• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Horses
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Care
    • News
    • Fun
    • Heartwarming
    • Videos
    • Rescue
    • Horse Fun
    • Tips For Riders
    • Fun Facts
    • Stories
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Horse Care

    Feeding Your Horse: 8 Important Rules

    Modified: Jun 29, 2020 by ihearthorses · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Horses have sensitive stomachs and complex digestive systems. By domesticating horses, we’ve changed their diets so that they are now very different from what they would be in the horse’s natural habitat. Make sure that you’re familiar with these eight important rules for feeding your horse.

    brown horses eating fresh hay

    1. Maximize Forage

    Your horse’s diet should primarily consist of forage. Forage helps to promote a healthy digestive system in your horse, reducing the chance of colic. Additionally, it takes your horse a good amount of time to consume forage, which makes meals last longer and keeps your horse entertained. Chewing forage (hay) also helps to grind down your horse’s teeth.

    2. Make Feed Changes Gradually

    Because their digestive systems are so sensitive, sudden changes in feed can create real problems for horses. If you need to change your horse’s feed, either by using a different type of feed or increasing or decreasing the amount of feed that your horse receives, then make these changes gradually. Slowly introduce new feeds while reducing the amount of old feed that your horse receives. The same goes for new batches of hay.

    Scenic View of a Horse Grazing in a Green Field

    3. Feed From the Ground

    Your horse is physically built to eat from the ground, so whenever possible, feed your horse from ground-level. Using ground feed pans is a good way to do this. If you’re feeding hay outside, try to place it on a rubber mat to reduce the amount of sand or dirt that your horse ingests with the hay.

    feeding your horse

    4. Stick to a Schedule

    Horses come to know a specific feed schedule, and their digestive systems do not cope with change well. Establish a feeding schedule and stick to it. You can typically vary your feed schedule by an hour or so in either direction, but larger variations can cause problems like colic.

    5. Cool Down Your Horse Before Feeding

    Never feed grain to a horse who has just completed a workout. Instead, give your horse time to cool down before you give him his grain.

    little girl feeding little horse pony winter

    6. Separate Horses for Feeding

    If your horses are turned out in a herd, they may fight over food. It is safest to separate horses when they eat. Separating horses also allows you to monitor each horse’s intake.

    7. Feed Only Quality Products

    Never skimp on the quality of your feed. Low-quality hay can negatively affect your horse’s health. If you have questions about what your horse should be eating, talk with your veterinarian.

    feeding your horse

    8. Keep a Detailed Feed Chart

    In life, the unexpected always happens at the worst time. If you are the person primarily responsible for feeding your horses, then make sure that you always keep a detailed, up-to-date wellness chart. If you are ever delayed or unable to make it to the barn, this chart enables another person to step in and take over.

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

    More Horse Care

    • A woman brushing a brown horse with a green brush.
      7 Ways to Get Rid Of Dandruff on Your Horse
    • Pros and Cons of Braiding Your Horse's Mane or Tail
    • lone brown horse at barn door
      10 Items Every Horse Owner Needs in Their Barn First Aid Kit
    • 6 Important Things The Horse Care Books Don't Tell You

    Sharing is caring!

    17.5K shares
    • Share16.7K
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    Recent Posts

    • 10 Top YouTube Channels for Horse Lovers
    • 11 Horse Gadgets and Apps for Tech Lovers
    • 11 Surprising Christmas Ideas for Horse Lovers
    • 6 Of The Best Places to See Wild Horses in the US
    • 7 Top Podcasts for Horse Lovers (Trending Now)

    Categories

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    iHeartHorses.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 · iHeartHorses Inc.

    17.5K shares
    • 16.7K

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy