Horses primarily eat forage, such as grasses and hay, which makes up the vast majority of their diet. In addition to forage, horse diets can include grains, fruits, vegetables, and supplements. In this article, we will expand on the various types of food horses consume, the nutritional requirements of a horse’s diet, and how their living environment influences their eating habits.
Forage: The Foundation of a Horse’s Diet
Forage, both in the form of fresh grasses and preserved hay, is the most essential component of a horse’s diet. Horses are grazing animals, which means they have evolved to consume small amounts of food throughout the day. Their digestive systems are specifically designed to process high-fiber forage. Here are the most common types of forage:
- Fresh Grasses: Pasture grasses such as timothy, ryegrass, brome, and fescue are a natural and nutrient-dense food source for horses.
- Hay: In environments where fresh grass is limited or unavailable, horses may be fed hay as the primary source of forage. Hay is typically made from various types of grass and sometimes mixed with legumes such as alfalfa or clover.
Grains, Fruits, and Vegetables
Although forage is the main staple of a horse’s diet, additional foods may be provided depending on the horse’s age, workload, and nutritional requirements. These can include:
- Grains: Oats, corn, and barley are often used to provide concentrated energy for horses with higher energy requirements, such as racehorses or performance horses.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Some examples of horse-friendly fruits and vegetables include apples, carrots, pumpkin, and beet pulp. These can be given in moderation as treats or for added nutrition.
*Note: Horse owners should always consult a veterinarian or equine nutritionist before introducing new foods or making significant changes to their horse’s diet.
Nutritional Requirements of a Horse’s Diet
A horse’s diet must meet specific nutritional requirements for optimal health and performance. The major components of a horse’s daily nutritional needs include:
- Energy: Primarily derived from carbohydrates, energy is essential for maintaining body condition, growth and development, and physical activity.
- Protein: Required for growth, tissue repair, and maintaining muscle mass.
- Fat: An essential source of energy, particularly for endurance horses.
- Fiber: Crucial for maintaining healthy digestion and gut function.
- Vitamins and Minerals: These support various bodily functions, such as immune health and bone development.
The Impact of Living Environment and Workload on a Horse’s Diet
A horse’s living environment and workload can significantly impact their nutritional needs. Factors to consider when planning a suitable horse diet include:
- Access to pasture: Horses living on pasture with plenty of fresh grass available have different nutritional needs compared to stabled horses primarily fed hay.
- Workload: Performance, race, and working horses have higher energy and nutrient requirements than pleasure or retired horses.
- Age and life stage: Young, growing horses and pregnant or lactating mares require different levels of nutrients than adult horses in maintenance.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as laminitis or metabolic disorders, may require a tailored diet under the guidance of an equine veterinarian.
By understanding the various components that make up a horse’s diet and the factors that influence their nutritional needs, horse owners can better provide their equine partners with a balanced and healthy diet.
Fascinating Facts About the Equine Diet
In this section, we’ll unearth a few interesting facts connected to a horse’s diet that add further depth to the question “What do horses eat?”.
The Incredible Efficiency of Grazing
Horses are some of nature’s most efficient grazers. They don’t have the incisors on their upper jaw, which allows them to wrap their thick lips around grass to rip it from the ground. Furthermore, their necks are specially designed with a unique set of muscles that enable horses to raise and lower their heads easily – an evolutionary trait that optimizes grazing.
Dinah’s Molar Power
While horses do have canines and incisors, what really helps them process their fibrous diet is their molars. Horses possess a set of 24 large flat molars that help grind down the grass that makes up the majority of their diet. Interestingly, these teeth never stop growing and are worn down over time by the abrasive action of chewing forage.
The Staggering Amount of Forage a Horse Consumes
Horses eat an impressive amount of food each day, particularly when it comes to forage. A healthy, mature horse typically eats between 1.5% to 3% of its body weight in forage each day – that’s 15 to 30 pounds for a 1,000-pound horse! This intake can increase in cases where a horse is especially active or needs to gain weight.
Unique Digestive System of Horses
Unlike cows that have ruminate digestive systems, horses have a monogastric digestive system similar to humans, meaning they have just one stomach. However, unlike humans, horses are “hindgut fermenters”. They have a large cecum, akin to our appendix, that acts as a fermentation vat where bacteria break down the fibrous parts of a horse’s diet. This unique system allows them to extract nutrients from the large quantities of fiber they consume.
The History of Horses and Oats
Oats have a long history of being the preferred grain for horses. This dates back to when horses were used for heavy labor and required a compact source of energy. Compared to other grains, oats are easier for horses to digest, lower in starch and higher in fiber, making them a more suitable choice. However, modern understanding of horse nutrition tells us that not all horses require additional grain and, in fact, overfeeding grain can lead to health problems.
These facts not only answer the original question more deeply but also paint a comprehensive picture of the horse’s dietary needs, feeding behaviors, and digestive characteristics.
The Role of Water in a Horse’s Diet
Water is a crucial aspect of every living creature’s diet, including horses. An adult horse can drink between 5 to 10 gallons of water per day, with more consumed in warmer climates or when engaging in heavy exercise. Lack of adequate water intake can quickly lead to dehydration and significant health issues in horses, including impaction colic.
Process of Chewing in Horses
Horses have a continuous chewing process that helps them graze for long periods. They primarily use their prehensile lips to select forage, while the incisors snip off the forage at the base. The chewed forage is then passed back to the molars through the series of ridged hard dental tissues between incisors and molars called bars. The molars, characterized by their ridged and rough surface, make it easy for the horse to grind the forage, leading to smaller particle sizes that are easier to digest.
Sensitivity to Mold and Dust
Horses have a highly sensitive respiratory system and are very prone to allergies. This is important to note when discussing what horses eat because mold and dust in feed can lead to serious health problems, including a condition known as heaves (similar to asthma in humans). That’s why hay and other feed for horses must be kept in a dry, well-ventilated place to prevent the growth of molds and accumulation of dust.
Horses Cannot Vomit
Unlike many other animals, horses physically cannot vomit due to a strong band of muscle around the esophagus where it enters the stomach. This trait, most probably a result of evolution, prevents horses from getting rid of toxins or overeating by throwing up. Therefore, diet management becomes critical in the overall health care of a horse.
As you can see, the answer to “What do horses eat?” extends further than a simple list of foodstuffs. Every detail of a horse’s diet, from the amount of forage and water consumed daily, the way horses chew, and even their inability to vomit, all considerably influence their dietary habits and needs.
