What do Horses Eat?

Horses really love green grass, and they like clover even better. Just like people, different horses prefer different kinds of grass, and they'll pick it out of a mixture if there are different kinds available. Some horses even like weeds - like Thistles. You'd think the spikes around the flowers would hurt their mouths, but they don't seem to.

In winter, when there's no green grass, horses eat hay. Hay is nothing more than vegetation that has been carefully dried and bundled up into bales for easy storage. Different horse breeders have different opinions about what kind of hay their horses should eat. I prefer grass hay, which is usually Timothy. Sometimes it has a little clover mixed in. But some breeders believe in feeding alfalfa to horses.

Alfalfa is more like clover, with little flowers and leaves. It is a richer food, so they need less of it. It is good for horses who get plenty of exercise, but might be harmful to some horses because it is so rich.

I'd rather let my horse have more to eat, because in winter that's about all he has to do to keep from being bored!

Some people feed hay that has been processed into cubes and comes in sacks, much like any other grain. This is another way to feed alfalfa to horses, because the cubes are usually alfalfa, or alfalfa mixed with other grasses.

Horses also like grain. I believe in feeding horses oats, but there are many different mixtures of grain for different purposes. Some have corn or barley. Some have beet pulp, and many have molasses mixed in. Molasses tastes like candy to horses, so they think they're getting dessert. You can buy special grain mixtures for feeding baby horses, for feeding mares with babies, for feeding horses who are in hard training, and for senior horse care, too.

Along with grass or hay and grain, horses need salt. Horse salt comes in a 50# block and is left where they can get it every day. They eat as much as they need. There are also mineral blocks for horses whose food doesn't give them enough minerals. When they need it, they'll eat it. When they don't need any more, they don't eat it. Wouldn't it be good if people were as smart as horses?

Older horses sometimes develop problems with their leg joints and they need supplements to help them. My horse gets his glucosamine every day with his grain. It's a sweet tasting liquid, so he eats it up quickly! If he's feeling stiff or sore he also gets a dose of "horse asperin" so he can move around better.

Horses love treats, too. My horses love summer and fall, when good things come out of the garden and into their feeders. Among the favorites are peas - and the pea plants; corn - and the corn stalks, carrots - tops and all; and apples. The funny part is, like people, they each have their preferences. Little Guy absolutely loves apples - he'll make a real pest of himself trying to get into your pockets if he smells one hidden there. Max, on the other hand, prefers an ear of corn over any other treat.

I had a horse once who loved watermellon. You should have seen the froth he made when he dove in and started munching a big slice of it!