Question

I have just acquired two very different Miniature Horses: one is dumpy and fat, and the other is petite and in moderate weight. I'm of the mindset that horses should have a constant source of forage, but this won’t work for them, as it won’t be long before these two are fat and fatter. Do Miniatures not need the same flow of forage through the gut to maximize digestion and minimize ulcer risk? How should I offer these horses hay?

Answer

Feeding recommendations for forage are based on a percent per body weight (1-2% of body weight) or 1-2 lb per 100 lb (0.4-.09 kg per 45 kg) of desired body weight, no matter the size of the horse. Do you have an accurate way to weigh the horses (electronic scale at a veterinary clinic, scale at the feed store, or some other reliable method)? This will help in determining a base quantity of hay to feed, as many owners of Miniature Horses tend to overestimate the weight of their horses, which could lead to overfeeding.

The total number of calories needed to maintain weight is often lower for Miniature Horses, as they tend to be easy keepers. Because of their metabolic efficiency, they can derive significant calories from forages. The challenge then becomes how to feed sufficient forage to support normal forging behavior and to foster optimal digestion without encouraging overconsumption.

With these goals in mind, low-energy forages are best for easy keepers or overweight horses as they allow more to be fed per day to achieve near free-choice access. What is low-energy forage? Depending on species, stage of maturity, and environmental conditions at time of harvest, hays differ in the amount of nutrition they provide. As an example, alfalfa harvested at the bud stage will have considerably more energy and nutrients than late-maturity orchardgrass. For your horses, an appropriate low-energy forage may be a mature grass hay. All hay should be free of impurities, such as dust, weeds, and mold.

Slowing the rate of forage intake is an important management strategy for easy keepers. One way to achieve this is through the use of a haynet with small holes that prevents horses from grabbing large mouthfuls of hay at a time. Much like a grazing muzzle, this slows consumption considerably.

You may be able to feed a bit more hay if the horses are engaged in a consistent exercise program. You didn’t mention what activities you had in mind for your new horses. Their energy requirements would be elevated slightly if they were used regularly by children as riding mounts or as pleasure-driving horses. Consistent exercise also keeps metabolic problems from developing in many horses.

Horses on all-forage diets should be fed a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement to make up for any nutritional deficiencies of the forage. This is especially important when low-energy forages are selected because, as mentioned earlier, these forages will typically have fewer nutrients than high-quality hays. Follow the feeding recommendations provided by the manufacturer of the supplement. If you have questions about an appropriate feeding rate for Miniature Horses, contact the manufacturer.