b'remained unchanged following soak-ing, although sole moisture did increaseHorses without grass access need plenty of good-quality hay or forage substitutes to meet significantly. Horse hooves subjected totheir 2% body weight daily forage requirements.periods immersed in mud or standing water are predisposed to thrush, skin infection, and subsolar abscesses. Minimizing Sand IngestionHorses fed hay on the ground invari-ably consume dirt, especially when seeking tiny pieces of alfalfa leaves. Bored horses without access to free-choice hay might eat dirt intentionally. ISABELLE ARNONTo minimize sand ingestion, feed hay from large plastic or metal water tanks rather than from hanging feeders, where horses pull hay onto the ground as they eat, says Turner. Another aid is to placeproblems or dangers, so he suggests usingthe cutting of hay, or source of forage, rubber mats in the feeding areas. Thewood plank substitutes when possible.then youll want to get a new analysis mats can be swept or hosed off prior toAlternatives include metal pipe, channelto enable appropriate adjustments to feeding to minimize contamination ofiron, PVC rails, or composite deckingthe feeding program. Hay analysis is hay with sand. You might also use trac- materials.relatively inexpensive and can save much tor tires that have been turned inside outmore on feed costs, especially when feed-as feeding stations.Ensuring Proper Nutrient Intake ing hay year-round.Even with these practices, for horses inIn general, feeding a mature adultDuring some times of year or sea-drylot living situations, Turner encour- horse 2% of its body weight in long-stemsons, local hay can be in short supply. ages using a psyllium-based supplementgood-quality forage each day comes closeTurner says you can purchase byproduct according to manufacturers directionsto meeting most of a horses energy andfeedstuffs (e.g., cottonseed hulls, soybean to help move sand through the digestiveprotein requirements for maintenancehulls, distillers dried grains, oats, etc.) to tract. Consuming hay offered free-choiceand a desirable body condition score,provide bulk roughage in the diet, as well can also help move sand and dirt throughsays Turner.as other nutrients. the intestines, while giving the horseFor horses that are still growing, inUse of these substitutes is mostly something with which to occupy his timeregular training, or need more nutrientsrecommended for mature adult horses and satisfy his need to chew. to maintain body condition, he suggestsrather than young, growing horses, he following manufacturers feeding direc- says. Due to wide variations between Relieving Boredom tions on the feed bag of your choice. Also,different byproducts, as well as between In a natural setting horses spendconsult your veterinarian and/or equinebatches of the same feedstuff, test the intermittent periods throughout the daynutritionist to tailor a feeding program tofeed for specific nutritional values. Con-grazing. Without that option, and foreach horse and his particular needs. sult your veterinarian and nutritionist to horses not allowed access to free-choiceA hay analysis lets you know exactlyhelp fine-tune your use of these substitute hay due to obesity, boredom can createwhat nutrients are available to yourfeed products.significant management issues. For thishorse from a specific batch of forage, heOther forage substitutes are available reason Turner uses slow feeder haynetssays. If there are changes in type of hayin the form of hay cubes, haylage, alfalfa or mangers for feeding hay. Not all horses(legume vs. cool-season grass vs. warm- pellets, beet pulp, and compressed hay.are interested in playing with toys, heseason grass vs. cereal grain hay) offered,Neurologic or muscle disease and notes, but they all like to eat. Slow feed- immune deficiency problems can occur ers are good for making horses workwhen horses dont consume adequate a little harder for their forage, whilevitamin E, a nutrient normally found in keeping them occupied for a good whilegreen grass. longer than if fed loose hay, he says. Most modern commercially available A practical solution for feeding a herdequine-formulated feeds contain vitamin in a drylot is to spread hay piles aroundE on the guaranteed analysis label, says the area. This helps prevent dominantTurner. If such commercial products are horses from interfering with subordinatefed, there may be no need to supplement herd members mealtime. It also encour- further. ages horses to exercise, moving from pilePotts recommends supplying vitamin E to pile. (either with a supplement or commercial ISTOCK.COMBored horses might also chew paddockfeed) when horses have no pasture access fences. While edging wood planks withand/or are growing, breeding, lactating, metal helps limit this habit, Turner warnsWithout the ability to graze all day, horses mightor in heavy exercise. If you have con-that worn metal can introduce otherdevelop boredom issues such as wood-chewing. cerns about vitamin deficiencies, consult TheHorse.com|The HorseNovember 201867'