For example: a 300-pound miniature horse needs at least 3-4.5 pounds of hay per day or 9-13.5 pounds of pasture (fresh grass is much higher in water content) per day. It’s common for horse owners to feed more than the minimum amount of forage recommended.
How much hay to feed a miniature horse and Pony?
If feeding more hay, reduce the feeding rate of Miniature Horse and Pony feed by 0.5 pound for every pound of additional hay feed. Example: Using the chart above, if feeding 7 pounds instead of 6 pounds of hay to a 500-pound light working pony, reduce Miniature Horse and Pony feed offered by 0.5 pound from 3.3 to 2.8 pounds per day.
What is a good diet for a mini horse?
A good diet for the Mini horse includes nearly half good quality forage, unlimited water and salt. Pasture is the most natural forage for horses. If the pasture is high quality (adequate plant life, few weeds and no poisonous plants), then in most cases, the mini will not require any additional food supplementation.
Can you feed a miniature horse alfalfa?
Feeding The Miniature Horse They are prone to obesity and most owners tend to overfeed them. Feeding a miniature horse sweet feed or high amounts of alfalfa is one of the worst things you could do. Now I know some people will say I feed my mini alfalfa and have not had a problem.
How much to feed a 250lb horse?
BW (lbs) = 9.36 X girth( inches) + 5.01 X body length. ( inches) minus 348.53. The majority of the horses diet should be forage or hay. If grain is fed, never feed more than 1.25. pounds of grain per 250 lbs of horse in a single feeding.
What do you feed an overweight mini horse?
An average miniature horse weighs 200 pounds and should receive at least 2 to 4 pounds of forage a day. Look for a fine, soft, leafy hay rather than a coarse, mature hay. Feed at least one-third to one-half of a flake of a good quality grass or alfalfa- grass mixed hay twice a day.
How much grain should I feed my miniature horse?
Because of their extremely efficient metabolism, Miniatures do not need a lot of grain. Many Miniature owners, who measure feed by the cup or half-cup, would agree that a full-grown Mini's grain ration should not exceed 1 pound per day, and as little as half a pound per day is often adequate.
Do mini horses need grain?
Unless they are in moderate to heavy work, Miniature Horses don't need to eat a lot of grain. If a horse is too heavy or is gaining weight, owners have the option of cutting out all grain and feeding a balancer pellet to supply vitamins and mineral without loading up on starch-rich feeds.
How many flakes of hay do I need for a miniature horse?
This would be about 1-2 flakes of hay a day, depending on the type of hay and weight of the flake. In addition to hay, a ration balancer, like Essential K®, would be fed at a rate of ½ pound and divided over 2 to 3 meals per day. Remember, it is always important to remember to weigh out a horse's feed prior to feeding.
Do mini horses need a salt block?
Salt is the most crucial mineral required by horses and often overlooked in the equine diet. Despite providing a salt block, the vast majority of equine diets do not provide sufficient sodium. Salt supplementation is required for optimum health - regardless of the season.
Is orchard hay good for miniature horses?
Feeding Your Mini Horse. there is a limited amount. Hay, whether baled, cubed or pelleted, is an acceptable alternative. protein and vitamins compared to timothy, orchard or oat grain hay.
Is Timothy Hay good for mini horses?
For all minis, just a nice grass hay or timothy hay is all they need. Bermuda/Coastal hay is also adequate but make sure it is SOFT and not stemmy.
How do I know if my miniature horse is overweight?
What to look for1 A crest above the neck muscle. If there's anything above your horse's neck muscle, then he's fat, as there shouldn't be anything here. ... 2 Shoulder fat. If you can see pads of fat on your horse's shoulders, then he's carrying too much weight.3 Ribs. ... 4 Hindquarters. ... 5 Monitor his weight.
How long should a mini horse graze?
Conservatively, putting two minis out on one hour of grass a day is a good way to start. As their bodies become adjusted to this influx of rich grass, you can slowly keep them out for two hours, then three, etc.
Can miniature horses eat carrots?
