[cool breeze]

my mare is a 5 years old quarter horse, i want to have your advice on what i feed her whit and the amount. She is just a good healthy weight right now and i ride her at least 3 to 4 times a week for about 1 hour and a half each time...At first she stays outside. She get good hay(sorry for my english) du foin and i changed her to one pound twice a day of pallets 12% whit supplements + a good spoon of vitamins in the morning and removed the oats.....that was advice from the veterinarian. Can i have your advice please

[Sue B]

If I understood you correctly....you are feeding a good quality hay, a grain based 12% protein pelleted feed at the rate of 2 lbs/day, a vit/min mix and a weight gain supplement. You replaced plain oats with the pelleted feed?

How much hay....is it always or nearly always there for her to eat?

If this is the case....and she is in good weight and stays focused while working.....then it sounds like a good diet to me. You haven't really provided enough information to make any comments. But, based on your general comments about the horse and the feeding program, I would say it is adequate and serving you well.

[ejforrest]

You are not working the horse hard and horses do better on "simple" more natural diets such as hay, salt/mineral block, and fresh clean water.
"Forage is the basis of the equine diet. Horses should ingest 1.5% to 3% of their body weight each day and at least half of their diet should be forage, such as hay or grass. Fiber is the most important ingredient of the equine diet and fiber should make up at least 50%, by weight, of a horses daily diet. Sugar beet pulp is an excellent source of fiber".
"A value of 0.60 grams of digestible protein per kilogram of body weight per day is appropriate for most adult horses or 10.5% for a mature horse doing light work(pleasure riding)".
"Traditionally, horse owners and feed manufactures have used starch rich cereal grains, such as oats and corn, to provide added calories. But that practice has fallen into disfavor as research shows that too much starch/grains can cause colic, founder, ulcers, tying up, diarrhea, and other health problems." Oats are 50% starch and corn and barely are 60% or higher. That is probably why the vet took the horse off the oats-too much starch.
If you want to feed for weight and energy "fat is now recognized as a valuable energy/weight source. A fat supplemented diet can contain up to 8-10% fat and is well tolorated by the horse."

[cool breeze]

Originally Posted by Sue B

If I understood you correctly....you are feeding a good quality hay, a grain based 12% protein pelleted feed at the rate of 2 lbs/day, a vit/min mix and a weight gain supplement. You replaced plain oats with the pelleted feed?

How much hay....is it always or nearly always there for her to eat?

If this is the case....and she is in good weight and stays focused while working.....then it sounds like a good diet to me. You haven't really provided enough information to make any comments. But, based on your general comments about the horse and the feeding program, I would say it is adequate and serving you well.

Thank you, that s what i was thinking , but whit advice u feel more secure
Thank you,
Serge

[cool breeze]

Originally Posted by ejforrest

You are not working the horse hard and horses do better on "simple" more natural diets such as hay, salt/mineral block, and fresh clean water.
"Forage is the basis of the equine diet. Horses should ingest 1.5% to 3% of their body weight each day and at least half of their diet should be forage, such as hay or grass. Fiber is the most important ingredient of the equine diet and fiber should make up at least 50%, by weight, of a horses daily diet. Sugar beet pulp is an excellent source of fiber".
"A value of 0.60 grams of digestible protein per kilogram of body weight per day is appropriate for most adult horses or 10.5% for a mature horse doing light work(pleasure riding)".
"Traditionally, horse owners and feed manufactures have used starch rich cereal grains, such as oats and corn, to provide added calories. But that practice has fallen into disfavor as research shows that too much starch/grains can cause colic, founder, ulcers, tying up, diarrhea, and other health problems." Oats are 50% starch and corn and barely are 60% or higher. That is probably why the vet took the horse off the oats-too much starch.
If you want to feed for weight and energy "fat is now recognized as a valuable energy/weight source. A fat supplemented diet can contain up to 8-10% fat and is well tolorated by the horse."

Thank you for ure information
Serge