inches in the average horse, leads to
the stomach.
A
horse chokes if a foreign object blocks the esophagus. This object may be an apple, corn cob, hay cube, a wad of improperly chewed feed or baler
twine. Horses can choke on most
anything…
The equine esophagus could also be blocked by a growth (tumor) or scar
tissue from trauma (a previous choke episode or damage to the sensitive tissue
because of a medical procedure).
Symptoms
of choke in horses:
• Heavy nasal discharge that contains bits of
feed and white foamy saliva
• Excessive salivation
• Stretching and extending the neck
• Attempts to retch
• Inability to swallow
• Coughing and blowing out feed through the
mouth and nose
Call your veterinarian and
remove all feed as soon as you see any of these symptoms. Even though the horse can still breathe this
is a medical emergency. Prolonged obstruction can cause scar tissue.
Aspiration
of fluid in to the lungs can cause pneumonia.
To prevent choke do the
following:
• Avoid large chunks of food -
treats, apples, carrots
• Avoid grass clippings
• Avoid poor quality forage or hay
(overly mature and stemmy)
• Avoid feeding after sedation
• Avoid leaving foreign objects
within reach (remove the baler twine!)
• Place several large rocks in the
feeder if the horse bolts his feed
• Soak the feed for senior horses,
horses with poor teeth or a previous history of choke
• Chose a feed designed to meet
the nutritional needs of the horse and can be offered as gruel
• Make sure the horse is receiving proper
and regular dental care.
After passing through the esophagus
the feed now enters the stomach through a one-way entry.
At the point where the esophagus and
stomach join there is a very strong cardiac sphincter valve.
This valve prevents food from being
regurgitated and does not allow the horse to burp. The horse's stomach will usually rupture
before this valve allows the material to be regurgitated. A ruptured stomach will result in death. Feed must be of the quality and quantity the
horse can handle to avoid stomach distress.
Once through the cardiac sphincter
valve the feed arrives in the stomach.
The stomach of the horse is very small
in relationship to the size of the horse.
The average horse's stomach only holds about 4 ½ gallons. It fills fast and empties fast. The stomach breaks feed down mechanically and
chemically.
The design of the equine stomach is
such that a horse needs small frequent meals.
It fills quickly and empties quickly.
Feed usually only remains in the stomach for about 20 minutes. Ulcers can result if the stomach is allowed
to become empty.
A
horse's meal now enters the small intestine - a tube that is approximately 60
feet in length and holds about 15 gallons of material.
Most of the nutrients in the
grain portion of the diet (non-structural carbohydrates) are absorbed in the
small intestine. The nutrients are
broken down by chemicals secreted by the pancreas, liver and intestinal mucosa
and are then absorbed through the small intestinal wall.
Non-structural carbohydrates (
At
certain times of the year or day, and when a rain follows a drought, grass may
also contain high levels of
The non-digested structural
(insoluble) carbohydrates now pass from the small intestine and into the large
intestine. Any non-structural carbs not
utilized in the small intestine also arrive in the hind-gut…and we hope there
are not many.
The total length of the large
intestine is about 25 feet, but it holds approximately 30 gallons of material -
twice as much as the small intestine.
A unique part of the equine
large intestine is the cecum.
The cecum is a fermentation
vat. Within the cecum are microbes
(bacteria and protozoa) that aid in the digestion of cellulose and fiber
(structural carbohydrates). The main
source of cellulose and fiber is forage….what the horse is designed to eat and
utilize.
The microbes are somewhat
specific as to what they digest. A
drastic change in diet or the arrival of non-structural carbohydrates disrupts
the balance of bacteria and protozoa. Excessive fermentation occurs - producing
lactic acid. This acidic environment kills large numbers of beneficial
bacteria. The unhealthy environment can
lead to colic. Poisonous toxins are also
released into the bloodstream causing laminitis.
The material not utilized within
the cecum now travels into the colon.
There are some design flaws with
the equine colon.
The opening leading from the
cecum to the large colon is only 3 to 4 centimeters...about 1 ½ inches in
diameter. This is a prime spot for
blockages.
The large colon folds back on
itself several times. It also has narrow
passageways and blockages can occur in these areas.
In addition to these problems
the only thing that holds the colon in place is bulk. So a hungry horse without access to forage
and an empty colon is a prime candidate for a twisted gut (colic).
The remaining material then
travels into the small colon…another very narrow tube where blockages can
occur. The small colon also is free to
move and can become twisted if empty.
