Whats the difference between a saddlebred and a thoroughbred?

What kind of Hay does a pony need?

Ponies need only the fraction of the feed that horses do. Hay for ponies should be good quality grass hay. Your pony probably won’t need the nutrition provided by alfalfa and clovers.

Should you feed your horse hay or concentrate feed?

If high-sugar hay is the only choice you have, soak it in water for about an hour, Bailey says. Soaking dissolves and removes many of the WSCs, making it more appropriate for pony metabolism. Most ponies subsist very well without concentrate feeds. However, hay alone might not be sufficient to meet all their nutritional needs.

Why is Hay the most important part of a horse’s diet?

Hay or pasture is the most important part of your horse’s diet. In fact, his nutritional requirements can probably be met with good-quality forage, and the more time spent eating it the better, both for his brain and for his gastrointestinal tract. So, why feed concentrates at all?

Why do I need a hay analysis?

A hay analysis helps you better understand what you’re feeding your horse. This is especially important if you’re concerned about the hay quality or if your horse is having nutrition problems. Always request a horse analysis when sending in hay samples. You will need a separate analysis for each field, cutting etc.

What does hay do for a horse?

Nutrition: Good quality hay (or pasture) can provide all of the energy (calories) and protein a horse needs, as well as much of the minerals and vitamins (particularly pasture) that most horses need (particularly maintenance horses, or those in light work or even early gestation); 2.

What is Hayhay good for horses?

Hay is a main source of forage for many horses, and knowing what nutrients it offers allows horse owners and caretakers a better understanding of what else needs to be provided in the diet for optimal nutritional health.

How much does Hay analysis cost for horses?

A basic hay analysis costs about $20. Optimum horse hay moisture ranges from 10 to 15 percent. ADF values under 45 percent are generally good for horses. NDF values under 65 percent are generally good for horses. The adult horse at maintenance should have a Ca to P ratio between 3:1 and 1:1.

How long does it take to do a hay analysis?

We can carry out this analysis on both hay and haylage. We can arrange either an NIR or wet chemistry nutritional test. Reports take 10-14 working days. Horse Feed Suggestions: Each analysis report will include individual horse suggestions to help you know how to balance your horse’s daily ration.

How to choose the best hay for your horse?

Horsemen recognize the importance of good-quality forage for horses and ponies. As such, horse owners are becoming savvier in choosing the best hay for their horses, especially when those horses are affected by metabolic conditions. In order to gauge how much sugar or starch a hay contains, it must be submitted to a laboratory for analysis.

Is it worth it to get my Hay analyzed?

If you purchase at least two or more months’ worth of hay at a time, it is worth having it analyzed. Your local county extension service may offer analysis services, or consider Equi-Analytical Laboratories for assistance (www.equi-analytical.com).

What is a good hay ratio for a horse?

ADF values under 45 percent are generally good for horses. NDF values under 65 percent are generally good for horses. The adult horse at maintenance should have a Ca to P ratio between 3:1 and 1:1. A hay analysis helps you better understand what you’re feeding your horse.

Is grass hay a good filler for horses?

While grass hay is lower in protein and calcium it is still a great source of feed for most horses. While the lower relative nutrition level of grass hay makes it a good filler, it does have relatively more carbohydrates.

How much digestible energy in hay for horses?

Digestible energy (DE) – This is a measure of the digestible energy in the hay. For a light-working horse, DE should be 20.5 Mcal/day. Hay may have.76 to.94 Mcal/pounds or higher of DE. Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) – This is a measure of the total digestible nutrients in the hay or its energy value.

How to analyse horse hay for nutrients?

Analysis options can include wet chemistry or NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy), either of which would be suitable for the analysis of horse hay for the basic nutrients such as moisture, dry matter, crude protein, non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), and sugars. Analyzing hay for trace minerals should always be done using wet chemistry methods.

How long does a bale of hay last a horse?

In general, a standard 40 lb. square bale of hay lasts one horse for about 3.5 days. But many factors such as age, workload, type of hay, and access to pasture grass affect how much they eat. I find most horses eat between 10-15 pounds of hay each day.

What do the results of a hay test mean?

These test results can provide a copious amount of information, but here are some important aspects to understand: DM (%) = dry matter, which indicates all nutrients in the sample minus water. When horses digest hay, the water is removed.

How can I tell if a horse’s Hay is healthy?

Carrying out testing of the forage horses eat is a very useful way of checking the nutritional elements in the horse diet. Analysis can help you understand if a hay is suitable for laminitis prone horses, ponies and donkeys.

How much does it cost to feed a horse a bale?

“Many horses, including some hard-working horses, can do well just on good-quality hay, without grain or with a minimum of concentrates. “Sometimes people try to skimp on hay,” she says. “It might cost $9 per bale at one place and $7 per bale at another, and they choose the cheaper hay.

What is the optimum horse hay moisture?

Optimum horse hay moisture ranges from 10 to 15 percent. ADF values under 45 percent are generally good for horses. NDF values under 65 percent are generally good for horses.

How much does Hay analysis cost for a horse?

Good-quality hay is an important component of a horse’s diet, particularly in the winter when fresh pasture is not available. One way to evaluate hay quality is to have your hay analyzed. Many different types of analyses are available, and the cost can range from $10-20 per sample to more than $100.

How to calculate nutrients in hay for horses?

When horses digest hay, the water is removed. Therefore, dry matter most closely represents the nutrients available to the horse. AS (%) = as sampled, which indicates all nutrients in the sample plus water. Most feed tags are printed on an “as sampled” basis, so use this value to calculate total diet nutrients if feeding hay and grain.

How are hay and pasture samples analysed?

Hay and pasture samples can be sent to a laboratory that specializes in these types of analyses, such as Equi-Analytical Laboratories (equi-analytical.com). Macro Minerals & Trace Minerals Minerals in hay reflect the soil that the plant grew in. The total mineral content in a forage is reported as ash on the analysis.

What can a detailed analysis of pasture and hay Tell Me?

A detailed analysis can be done for all forages, including pasture and hay, and provides valuable information about digestibility and calorie content, protein levels, mineral concentrations as well as the content of sugars and starches.

Does a veterinarian provide advice on daily hay,grain and grass portions for adult horses?

A veterinarian provides advice on daily hay, grain and grass portions for adult horses. From EquiSearch.com Question: I’ve moved my horse, a 5-year-old warmblood gelding, to a new barn.