Feeding

Naturally, your horse would roam about and graze grass and weeds. Since he would not be exercised or worked at all, he would also be fat and not fit enough to handle work. Domestic horses are worked and ridden, and they need more food and energy to stay fit. You really should talk to your vet about your individual horse and its needs. Here is info to give you a rough idea of what you should feed:

Hay or grass is essential to every horse. Horses need hay, they cannot live without it. There are different types of hay. Call local feed stores to find out what types they sell. Also, letting a horse graze from pasture is good too, but you have to make sure that the pasture is safe and there are no poisonous plants that your horse could eat.

Every horse needs water. Horses drink between 6-9 gallons of water a day. Water should be kept clean and it should be changed often. It should be clear and it shouldn't smell bad. The horse should be able to drink whenever it wants to, and the water should not be really cold or really hot. Frozen or icy water will discourage the horse from drinking, and it may drink very little, or get sick. Horses don't like hot water, either. Dirty, frozen, or smelly water can also cause colic.

Grains

COMERCIAL MIXES:
There are a lot of different grain mixes available today. You should check them out and read the ingredients before buying them. Most have tables on the back that will tell you how much of that grain your horse needs. Some of these grains are really rich, and should only be fed to hard-working horses. Some are milder, and are great for all horses. The back of the bag will usually tell you what the grain is for and what kind of horse should eat it.

NOTE: When you switch feeds, or start a new feed, you must introduce it to your horse SLOWLY. Give it a little, then a little more, until you are feeding it the recommended amount. If you suddenly switch feeds, that can cause your horse to get colic.

OTHER GRAINS:
Oats are a good source of energy.
Oats contain fats, starches, and a good percentage of protein (11%).

Corn
Lacking protein, but high in energy and fat. It is somewhat indigestible, but it can be mixed with other grain.

Barley
Barley boiled is good to put condition on a horse.

Minerals and Salt

Horses should have mineral and salt blocks in there stall/pasture. Most mineral blocks contain salt, and there are different types of mineral blocks. Mineral blocks should be given free-choice, and they should be kept dry and clean. It is better to give your horse both a mineral block and a salt block, instead of a block that contains both. Mineral blocks should be kept where the horses can easily get to them.

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Characteristics of Good Feed

HAY
Good hay will be dry and free of mold, insects, and weeds. It should be slightly greenish. It should also be free of dust and dirt. Alfalfa should be a bright green, and not dry brown. It should contain lots of leaves and little stem. Try to buy the freshest hay possible. After hay has been stored a while, it turns brown and loses its nutritional value. If you are buying alfalfa, ask what cutting it is. First cutting is the first crop of the year, and often contains more weeds than second or third cutting. The strands of grass should be long, with the seeds on the end. If it is short and stubby, or contains bits of manure it might be from pastures that were been grazed by cattle before they were cut. DON'T buy this hay. When buying hay, but the regular square bales. The huge round bales are made for cattle, and they are toxic to horses, because they are stored in plastic bags that give off chemicals. They are fine for cows, but can kill a horse. The hay should smell sweet, don't buy hay that smells musty, moldy or damp.

GRAIN
Grain should be free of insects, dirt, or mold. Don't feed any grain that is damp or that mice or rodents have gotten in to. Oats should be plump and golden in color. Grain should smell sweet and fresh. Don't feed your horse any old or moist grain.

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Nutrient Functions

NUTRIENT	MAJOR FUNCTIONS
BIOTIN	Metabolism
CALCIUM	Bones, Body Fluid
CHOLINE CHLORIDE	Metabolism
COPPER	Blood
FAT	Body Reserves
IODINE	Thyroid
IRON	Blood
MAGNESIUM	Body Fluids
MANGANESE	Metabolism
NIACIN	Nerves, Metabolism
PANTOTHENIC ACID	Metabolism
PHOSPHORUS	Bones, Metabolism
POLYUNSATURATED OILS	Hair, Skin, Hoof Condition
POTASSIUM	Body Fluids
PROTEIN	Muscle
PYRIDOXINE	Blood, Metabolism
RIBOFLAVIN	Enzymes
SELENIUM	Muscles
SODIUM CHLORIDE	Body Fluids
THIAMINE (B-1)	Nerves, Metabolism
VITAMIN A	Eyes, Skin, Metabolism
VITAMIN B-12	Blood, Metabolism
VITAMIN D	Bones
VITAMIN E	Muscles, Metabolism
VITAMIN K	Blood
ZINC	Metabolism