Hay is the basis of your horse’s feeding program. Most horse owners feed either grass hay, legume hay (usually alfalfa), or a grass/legume mix. HorseVitamins.org is a fan of alfalfa/grass mix, where it’s available– it’s the best of both worlds, so to speak. There are many articles on hay selection, and no matter what type of hay you feed, it’s important to make sure that it’s free of mold and not too mature. Moldy hay smells musty, is unusually heavy and packed together, and often contains dark discolored areas, white flecks, and dust which flies when flakes are separated. Over-mature hay contains seedheads and thick, tough stems.
Hay generally comes in small square bales, large square bales, and large round bales. Round bales can be convenient, but care must be taken. They are often stored outside, making them more prone to mold. Also, mold can be hidden deep within an otherwise good bale, making it hard to detect. Small square bales are nice because they are easy to check for quality, and can be moved by one person without machinery.
While many horses can maintain their weight on hay alone, young horses, pregnant or lactating mares, and those in heavy work will need supplemental horse feeds. These are usually in the form of grains or processed pellets which come in 40 to 60lb bags.
Horse feeds run the gamut in price and quality. The best way to get quality horse feeds without getting ripped off will take a bit of effort on your part– and that’s to call your local feed mill and have a custom mix made. Why more people don’t do this is a mystery. It’s much cheaper, and guarantees fresher ingredients with no fillers or chemical preservatives. Check the Yellow Pages for “Feed Mills” or “Feed Stores”. Call them up, and explain that you’d like to have a custom feed made, but have never done so before. They will be more than happy to walk you through the process.
Here’s an excellent mix for a maintenance ration:
29% oats (whole, unhulled)
29% barley (crushed)
29% wheat bran
10% black sunflower seeds (sometimes called “oilers”)
3% molasses
Find out what the minimum amount is that the feed mill is willing to mix. This will usually be 500lbs– 20 bags (don’t worry, they’ll put it in bags for you!). That’s fine if you’ve got two or three horses, or keep your horse at a stable where other owners might be interested in going in on a load together. As long as you have someplace to store 20 bags and a truck to haul it, you’re set (also, some feed mills will deliver).
If you only have one horse, you can talk to horsey friends about splitting a load with you. Or you can go with a commercial feed mix. HorseVitamin.org’s favorite commercial horse feeds are in the Purina Omolene line. Available nationwide, they have five different versions for horses with different nutritional needs. Learn more about the Omolene line of horse feeds at the link below:
