From a nutritional standpoint, common questions regarding pasture grass and grazing activity include: “What is the benefit of pasture for my horse?” “Can my horse get all the required nutrition from grass alone?” And, related to the previous question, “If my horse is at pasture all day long, do I need to feed him some kind of supplement?”
Dietary P comes from many common feed ingredients, including forages, oats, corn, and soybean meal. The P found naturally in grains and forages is considered organic; feed manufacturers might also add inorganic P to commercial horse feeds.
There’s something special about the relationship you have with your senior horse, a partnership that’s endured years, tears, ups, and downs
Any horse 4 to 5 years or older that spends most of his days relaxing in his pasture while going for the occasional ride is considered a horse at maintenance
Horses digest proteins and then use the amino acids to help grow and repair bodily tissues.
The ability to bite and chew food so we can digest our meals (and, hence, absorb nutrients) properly.
The only source to avoid is the rumen-protectant variety of fat designed for cattle, which horses will find at best indigestible and at worst, toxic. (You won’t run into this one unless you ask for it specifically at the feed store.)
Dental problems are a common problem among aging horses. Poor dentition creates a snowball effect of health issues that leads to malnutrition, which inevitably leads to weight loss. Thus, having your older horse on an appropriate proper diet is essential in prolonging their health.
