When dealing with a starved horse, how should you feed him? How much, how often, and what type of feed will bring the horse back to good health without causing more problems?

The starved horse is in a most delicate health predicament, and returning him to health requires using proper "refeeding" protocols. However, a starved horse should undergo a thorough veterinary examination to determine that there is no underlying medical reason for the weight loss.

The first 10 days of addressing a starved horse are critical in helping him transition to a fed state, according to Carolyn Stull, MS, PhD, an animal welfare specialist at the University of California, Davis. Stull has conducted extensive research on refeeding starved horses and has found that starting starved horses on alfalfa or alfalfa mix hay is the best plan of action due to the high composition of quality protein, as well as major electrolytes, phosphorus, and magnesium found in these hays. Stull says the best approach for initial refeeding consists of frequent small amounts of high-quality alfalfa. The amount should be increased slowly at each meal, and the number of feedings decreased over 10 days. After 10 days to two weeks, horses can be fed as much hay as they will eat