Horses don’t eat meat and instead get their nutrients from plants; they also have fermentation in their guts. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to practice correct feeding and planning in horses in order to prevent both overfeeding and underfeeding of the animals.
The most important aspects in relation to eating are emphasized here.
1. Urea and other non-nitrogenous protein compounds should never be given to horses of any breed or discipline since horses do not have the digestive capacity of ruminants.
2. At minimum 1.5% of the horse’s total body weight should be fed in the form of dry matter.
3. The body weight (kg) is equal to the heart girth (cm) multiplied by 2.7 for small breeds.
Body weight (kg) Equals chest circumference (cm) * 3.1 for medium-sized breeds.
For hefty breeds, the formula for determining body weight (kg) is body girth (cm) multiplied by 3.5.
4. Oats, barley, gram, and wheat bran are the four types of concentrated feed that are most frequently administered to horses.
5. When it comes to green forage, lucerne is considered to be the greatest feed (either green or hay).
6. The entire daily ratio could be broken up into four to six different meals so that the body can more effectively utilize and absorb the nutrients.
7. Maintaining a consistent feeding schedule, avoiding whole meals immediately before and after activity, and making moderate adjustments to the content of the diet are the most essential characteristics of horse feeding.
8. When feeding horses, it is essential to first provide the fodder roughage before the grains. On the other hand, if shredded fodder is available, it might be combined with grains and concentrate.
9. When it comes to giving grain to groups, this is not a practice that is recommended.
10. A daily addition of 25–40 grams of mineral combination is put into the concentrates in order to prevent mineral deficiencies.
11. A horse with a body weight of 400 kilograms that is not being worked will most likely require 0.38 kilograms of digestible protein content (DCP), 20 grams of calcium, 20 grams of phosphorous, and 70 milligrams of carotene.
12. In order to do a medium job, you will need 0.86 kg of DCP, 50 grams of calcium, 50 grams of phosphorous, and 135 milligrams of carotene.
13. In addition, for labor that is strenuous, you will need 1.10 kg of DCP, 60 grams of calcium, 60 grams of phosphorus, and 170 milligrams of carotene.
14. Before and after strenuous exercise, horses shouldn’t be hydrated for at least 20 to 30 minutes after the activity.
15. The amount of drinking water needed each day is 36 liters, however, this number might change depending on the season; for example, the need for water is higher in the summer.
16. As a matter of standard procedure, it is best to first supply drinking water.
17. In terms of a basic watering plan, watering must be done twice a day during the rest of the year and 3 times a day during the summer.
18. Horses have polyestrous at different times of the year. In India, the beginning of the spring season is regarded to be the greatest period for breeding.
19. puberty often begins between the ages of 12 and 18 months.
20. Mating must be allowed when the animal reaches 75% of its adult body weight, which is at the age of three years.
21. The average length of a heat cycle is 4-6 days, while the estrous cycle lasts 21 days.
22. The mating process should begin two to three days following the first signs of heat in the animal.
23. The tail of a horse ought to be wrapped and held off to the side in order to prevent it from interfering with the process of copulation.
24. For the purpose of breeding, it is adequate to have one stallion for every 30–40 mares.
25. A horse should be worked five times each week at the very least.
26. The emergence of wax beads on the teats one or three days before birth is one of the most noticeable sights that may be seen during labor and delivery.