Mini horses are known for having a sweet tooth—many horses enjoy apples and carrots, as well as soda, candy, and breakfast cereal. Although it is okay to indulge your horse every once and awhile, be sure not too give them too many treats!
Do horses need hay if they have grass?
We know horses need to eat either grass or hay. When horses eat grass, you will need to keep an eye on their condition and make sure that they are neither eating too much nor too little. Horses can overeat grass, especially if the pasture is lush, but it is also easy to let a horse get too fat from eating hay.
How many flakes of hay is 20 lbs?
A flake of Bermuda hay weighs around 4-5 lbs. So, if you are purchasing 20 lbs of Bermuda hay, there should be no more than four flakes, weighing 5 lbs each.
Is sweet feed good for mini horses?
We feed good clean, mold free, grass hay and (here is my plug for Purina) Omolene 200, a 14% sweet feed, grain. Keep in mind to make any changes to your minis diet slowly! Abrupt changes in diet can cause a variety of health problems like colic, founder and hyperlipemia.
How can I get my miniature horse to gain weight?
4:4314:12Ask the Vet - How to feed miniature horses - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause it's got to be low in SC or non structural carbohydrates. And by that I mean less than aboutMoreBecause it's got to be low in SC or non structural carbohydrates. And by that I mean less than about 12 or 15. Percent. Then so you analyze it you weigh it then you soak it.
Can miniature horses eat carrots?
Mini horses are known for having a sweet tooth—many horses enjoy apples and carrots, as well as soda, candy, and breakfast cereal. Although it is okay to indulge your horse every once and awhile, be sure not too give them too many treats!
How do I know if my miniature horse is overweight?
What to look for1 A crest above the neck muscle. If there's anything above your horse's neck muscle, then he's fat, as there shouldn't be anything here. ... 2 Shoulder fat. If you can see pads of fat on your horse's shoulders, then he's carrying too much weight.3 Ribs. ... 4 Hindquarters. ... 5 Monitor his weight.
What do you feed a miniature horse?
Feeding the Miniature Horse. Regardless of their size, all equines have the same basic nutritional needs. Each animal must consume enough water, forage, and (possibly) grain to meet the requirements of growth, tissue repair, reproduction, exercise, and maintenance of all body systems. Factors such as body size, age, breed, work, climate, ...
How much grain should I feed my mini?
Many Miniature owners, who measure feed by the cup or half-cup, would agree that a full-grown Mini’s grain ration should not exceed 1 pound per day, and as little as half a pound per day is often adequate.
What are the factors that affect the amount of hay a horse needs?
Factors such as body size, age, breed, work, climate, health status, and metabolism affect the type and amount of hay, pasture, and grain a particular horse should be given. Because very little research has been done on the specific requirements of Miniature horses, feeding recommendations must be based on standards for other equines tempered by ...
Why are miniature horses easy keepers?
Miniature horses tend to be easy keepers, meaning that they seem to maintain or increase their weight on limited forage and little or no grain.
How to determine how much hay to give a horse?
Deciding how much hay, grass, and grain to provide a mature Miniature horse involves, as a first step, an estimation of body condition. This is most easily determined not by looking at the belly, which may appear large even in an underweight horse, but by observing the ribs, spine, and fat deposits. For a horse in moderate condition, the ribs ...
How much does a miniature horse weigh?
In a study conducted by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), 49 Miniature horses (mares, geldings, and stallions between the ages of 1 and 12) had an average weight of 213 pounds, and fewer than 15% of these animals weighed as much as 250 pounds. The study found that owners of Miniature horses commonly over- or underestimated the weight ...
What are the basic needs of equines?
Regardless of their size, all equines have the same basic nutritional needs. Each animal must consume enough water, forage, and (possibly) grain to meet the requirements of growth, tissue repair, reproduction, exercise, and maintenance of all body systems. Factors such as body size, age, breed, work, climate, health status, ...
What do you feed a miniature horse?
Just like people, all equines need protein, vitamins and minerals , as well as energy (calories) to support maintenance, growth, reproduction and work.
What is a commercial horse feed?