Any remaining moisture in the
material is extracted; fecal balls are produced and deposited.
The
design of the equine digestive system requires plenty of good quality forage.
FORAGE
PASTURE
Horses are grazers.
In
a perfect world horses would be free to graze, move from water source to water
source, rest and graze some more. They
will graze 18 hours out of a 24-hour period.
In
our world they are kept in 12 by 12 stalls, fed twice a day, may have fresh
clean water and allowed to exercise while the stall is being cleaned.
If
the horses in your care have access to pasture they will be happier than being
secluded in a stall.
Lesson
eight discussed pasture and pasture management.
As
with any change in diet, horses not used to pasture or experiencing a change in
forage type must be slowly introduced to the new feed. Introducing a horse not used to fresh green
grass or allowing horses on pastures during periods of rapid forage growth
requires management. Laminitis or colic
can occur if the grazing is not controlled.
One recommended method of adapting a
horse to new or lush pasture is to feed hay prior to allowing the horse pasture
access. Then limit the grazing time to
avoid digestive problems. Over a period
of 2 weeks the amount of time the horse is allowed to graze can be increased
gradually. Horses or ponies that are cresty-necked, easy keepers, or have had laminitis in the
past should not be allowed to graze on lush, rapidly growing pasture. A grazing muzzle may be used if they cannot
be kept off the pasture.
Observation of horses on pasture is
critical. Severe weather, flies, loss of
edible forage can cause horses to spend less time grazing resulting in weight
loss and health problems related to nutritional deficiencies.
HAY
Horses
prefer to be on pasture. It is the
closest thing to what is natural that we can offer them. But, in modern times this is not possible for
most horse owners. There are many horses
kept in the confinement of a stable or small lot with limited amounts of
grazing opportunities. So, we need to
bring the forage to them, usually in the form of hay.
Hay
is grasses, legumes, or a mixture of the two that has been cut, dried (at least
80 per cent of the moisture removed), and packaged. Cereal grains such as oats and barley may be
harvested for hay. This type of forage
requires that the stems still be green and the grain in the soft dough stage
for optimal nutrition. If it is cut
after it is mature the grain will fall off and the fiber left will be
straw.
In
order for the hay to be of good quality the forage must be of good
quality. It must be cut at the right
time of maturity, processed correctly, and stored properly.
As
forage matures it looses nutrients. The
timing of the cutting is critical to the nutrition of the end product. The leaves of grass contain most of the
nutrients. As the plant matures the stem
grows thicker and the leaves become thinner.
The stem is made up of cells.
Lignin is a major component of the cell walls and helps support the
stem. When mature, the lignin is dead,
hollow, and non-digestible. The younger
the grass plant is when harvested the more digestible the hay will be. Grass should be harvested before the seed
heads become mature.
Legume
leaves do not change as they mature and the stems are designed to be strong for
support. Legumes have more nutritional
value when the leaf to stem ratio is high.
The nutrition available to the horse is in the leaves, not the
stem. The leaf to stem ratio decreases
as the plant matures. Once the legume
plant is in full bloom the nutritional value has started to drop.
When
harvesting hay the goals are to process it when the nutrient value is at its
highest and dry it so it will not spoil.
Hay needs to be baled when the moisture is less than 20%. If the hay is baled at higher moisture levels
it will heat, mold and the protein will decrease. Stored wet hay can get hot enough to cause
spontaneous combustion.
Never feed moldy hay to a horse.
The
most common method of judging if the hay is dry enough to bale is by feel. A handful of hay is pulled from under the
windrow and it is bent or twisted. The
stems should be dry and brittle with no apparent moisture. A more reliable method is the use of a
moisture meter. It is an electronic
device that measures moisture in hay.
The
harvesting procedure is pretty much uniform across the country. The forage is cut, conditioned, dried, and
baled. Different pieces of equipment may
be used, but the ultimate goal remains the same.
Bales of hay are available in several
sizes. The most popular is the small
square bales, which weigh between 30 and 70 pounds. Most stables prefer this size, as they are
easy to handle and store.
Large
square and large round bales, which can weigh from 500 to 2,000 pounds, are
becoming more common. They are less
labor intensive to create and can be stored outside. If stored outside up to 1/3 of the hay can be
wasted.
Proper
storage is critical to the nutritional value of the forage. Moisture causes mold and overheating. Hay should be stacked on wood. Stacking hay on concrete or directly on the
dirt floor promotes moisture absorption.
