Every horse owner takes pride in the appearance, well being and health of their horse. The first step is to make sure that the horse is properly fed. You should watch your horse's temperment, eating habits, weight and condition carefully to ensure that you are providing the nutrition that your horse needs, in a consistant manner.

Here are nine basic rules of feeding:

1. Feed little and often in imitation of the natural way
   Grazing is the natural way a horse eats, involving eating grass a little at a time throughout the day and night. It often seems as if a grazing horse never stops eating! There is a reason for this; a horse has a small stomach compared to it's size. Therefore, a horse needs a little food in the stomach at all times to allow for properr digestion.
   
   The best way to imitate the natural way is to feed at least three times per day. Ideally, stabled horses should be fed four times a day. The first feed should be early in the morning and the last in the late evening. The other feeds should be spaced evenly between the other two. Half off the horse's daily hay should be reserved for the last feed so that it can be consumed during the night. The grain may be divided equally for each feeding.
   
   

   Ideal Feeding Schedule 6:30 am        Hay & Grain 11:30 am                 Hay 4:00 pm        Hay & Grain 8:30 pm                  Hay

   
   When feeding twice a day, provide 1/2 the daily grain at each feeding and perhaps 2/3 of the roughage at the evening feeding. When horses are putting in a full day's work and you are feeding three times a day, providing 3/8 of the grain and 1/4 of the hay in the morning, the same at noon and 1/4 of the grain and 1/2 of the hay at night is a good rule of thumb. For both schedules, most of the hay is fed at night when horses have ample time to digest roughage and it helps to offset the boredom of the long, relatively inactive night-time hours.

2. Feed plenty of bulk food
   Hay is the main source of bulk food for a stabled horse. It ensures, as with grazing, that the digestive organs are well filled. Successful digestion cannot take place without adequate bulk.

3. Feed according to work done
   This is especially important for concentrated foods (ie. grain). Increase the amount of grain if work is increased, reduce it if the horse is doing less work and stop if the horse is alid up for any reason. As grain is decreased, you can increase the bulk food.

4. Make no sudden changes
   Changes in the type of food or the feeding routine must be gradual. Alter it gradually over a 7 - 10 day period. This includes putting horses out on pasture in the spring. Do it gradually so their digestive system will adjust.

5. Keep the same feeding hours daily
   Horses are creatures of habit and an irregular feeding schedule can affect their disposition.

6. Feed only clean and good quality hay
   Mouldy, musty or dusty hay can affect the health and well being of your horse. Feed only mould free hay and grains, and make every effort to minimize dust. Lightly watering the feed will help reduce dust in some hay. Keep feed tubs, water buckets and mangers clean. Saliva, feed particles and warmth provide an excellent environment for bacterial growth.

7. Feed something succulent every day
   If possible, this helps to compensate for the lack of fress grass. Succlent foods include carrots, parsnips, turnips, apples and pears. About two or three pounds should be fed on a regular basis or not at all because a sudden introduction, in quantity, to the diet may cause colic.

8. Do not work your horse hard immediately after a full feed
   When the stomach is full, it affects the working of the lungs and heart. When possible allow at least 1 hour after feeding before working a horse and 1 hour after work before feeding.

9. Provide free choice water at all times
   An idle adult horse will consume 12-14 gallons of water daily; hot weather, hard work and lactation can nearly double this amount. If water is not available at all times, horses should be watered three times per day before feeding.