Basic principles of feeding horses The foundation of any horse’s diet is a steady, unending flow of forage. Since hay has lost the nutrients that live pasture once had, a comprehensive supplement or fortified feed and a source of omega 3s are needed to fill in nutritional gaps. Protein quality is best maintained by feeding a variety of protein sources, rather than only one type of forage. A balanced, varied, and nutritious diet protects the horse’s ability to naturally fight off disease, produce and repair tissues, and prevent degenerative diseases. And equally important, a calm, stress-free environment should be maintained to prevent the damaging hormonal response that can lead to ulcers, colic, allergies, metabolic syndrome, and even laminitis and equine Cushing’s disease.
The same rules apply for the miniature horse, but there are several considerations unique to these animals that we must not overlook. In fact, by ignoring the distinctive needs of the miniature horse, the well-intentioned owner can create serious health problems. To help you avoid potential difficulties, let’s review the guidelines for a healthy miniature horse.
Minis gain weight easily and tend to be overfed Miniature horses are easy keepers; they tend to hold on to body weight and have a genetic propensity toward insulin resistance. On top of this, they are often overfed. Guessing their weight when portioning out feeds can result in feeding far too many calories. Knowing your mini’s weight is not only important for calculating feed and supplement amounts, it is also necessary for administering medications and dewormers.
Since weight tapes are not accurate for the miniature horse, you’ll want to calculate his weight using one or the average of these formulas.
1. Body weight (pounds) = (Girth in inches X 9.36) + (length in inches X 5.01) - 348.53
2. Body weight (pounds) = (Girth in inches X 11.68) + (height in inches X 2.85) - 357.26
3. Body weight (pounds) = (Girth in inches X 13.18) - 326.07
Instructions: To measure the girth, place the tape just behind the front legs and over the base of the withers. Pull the tape snug, but not tight enough to depress the flesh. For height, stand the horse squarely on level ground or pavement and measure the vertical distance from the ground to the top of the withers. The tape should be kept perpendicular to the ground, not laid against the horse. Length is measured from the middle of the horse's chest, along the side, and around to a point under the center of the tail.
Metric conversions:
To convert centimeters to inches, divide by 2.54.
To convert pounds to kg, divide by 2.2.
Courtesy of
Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D.
Getty Equine Nutrition
Please visit her Website!
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