The storage area needs to be well ventilated, but not open so rain or
snow comes in contact with the forage.
Restrict access to birds, rodents, and cats. Their fecal material can contaminate the hay
causing disease or make it unpalatable to the horse.
THE MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT –
WATER
The
most important nutrient, water, is also the most neglected.
A
horse can live several weeks without food, but will die in five to six days
without water.
The amount of water needed by
the horse varies with circumstances.
Temperature, humidity, type of forage, age, over-all health, and
activity level play a big part in water requirements.
A healthy horse at rest, in a cool environment
with low humidity, eating lush green grass, and not producing milk may only
have a requirement of one-half gallon per one hundred pounds of body weight per
day. This means a horse weighing 1,000
pounds may only need 5 gallons of water in a 24-hour period.
The
performance horse or lactating broodmare may have a requirement of more than
one and a half gallons per hundred pounds of body weight per day. These horses need to replace the fluids being
lost through exertion and milk production.
This 1,000 pound horse may need 15 gallons or more per day.
Due to the wide range of water
requirements and the importance of water to the digestive system, fresh clean
water must be freely accessible. Even a
horse that has been working and is very hot should have access to water in a
managed form. Allowing a hot horse to
have several swallows every five minutes while cooling out is recommended.
Water consumption directly
affects feed intake. If a horse is
deficient in water he will decrease the amount of feed he eats.
Water is needed for digestion. Lack of water is one of the main causes of
impaction colic. The feed in the
digestive tract becomes dry and will not move through properly, resulting in a
blockage and colic.
The quality of water is very
important. If the horse has access to
water, but he will not drink it or it is contaminated, then severe health
problems can occur.
Water sources come in many
forms; public water supplies, wells, ponds, streams, and run-off.
Water from a public supplier is
probably the safest as the system will have filtration, purification, and
testing procedures are regulated and continuing. As long as there is not a
breech in the line and the delivery system within the barn is clean, the water
should be safe for consumption.
Water from a well should be
tested. The health department or local
agricultural extension agency can test water for bacteria, minerals, and pH
levels. These tests should be conducted
annually.
Ponds, streams, and water from
run-off should not be used as the sole source of drinking water. Fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides,
bacteria, and other forms of contaminants can be present. The water supply can dry up or become stagnant. Blue-green algae growth in a pond can cause a
type of poisoning which may result in the death of the horse.
The
availability of fresh clean water is one of the most important duties for which
a stable manager is responsible. Many
colic episodes can be avoided. A clean, filled water container speaks volumes
about the stable manager’s attention to details.
SALT
A
severe salt deficiency can cause a horse to die.
Salt is an essential nutrient -
the body needs it, but cannot manufacturer it.
Salt must be provided in the diet.
An average sized horse (1100-pounds),
at rest, needs about two ounces of salt per day. Four - five ounces may be needed on hot days
and during strenuous exercise when sweat is being produced.
Approximately six teaspoons
equals one ounce.
There is some salt in commercially
produced feeds. If the product is fed
according to the feeding directions an ounce of salt per day may be provided by
the feed. This is not enough salt.
Salt must be provided in some
form…block or loose.
I do not like salt blocks. Blocks of salt were designed for cattle. Cattle have rough tongues. That is why many horses bite and destroy the
blocks…they are trying to get the needed salt.
I recommend loose white granulated salt -
it looks just like table salt. Local
feed stores will have it in 50-pound bags.
It will be more economical than the blocks. You can also use salt from the grocery store.
Horses that are salt starved
must be introduced to salt slowly. Salt
poisoning is possible if salt is suddenly available. Symptoms of salt poisoning are digestive
upset and cramps.
Salt is the only mineral which
horses know they need.
Increased consumption of salt
will increase water intake. A full salt
feeder next to a fresh clean bucket of water is required in all horse areas -
at all times.
GRAIN
Feeding
grain to horses can be a very dangerous practice.
Horses do not have a
nutritional requirement for grain!
Grains contain soluble
carbohydrates, which if not broken down before they reach the large intestine
can cause problems.
The equine digestive system is
designed to utilize forage...long stem fiber (grass and hay).
The horse has a small stomach,
which fills and empties fast. He is a
grazer…or trickle feeder. Very little
feed is digested in the horse's stomach.
Stomach acids simply start the feed breakdown and then pass it along.
Most of digestion takes place
in the small and large intestine.
