Feeding Your Horse Grain

Grain: A grain mix of oats and corn should only be added to the diet when you increase your horse's training, work, or activity. Younger and older horses may also need grain. Horses have small stomachs and short intestines; therefore, they cannot handle large amounts of grain fed to them at one time. When providing grain to horses, it should be done in small amounts (3+ times daily). Be careful not to overuse the grain supplement. It is not healthy for a horse to consume large amounts of concentrated grain and if overused, can cause colic, ulcers, and high insulin levels. A minimum of 1.0 percent body weight of roughage (pasture, hay, or other forage) should be offered daily to ensure adequate intake and digestive health.





For a 1,000 lb. average horse

No work ~ No grain
Light work (1-2 hours per day) ~ 1-1.5 lbs. grain per hour of work
Medium work (2-4 hours per day) ~ 1.5-2 lbs. grain per hour of work
Heavy work (4 or more hours per day) ~ 1.5-2.5 lbs. grain per hour work

Salt should always be available to your horse - either add approximately one to two ounces to your horse's feed or make available a free-choice salt block.

Tip: Does your horse greedily gulp down its grain?

Try this: Put a few large rounded rocks in the bucket (large enough that they can't be eaten or swallowed). The horse will have to nose around and push the rocks aside to get to the grain. This will help to slow down eating so it is not so hurried.

Visit Front Range Frenzy for Easy and Practical Horse Care Tips.

Before You Go Horse Shopping

Know what attributes to look for in a horse and what to ask the owner.

"Horse buying--it's almost magical when you get the horse that's right for you!"

What you need to consider when buying a horse.

Buying a horse--what to consider before buying a horse, choosing a horse, where to look for a horse.

What you need to know before you go horse shopping...

Horse & Tack Online Classified Ads

Front Range Frenzy has added online classifed adds for horses and tack.

View and post ads for horses and horse tack. We list new and used horse tack and saddles for sale, horses for sale, wanted horses, wanted tack, and much more. Tack stores, other horse businesses, and private individuals are all invited to create ads from any riding discipline.

Front Range Frenzy Horse & Tack Online Classifieds

Providing Water for Your Horse

Water: Your horse needs plenty of clean, fresh water at all times. Approximately 50% of an adult horse's body is composed of water. A horse will drink 10 to 12 gallons of water each day. In winter months, stock tank heaters will help to stop ice buildup so that your horse will have access to water.

Make sure a hot horse, such as after exercising or doing heavy work, does not have free access to water right away. Only allow for just a few sips, and then walk him to cool him down. Once the horse's body has cooled down and breathing has returned to normal, let him have water freely. Some horses may refuse to drink later if not offered a small amount of water fairly soon after his workout.

Regularly scrub out buckets, containers, troughs and automatic drinkers. Clean and disinfect community water sources if a sick horse is detected in a group. Sick horses should have access to a separate water source until they are considered healthy again.

Tip: Keeping the mosquito population down

West Nile Virus is a concern. You can put feeder goldfish in pasture water tanks and they will feed off the mosquito larvae that mosquitoes deposit in the water. The goldfish will live throughout the winter as long as the water does not completely freeze.

Tip: To keep the water tank from completely freezing over

In areas susceptible to very hard freezes, a tennis ball or soccer ball floating in the water tank will keep it from completely freezing over.

For more on feeding and watering your horse, visit Front Range Frenzy...