Feeding

In short

• Hay is the foundation: a horse needs roughly 1.5–2 % of its body weight a day (500 kg = 8–10 kg), a donkey 1.3–1.8 % (180 kg = 3–4 kg, part of it straw). Never less than 1 % of body weight.
• No empty hours. A horse should never go more than 4–6 hours without something to chew. A small-mesh haynet slows eating.
• Oats only for work, at most roughly 2 kg in one feed. Horses and donkeys that don't work don't need grain.
• Every change of feed takes 10–14 days. On young grass, start with 15–30 minutes a day.
• Mouldy and dusty hay, silage, kitchen scraps and cattle feeds are not for horses.
• A donkey that hasn't eaten for more than 24 hours is an emergency (fatty liver). Call the vet.

What's inside

Chapters

1. How horses and donkeys eat
2. How much hay
3. What kind of hay
4. Grazing and the changeover to grass
5. Oats and hard feed only for work
6. Succulent feeds and treats
7. Water, salt and minerals
8. Body condition and weight
9. Special cases: the old horse, the mare, the foal
10. Daily routine
11. Common mistakes
12. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Hay and oats calculator
• Feed costs
• Daily ration and condition
• Feed stocks
• Feeding calendar