The small intestine utilizes
fat, the fat soluble vitamins A, D, and E, most minerals and the soluble
carbohydrates and protein provided by the grain portion of the diet. Feed passes very quickly through the small
intestine and here is where the trouble can begin - if undigested soluble carbs
reach the large intestine.
The large intestine utilizes
insoluble carbohydrates and protein from the fiber (forage) portion of the
diet, but can't utilize soluble carbs.
The cecum (part of the large intestine) contains microbes which can
break down the hard-to-digest long stem fiber - extracting the nutrients.
We must keep the large
intestine happy. If soluble
carbohydrates make it into the large intestine the microbial balance in the
cecum is upset and gas colic may occur.
So if soluble carbohydrates
are dangerous to horses - why feed grain?
We feed our horses to provide
nutrients required to maintain, grow, reproduce, heal and fuel the body. If the forage does not meet those needs then grain
or supplements must be added…or better forage offered.
How do we know if a horse needs
grain? By observation.
There are ten basic categories:
1. Nursing foal: Creep feed should
be provided, in addition to the dam’s milk.
2. Young growing horses: A feed mix
designed for young growing horses should be provided.
3. Idle or inactive adult horses:
grain will probably not be
required, depending on the forage quality and availability.
4. Working horses:
a.
light work: grain may be needed, depending on the forage quality.
b.
moderate work: grain may be needed, depending on the forage quality.
c.
intense work: grain probably will be needed.
5. Horse in reproduction:
a.
breeding stallions: grain may be needed depending on body condition.
b.
open mares or healthy mares in the first eight months of pregnancy: grain may
not be needed, but make sure vitamins and mineral
requirements are being met.
c.
mares in the last three months of pregnancy: grain may not be needed, but make sure vitamins and mineral
requirements are being met.
d.
lactating mares: grain may be needed.
Lactation requires peak nutrition.
6. Senior horses – a special feed
may be required.
7. Obese or easy-keepers (some
ponies and draft types may be included here) No grain
needed!
8. Underweight horses: Grain will
probably be needed.
9. Horses with health issues:
consult your veterinarian or equine nutritionist.
10. Horses on poor quality hay,
limited hay or poor forage: grain will be needed, but it would be safer and better for the horse if
plenty of better quality forage be provided.
Know the horses under your
care.
If
there is an easy keeper in your stable, with no health issues and on good
quality forage he will not need grain.
Free choice salt, fresh clean water and the forage is all he needs. A vitamin/mineral supplement may be needed
depending on the geographical location; for example - vitamin E and selenium.
If it is decided to feed
grain to a horse choose the correct feed for the age, activity level and forage
being offered. Read the
feed tag and follow directions!
Feed small frequent meals in order to keep the soluble carbohydrates
from being forced through to the large intestine.
While
reading the feeding directions, notice the amount to be fed is stated in pounds
or kilograms. Every feed room must
have a scale. Feed should be weighed and
fed according to the feeding directions.
I have yet to see feeding directions
that state “Feed your horse two scoops twice a day, along with two flakes of
hay.”
If
you don’t have a scale, you need to get one.
You’ll need it for the assignment.
SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements
- the dictionary should define them as "big business for the horse
industry", instead of "to provide for what is lacking".
Many times supplements are
used as an attempt to fix a problem quick and easy. I have had many calls asking essentially the
same question, "What can I give my horse to... calm him down…give him
energy… cure his lameness… make him shiny…make him fat…make his hooves
grow…?" They are looking for the
magic silver bullet, but there is none.
Supplements can be vitamins, minerals,
herbs, enzymes, or amino acids. The
product can be one ingredient or a combination of several. They can be natural
or synthetic (produced in a laboratory)…or a combination of these.
Before adding supplements to a
horse's diet several steps should be taken.
1.
Examine the current feed program.
The horse must have access to fresh
clean water and free salt choice salt at all times.
Make
sure good quality forage is being provided and enough is being fed. In most cases just increasing the hay will
cure many problems (ulcers, thin horses, nervous horses, bored horses, horses
that chew, horses that eat their own manure, frequent colic…the list is long).
Determine if the concentrate being fed
is the correct one for the horse's age, activity level, and current health
status. Is the product being fed
according to the label…the correct amount to meet the nutritional levels
desired? Does the product compliment the forage being fed?
•
One important note. If you are feeding a
premium commercial grain product at the recommended amount, manufacturers do
not recommend feeding supplements. These premium products are highly fortified
and highly digestible …problems can occur with over supplementation.
2.
Is the health care program up-to-date?
Examine the teeth. Is the horse able to chew properly?
