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EQUINE DIET
The basis of all equine diets should be forage (hay or pasture). The equine digestive system is designed to process the continual passage of small amounts of high-fiber roughage. By feeding large amounts of starchy, sugary grains, or feeding indoor horses just two meals per day, you increase the risk of digestive disturbances, such as colic. Another mistake might be feeding only small amounts of extremely rich hay.
"If your horse isn't working very hard, he doesn't need to be fed rich alfalfa hay," says Bob Coleman, Ph.D., assistant professor and equine extension expert at the University of Kentucky. "I would recommend a mostly grass hay; that way your horse can consume the 2 percent of his body weight he needs over a longer period. For a horse kept in a stall or dry paddock, this foraging time is extremely important to his mental state as well as his digestive health."
~ Excerpt from Menu Matchup by Holly Werner
Horse Illustrated: February 2010
Organic vs. Chemical Fertilizers