Practical Horse Nutrition

In this video, I interview two experienced Equine Nutritionists and they talk about the best feed ingredients, why feeding forage is so important, how to choose the best hay for your horse, the most common mistakes people make feeding their horses, and they explain the science behind the old adage of a horse who is "feeling his oats."
Find more professional interviews at www.crktrainingblog.com

[@megang.8614]

Your videos are always full of such helpful information. I binged watched most of your videos and love your content. Thank you so much for bringing a different teaching style into view! Where I grew up it most of the coaches I knew and trained under had similar techniques to one another and you’ve opened up my mind to new ways. I’d love to teach years down the road and really appreciate your teachings! Sending love from a Canadian living in Italy ❤️🐴

[@rlews1531]

I know this is an older video, but hopefully you see it for addressing in some future video on the subject. Based on my experience and what my vet says, there's a huge problem in my area (NC) with overweight and obese horses (body ratings 7-9) if they are allowed in pasture, which many owners try to do for mental health. Despite many "nutritional experts," there's virtually no way for a horse owner to develop a working plan for the horse. We're told they need roughage 24/7 from the veterinary community, but then have dangerously fat horses. The problem is that there's no guidance on caloric intake from grazing on various grasses in hourly increments. Sure, they say that it's non-linear, meaning a horse on pasture for 4 hours will eat more than 1/2 of grazing for 8 hours. But that's the extent of it. And muzzling. There are two major styles of muzzles, and horse use them differently (despite both having the same size hole in the middle). With the clear plastic ones, the horses tend to eat from the side. The point is that we need information on caloric intake on both types at 2hr increments. Not statements like "muzzling we reduce intake ...." And what about the time of day. My vet says the sugars change dramatically between the range of 10 am-4 pm, and the rest of the day. If this is true, how much change. CAn you get the same calories with an un-muzzled with 8 hrs grazing at night, as 4 hrs grazing even with a muzzle from noon to 4? Since it takes so long to see what's happening with your horse (a month or more), it's nearly impossible to use trial and error. We need real help, not broad statements? One last point -- it bugs me to hear about "quality hay". What is that? Are they talking about mold or nutrients (calories). A "crappy" bale of hay in terms of nutrients (but not mold or dust) strikes me as much better than high nutrient (high calorie) as we fight obesity in our horses in the east.

[@lhillenburg]

the cat is a show stealer

[@deadgirlssdontcry]

Lena Hillenburg yes the cat is a show stealer: :3

[@AleaCaprice]

Hey. I'm in the process of buying a new horse. He is a 5 y/o off the track TB between 16.3 and 17 hands. He has been out of training for 7 months and lost a lot of muscle on his top line. He is not freakishly skinny just needs to put his weight back on. I want to make sure as I am exercising him more that he gets proper nutrition so I'm trying to find a good supplement to his hay feed. This video has given me a pretty good idea what I should look for when choosing a grain supplement but my question is: Should I feed him grain every day or just on training days or only a few days a week? I know that some people believe that it can mess with the horses stomach if I only feed him grain on certain days and others don't recommend to feed grain every day, so I'd like to hear a professional's opinion on this. Thank you!

[@margaretmeaker2830]

Feed the same feed everyday.. horses microbes are adapted to get that feed.. on days u don't work your horse you can reduce the quantity fed..

[@hammieluvr1586]

hello, so I am going to soon be taking my horse from my boarding barn and take him to my house and my question is this, my horse is what you could call a "hard keeper". He is an off the track TB and I (along with my trainer) have had a hard time keeping weight on him even with the platinum performance supplements my vet recommended i've also had a hard time keeping muscle on him (which has caused back issues) he is currently being fed purina strategy and coastal hay. So how much grain and how many flakes of hay should he get and how often per day, also is it better to feed small amounts and often or large amounts and only once or twice a day? Hope you can help!:)

[@callieraeking]

I would recommend finding a good quality grass hay and feeding him as much of it as he will eat - so try to keep it available to him all day long. For the grain or "concentrated" feed, small feeding more often are definitly better. I would look for a feed that is higher in fat to supplement the strategy. I have had a lot of success with hard to keep horses using Buckeye's Gro and Win supplemented with their Ultimate Finish product.

[@hammieluvr1586]

thanks i wasn't quite sure if i could give him a lot of hay would it be good to put it in a hay net so he isn't over eating as he will mow thru 2 bales or so a day if i let him

[@callieraeking]

hammieluvr158 Yes! I do use slow feeder hay nets for several of my horses, but if your horse has trouble with weight, the more forage he eats the better. www.cinchchix.com has some great hay nets

[@hammieluvr1586]

Thank you so much! this helped a ton! :)

[@nicoledavis5719]

I'm sorry but the distinction of Alfalfa NEEDS to be stated, alfalfa has an ENORMOUSLY high level of protein (which can cause in increase in amonia in urine) AND a high calcium level causes a high calcium:phosphorus ratio (which may contribute to developmental orthopedic disease). It also is a filler that makes them feel empty and hungry even after eating a lot. Alfalfa is NOT the same as grass.