Make sure an effective de-worming program
is in place.
3.
Observe the horse.
If he is in a herd situation
make sure he is receiving his share of the feed. If a horse is at the bottom of the pecking
order he will be pushed to the back and not allowed to eat.
Does he exhibit any health
problems that could be related to diet…such as tying-up or laminitis?
Is his coat healthy? Are his
eyes bright and clear? Is he carrying
the desired amount of body fat?
Before
adding a supplement to the diet, blood tests and hair analysis may be used as an
aid in searching for an answer.
Make
management changes before adding a supplement to the diet.
Blood test results can help
diagnose Cushing's disease, liver and kidney failure, infection, anemia, the
presence of parasites, and many other health related problems.
Hair analysis is used to
determine the mineral content of hair, which is believed to reflect the mineral
content in the body over a period of time.
It has also been used to determine the presence of toxic metals in the
system.
Once these steps are completed
and the horse given time to adjust to any changes, it may be possible a
supplement is needed. Illness, stress, age, or providing a poor quality feed
can warrant supplementation. It is best
to work with your veterinarian when using high doses or feeding more than one
supplement. Toxic levels and mineral
imbalances can occur.
HOW TO PROVIDE THE FEED
HAY
Visit most stables and you will
notice hay racks in every corner of every stall. Are these racks provided for the health and
well-being of the horse or the convenience of the care-giver?
Horses
in their natural environment eat with their heads down. This position allows nasal passages to drain
and permits them to see almost 360 degrees.
Offering hay in an overhead hay
rack creates health problems, and is most definitely not natural.
Dust and hay seeds falling into
the eyes causes irritation. The debris is detrimental to the lungs and
can lead to respiratory problems…or exacerbate an existing condition, such as
heaves or COPD.
Horses are prey animals and they
must stay alert to avoid being eaten.
Even while in the “safety” of a stall the instinct is to survive.
If
the hay is placed at the back of the stall, so the horse’s hindquarters face
the door, a stressful situation is created.
A horse may spend a lot of time grabbing a mouthful of hay and turning
toward the front in order to face perceived danger. Relaxation is not achieved - possibly leading
to a horse that cribs and weaves.
Scattering the hay around the stall simulates grazing.
Instead of placing the flakes in one
corner, break the flakes apart and scatter 
them.
Burying the material under bedding can create the atmosphere of grazing. This method of providing hay can slow a
cribber or a weaver’s vice. Looking for
the hay takes some time and keeps the lips working. Watch a horse eat and notice how the lips
work to sort and gather. Creating as
close to a natural environment as possible can eliminate vices.
Try this experiment. Put hay in the hay feeder and put hay on the
ground. Notice which offering the horse
chooses.
Do not place hay under the grain
feeder. Hay under the feed box will not
allow the horse to use his eyes and puts the horse in a situation where he can
bang his head.
Observe a horse
eating hay out of an overhead hay feeder.
Once hay is on the ground he will switch from the feeder to the hay on
the ground. Some horses will throw the
hay out of the feeder…they know what’s natural.
Horses fed hay in a dry lot or
pasture should have their hay scattered.
This method of providing hay gives several benefits to the horses.
Scattering the hay allows horses on the lower end of the pecking order
to get their share. 
Scattered hay also simulates grazing
as the horses move around looking for choice leaves. Distributing the hay over a large area avoids
creating the mud holes that appear around hay feeders.
Outside hay feeders can be
dangerous to horses. In addition to dust
and debris falling in the eyes (if the hay is overhead) horses can become
entangled in the legs or framework of the feeder.
Placing hay in old tire casings
can create a dangerous situation.
Overtime the steel belts and metal reinforcement fibers become exposed
leading to sharp ends. Horses have also
been known to catch a fetlock on the edge and drag the tire.
Horses, especially foals, can
fall into low bin feeders. These feeders
are also hard to keep clean.
Hay nets or bags are popular, but
the high position allows debris to fall in the eyes and can create respiratory
problems. Horses often get feet
entangled in hay nets.
Hay bags are best for providing
hay in a trailer; avoid the nets. I
recommend on long trips that you allow the horse to lower his head during rest
stops so nasal passages can drain.
GRAIN
I
also recommend the grain or commercial feed mix be offered in a low pan placed
on the ground. It is the most natural
way for a horse to eat.
Fresh clean water, loose salt and plenty of hay.
