Horse feeding: how to feed it well?
A special digestive system
To fully understand your horse's diet , you must first look at how it works... from the inside! So let's take a look at its digestive system.
Unlike other herbivores like cows, your favorite equine has only one stomach. This stomach is quite small, while its small intestine is long and narrow. Because of these characteristics, the horse's digestive system is designed for continuous feeding, divided into small meals .
To realize this, you only have to observe it in the wild or in the field. A horse spends an average of 16 hours a day grazing, and does so in small, successive portions. This behavior allows a constant supply of food to the digestive system without overloading it.
In addition, the horse's large intestine and cecum contain a large number of microorganisms. These microorganisms make up its intestinal flora, which contributes to good digestion. The flora evolves according to the diet, but this evolution is relatively slow: any change in diet must therefore be done gently. 
Continuous tooth growth
Another physiological characteristic to consider when feeding horses is their teeth. These teeth consist of very sharp incisors for cutting grass, which they mainly feed on in the wild. They also include powerful molars for optimal grinding of coarse feed.
In horses, teeth grow continuously : their diet must therefore allow for regular wear to avoid dental problems.
The feed should therefore consist largely of coarse, more fibrous fodder, such as hay or alfalfa. It should also be available at will throughout the day.
What does a horse eat on a daily basis?
While in the wild a horse feeds mainly on fresh grass, things are a little different for a domestic animal.
Your companion's diet will consist primarily of grazed grass and forage such as hay, alfalfa, or straw. The amount of forage ingested varies between 50 and 100 kg per day, depending on the animal's availability and needs.
In smaller quantities, a horse can also consume concentrated feed. These include cereals and any concentrated feed containing grains, vitamins and minerals, such as pellets.
Finally, as a complement, you can give apples , carrots and beets to your faithful companion.
A question of proportions!
As you will have certainly understood, feeding your horse well is not just about giving it the right food. It is about doing it in the right quantities and proportions.
Indeed, if the food is too poor or insufficient, the animal's digestive system can become acidic. In excessive quantities, however, the food can also cause digestive problems, such as colic. It is therefore important to find a balance, in the form of an appropriate method of administration. Namely, food in the right doses and distributed throughout the day in the form of small meals .
This is even more true for a horse in a box, which will regulate itself less well and will be more static than a horse in a field. If your horse is in a box, give it its meals at fixed times , always in rationed quantities.
For a horse in a field , consider the amount of forage available before rationing other feed . Additional forage can be left available in nets, and the portions of field available for grazing can also be limited.
The amount of each feed varies greatly depending on the individual. Gender, age, size, weight, activity, and living conditions are all factors to consider when finding the right portion. Generally speaking, a horse should have access to 2 kg of hay per 100 kg of weight. To properly develop a feed ration, don't hesitate to use this online tool .
The other element to consider for a well-balanced diet is the nutritional value of the different foods that make up your pet's diet. First, we will distribute the fodder, the main food with nutritional intake adapted to its needs. We can then supplement with concentrated foods (cereals and pellets) in smaller quantities, but also apples and carrots.
Enjoy your food !
An ideal routine
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