Do Pasture Horses Need Grain?

Do pasture horses need grain?

When looking for Charlottesville horse farms, one must look at the horse’s necessity. Horses naturally eat grass. Grain was only created by man to make the horses heavy and to provide energy. Horses were used to pulling caravans and did not have the luxury of time to graze. Feed bags were invented during this time to supplement the food of horses.

Here are several ways to know if a horse should be given grain:

1. Activity

Horses are created to survive on grass alone. Giving them grain is a decision that can be greatly influenced by the activity of the horse on a daily basis and amount and quality of pasture that is available. If a horse is reserved for  competition, it would be best to calculate the level of activity that the horse will be required to perform. 

2. Age

Young horses that are just babies under the age of five is best to be given grain so that they can reach their full potential. They grow fast and their body needs the energy from food.

3. Breed

The breed of the horse also needs to be considered. There are certain breeds that need a small amount of food. On the other hand, horses such as Thoroughbreds might need more grain to develop into a strong and healthy animal.

Monitoring your horse’s condition is part of being a responsible owner. Horses that are used for breeding and horse shows can be weighed constantly. They might become an aggressive eater and can result in obesity. If that happens, you can stop giving grain to the horse and put it in a dry lot.

If you decide to give grain to a pasture horse, the amount of food should be closely monitored. If it is not done, they might suffer from laminitis. A condition where heat travels to the horse’s feet. It is a painful and often permanent condition.  It is also important to remember that horses need hay or grass for roughage and should not be fed just grain.  And be vigilant about the amount and type of fescue grass that might be in your pastures.

Giving grains to horses can be an important deciding factor when you look at Charlottesville horse farms for sale. It can even help you win in the annual Keswick horse show. To give you more information, check out www.jumpintogreenerpastures.com.

If you need help in buying or selling Charlottesville horse farms, call me, Pam Dent at 434 960-0161. As a native of Charlottesville VA who is both an expert in horses and equestrian properties, I have the knowledge and experience that make me the best agent to market your Charlottesville horse farms for sale.