SUPPLYING THE FEED
It
may be your job to buy the feed. If you
are managing a “for-profit” stable, this is an area that can affect the bottom
line. It is also an area that can be
mismanaged and lead to long term problems.
If
feed prices increase, do not buy cheaper feed.
There is a reason it is cheap. In
the long run you will end up feeding more to maintain the health and fitness of
the horses. Increasing feed because it
is of poor quality will lead to colic.
Many
stables will start to get “frugal” when feed prices go up. Stable managers may start decreasing the
amount of hay and concentrates horses are receiving in order to cut costs. Starving horses is not the answer to economic
problems.
If
your costs go up, you must pass it on to the clients. This is where accurate bookkeeping is a big
help. Explain to your clients that feed
costs are increasing and in order to maintain the same level of excellent care,
the boarding fee must increase. Most
will understand and appreciate your care and concern. If not, they may be at the wrong stable.
In
order to keep feed expenses low there are several options. Consider buying in large quantities. Most feed suppliers have volume
discounts. If you have hay storage, try
to purchase hay when it is being harvested or buy large truckloads. You may be able to work out a deal with a
local farmer to buy all his hay and leave it stored in his barn. A neighboring stable or group of friends may
be able to buy feed together in order to take advantage of volume discounts.
When
buying feed concentrates (sweet feed, pellets, “grain”) be sure to keep them
fresh. Try to buy fresh feed every month
during the heat and humidity of the summer.
In the winter it will keep longer.
Watch the freshness of the feeds at the feed store. If the bags are covered in dust, shop worn
and look old – refuse it. Check the
manufactured dates. Don’t be shy – the
health of the horses under your care and your reputation as a stable manager is
at stake.
Click here to
read an article about storing feed.
http://www.thewayofhorses.com/feed_storage_0708.html
Rotate
feeds. When a new delivery of hay or
grain arrives, use the old first. Be
sure to blend feed and gradually introduce any new feed to the horses over at
least seven days. This includes
hay. Every batch of hay is different
from the previous batch. It may have been
harvested on a different day, from a different field or even from a different
supplier. The nutrient content will not
be identical to the previous batch. The
sensitive equine digestive system must be given time to adjust to the new feed.
I
can guarantee, if visitors to your barn see healthy fit horses with clean
filled water buckets and horses munching happily on plenty of good quality hay
you will have a waiting list of new clients.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Start with
the lips, list the parts of the equine digestive system in the order feed
travels. Briefly describe what happens
in each section.
2. Using the
following steps send me a report of your findings while conducting your own
dental exam.
a. Watch a
horse eat. Notice if he drops grain or
tilts his head to the side while chewing or if he dunks his hay in the water.
These are all signs of potential problems.
b. While
standing in front of the horse - be careful he doesn't throw his head and hit
you with the end of his nose....place your fingers on either side of his cheek
about where his back teeth start.
Gently feel along the side of his jaw.
See of you can feel the top row and the bottom row. Go down the top
row...gently palpating...notice if he seems sore when you touch a certain
area. Then do the same along the bottom
row.
c. Lift his
lips and check his front and side teeth.
Notice any chips and how they are aligned. If he won't let you lift his lips to look at
his front and side teeth you need to practice.
Notice if the gums are pink and healthy.
d. If you are
able to reach in and pull the tongue off to the side – include in your report
what is found. If you do not know how to
do this have your veterinarian or equine dentist show
you.
If you detect any problems you'll need
to call a vet or equine dentist. This is
not a thorough exam, but it can help you decide if a more intense exam is
needed. Every horse should have their
teeth examined at least once a year by someone that can check the back ones -
those are the teeth that develop points, which can lead to chewing problems and
utilization of feed.
3. Please contact two feed suppliers. Ask for prices on a horse feed – try to
compare the same feed. Ask if they offer
volume discounts. Tell me about your
findings.
4. Locate feeding directions for the feed you
used in number three. How much would it
cost to feed an 800 pound adult horse at maintenance activity level per day? Please include the math so I can follow your
calculations.
5. Please send
me a report about what your demo horse eats, how much, how often and how is it
provided. Be sure to weigh the feed –
please don’t tell me he eats “two scoops of sweet feed and two flakes of hay”! How many pounds does he eat? Are you feeding
it according to the feeding directions?
Include all supplements and why they are offered.
Please send your reports to elblazer@horsecoursesonline.com
Be sure to include your full name and
correct email address on all documents.
*
For a more in depth study of equine nutrition and to learn how to balance a
ration,
please take the online course
Nutrition for Maximum Performance.