Commercial horse feeds are usually a sweet or “textured” feed or are pelleted. Sweet or textured feeds include a mixture of grains, some molasses and pellets containing vitamins and minerals. Pelleted feeds include grains ground and mixed with other nutrient sources and ingredients and pressed into a pellet form.
Why do horses need forage?
All equines need forage for calories and other nutrients, as well as fiber to help keep the digestive tract healthy. Insufficient fiber can lead to digestive problems such as colic. Hay and pasture need to be high quality for horses. The equine digestive tract does not handle poor quality forage efficiently, and very poor-quality forage may ...
What is the body condition score of a horse?
In general, horses and ponies should be a body condition score 5 (moderate). Looking from the side, if you cannot see ribs but can feel the ribs easily under the skin, the horse is approximately a body condition score 5.
Can horses eat more than they need?
It’s common for horse owners to feed more than the minimum amount of forage recommended. Feeding more forage is fine as long as the total ration is balanced to provide optimal amounts of nutrients to meet the animal’s needs, including calories, protein, vitamins and minerals.
Can you feed a mini horse fortified feed?
If your horse, mini or pony is an easy keeper or gains weight easily, it may be difficult to feed enough commercial fortified feed to provide adequate protein, vitamins and minerals without causing the horse to gain too much weight. In this instance, a concentrated feed or supplement may be best.
Do horses need hay?
However, there are some necessary nutrients commonly lacking in forages, including some minerals in fresh pasture, or amino acids, vitamins and minerals in hay. Additionally, growing horses, broodmares and working horses usually need an additional source of calories.
Why do people get miniature horses?
A lot of people get miniature horses because they are easy to manage, they’re cute, they eat less and they don’t require as much room as a big horse. It’s very important to educate yourself on miniature horse care so that you can keep them healthy and happy. Miniature horses do have different needs than big horses when it comes to their care.
Why are miniature horses more prone to colic than big horses?
They are more prone to colic because of their hearty appetite and predisposition for dental problems. Miniatures tend to have more problems with their teeth because they have the same size and number of teeth as a big horse packed into ...
Why does my hoof die?
When this happens the hoof begins to. die because of the lack of blood flow. The coffin bone rotates and causes a lot of pain. This can be caused from, but not limited to turning them out on lush grass, but also from giving them high amounts of grain.
Is a miniature horse healthy?
If you’re determined to vaccinate your miniature make sure they are healthy. Read the vaccination label, the first thing it says is “For Vaccination of healthy horses”. A miniature with laminitis, pneumonia, strangles, WNV etc is not healthy!
Can miniature horses live a long life?
They can get a lot of things trapped in the heavy hair coat. Your miniature horse can live a long healthy life and a lot of potential problems can be avoided by providing the proper care and feeding they require.
Can you feed a miniature horse alfalfa?
Feeding The Miniature Horse. They are prone to obesity and most owners tend to overfeed them. Feeding a miniature horse sweet feed or high amounts of alfalfa is one of the worst things you could do. Now I know some people will say I feed my mini alfalfa and have not had a problem.
How much hay should I feed my horse?
Always feed a minimum of 1.0 to 1.2 lbs per 100 lbs of body weight of good quality, clean hay or the equivalent in pasture. Any feed changes should be made gradually over a period of 7 to 10 days. Changes in the rate of feeding should not exceed 1.0 lb per day for each horse.
How to feed a horse with hay?
Start with the amounts given for the weight and lifestyle of the horse. After observing the horse for a period of time, the amount fed may be increased or decreased by 10% to obtain the desired body condition and weight .
What is Purina horse feed?
Purina® Miniature Horse and Pony horse feed is specifically formulated to meet the unique needs of miniature horses and ponies who tend to be more metabolically efficient than large horses , but still require the nutrition necessary for growth, gestation, lactation, breeding and competition.
Is mini horse feed better than hay?
So even though this feed costs more, it is absolutely a better value. I don't have to feed near as much of the complete feed, or hay, as I did with sweet feed.
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About The Author
Nancy S. Loving, DVM, owns Loving Equine Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, and has a special interest in managing the care of sport horses. Her book, All Horse Systems Go, is a comprehensive veterinary care and conditioning resource in full color that covers all facets of horse care.