Re: Do quarter horses require any special diet?

Dear Becky and Amanda,

Your Quarter horse doesn't need any special diet just because it is a 
Quarter horse.  It should be treated like any other horse in its age and 
activity bracket.  That being said, I will make some recommendations in 
diet so that your horse remains active and healthy for a long time.

Equine nutrition is a subject that people spend years in college studying 
and there are many books on the subject, so I can't hope to cover all of 
the facets and details of the horse's diet.  I do hope to get you started 
in the right direction.  If you ever have questions, please ask your local 
Veterinarian.  If you haven't found one yet, I highly recommend you 
establish a relationship with your local equine practitioner.  They can 
answer specific questions, help you with decisions, keep your horse healthy 
and sound, and maybe save its life in a time of need.  An emergency is NOT 
the first time you want to meet your Vet!

Since I am not a Vet yet, I asked Yvonne Hillsden of Cherry Creek 
Canadians, a nutritionalist from Kamloops, BC about some good websights for 
you to look at.  She recommended  http://www.thehorse.com/
which is the websight for The Horse Magazine, an excellent publication with 
many in-depth articles on all aspects of the horse.  Some specific articles 
can be found under nutrition at the following link:  http://www.thehorse.com/timely_tips/index.html

Another source I used and would recommend to any horse owner is the 
book "How to be Your Own Veterinarian (Sometimes)" by Ruth B. James.  She 
spends nearly 30 pages on nutrition and feed.  I, of course, can't write 
that much but I will outline the 5 basics that Dr. James talks about; 
Roughage, Grains (Concentrates), Vitamins and Minerals, Salt, and Water.  
These are the necessary items for any healthy horse to have.

Roughage:  This is a fancy word for Hay and Pasture.  With a good pasture 
during the warmer seasons, a horse may only need a mineral and salt lick, 
and good water.  However, most situations will require additional hay due 
to lack of space.  There are two main types of hay, grasses and alfalfa.  
Grasses can include Bluegrass, Fescue, Timothy and others.  Alfalfa is a 
legume and a very popular hay as well.  Grass hay provides great roughage 
and is good for the horse to chew and provides adequate volume so that the 
horse feels full and satisfied when done eating.  Alfalfa is richer in 
protein and nutrients and is more palatable (kinda like Pizza for us!), but 
unless you have a very active or young horse, free-choice alfalfa may be 
too rich for most horses and will make them overweight.  A combination of 
both is usually a good compromise and one that I and Dr. James recommend.  
Please be careful of the quality of the hay.  Mold and dust can be very 
harmful, as can poisonous weeds.  Get clean, good quality hay, and store it 
in a dry place.

Grains (Concentrates):  These are usually oats or a mix of grains, 
sometimes with molasses and additional oils and/or supplements.  Oils will 
add fat to the horses diet which in small amounts is beneficial.  The 
grains also add many nutrients in small quantities.  A well pastured horse 
may not need concentrates, but a working horse on hay may need some 
additional energy.  Also young horses and older ones with poor teeth may 
need the supplemental nutrition.  I highly recommend talking to your vet 
about additional grain for your horse.  It also is a good way to get 
vitamins and minerals into your horse, by mixing it with grain.  (This is 
one way some natural oils in the grain help as they facilitate the 
absorption of many vitamins and minerals).  As with hay, good quality grain 
is very important.  Look for low dust, weed free, clean, sweet smelling 
grains.

Vitamins and Minerals:  With a healthy diet of pasture, good hay and some 
grains, a horse will get all the vitamins and minerals it needs.  However, 
many areas of the country have certain mineral deficiencies, meaning that 
hay and grain from there will also be deficient in that mineral.  Many 
northern states need to supplement low dosages of vitamin A as well.  
Please consult your local feed store or Vet for more information on mineral 
needs in your area.

Salt:  Such an important mineral it gets its own group.  The Sodium and 
Chlorine electrolytes from salt are important to many bodily functions 
including nerve impulses and muscle contractions.  All horses should have 
free access to a salt lick or even granular salt.  Iodized salt is a 
popular type and adds additional iodine to the diet.  All mammals lose salt 
in their sweat, so additional salt may be needed on hot days or after 
strenuous workouts.  Lots of water needs to be available along with the 
salt so the horse doesn't get too thirsty after licking the salt.

Water:  It may seem strange to list something so obvious, but good, clean, 
plentiful water is very important to good digestion and the horses health. 
 A horse should always have free access to plenty of clean water.  During 
hot periods they may need more.  If the weather is cold, warmed water (40° 
to 50° F is plenty, don't make it hot!) will encourage the horse to drink 
an adequate amount.  If a horse drinks too little, besides dehydration, 
food may become impacted and cause colic.  Water is very important for the 
healthy horse.

I hope that this helps answer some of the questions you had about feeding 
your horse.  There are lots of resources on the web and I highly recommend 
talking with your local vet about the specifics of feeding your new quarter 
horse.  Last, but not least, lots of love and attention is important for 
your horses happiness and health.  Take care and best of luck.
BK