Horse Feed

[Twiggy]

hi, Im new here, and Im new to horse care....

what would be the best type of feed to give a horse, and how much and how often, ect?

also, how much would it cost?

(Im adding up the costs per year of owning a horse, because my parents are considering investing in one :D )

-Twiggy

[kaykell7]

it depends *** type and size of horse its age and how much work it will be doing

[lamprellsarah]

it really depends how old the horse is!! what breed it is! how much grazing you have ect
a older horse may need extra supplements and more feed!!
a native breed often hardly needs anything, espacially if grazing is good!!
if grazing is bad food and supplement will be needed!!

mine is 20 and on fairily good grazing but she's a thougoubred cross and lives out
i get though about £8 a week in summer and about £20 -25 a week in winter!!

i would reall swot up loads before you even think about buying a horse there are always hidden extras that you may have not considered!! :)

[ponynut]

Saz is rght- horses are a permenant financial drain!!! Anytime I spend something on me my horses manage to point out my folly- either needing the vet or breaking their rugs or reins etc!

But I wouldn't change them for the world!

[Twiggy]

If I was to get a horse 8-12years old, and proberbly something like a welsh D section, and would ride every other day, not very strenuous (spelling?) work though....

-Twiggy

[Twiggy]

yeah, I know that a horse would be really expensive and hard work and that, but I'd be really committed to it, because, well, I have nothing else to do with my time...
come home from school at 3pm, and nothing to do after that, so I'd have the time for it, and my parents would pay for it, or I have a friend who would be interested in sharing.

-twiggy

[ponynut]

Would it be kept at livery? If so what sort?
Full livery includes feed/bedding etc. But not always farriery. DIY does not include either.
My native type horses live out and cost less than five pounds a week in feed and carrots. As they survive on just hay.
Hay is included in my livery but they have 24hr grazing.
Ask around as costs vary from yard to yard and feed merchant to merchant.

[Twiggy]

we'd proberbly end up keeping it in a livery,
although, we live next door to an old guy who is horse crazy, and used to have hundreds of them, and he suggested we could share a field with someone, and build stables in our backyard (its HUGE). He used to have englands best showjumping horses when he was younger (hes almost 100 now) :) , and his sister rode in a team with one of the royals... he's a cool bloke :)

-twiggy

[ponynut]

Sounds a great guy!!
Best to have a heart to heart with him. He sounds very savvy!
You sound like you are approaching this with a lot of sense- good luck!!

[Twiggy]

LOL yeah, you should see the HUUUUGE average pricelist of things I've made up for my parents... hehehehe :D
Everything from saddles to grooming equipment and food :)
Prehaps then I can prove that it doesnt have to be THAT expensive... just, kinda expensive. But actually looking into it beats just begging them I guess....

-Twiggy

[ponynut]

Yep I agree it seems a MASSIVE outlay!! Saying that after a bit it gets easier! You get to know what you really do need- not what you want to have!! A lot of expense can be curbed- your horses don't care if you have the latest numnah!
Horse owning is so worthwhile- the fun and satisfaction gained!

[skye]

Hi Twiggy,
I would suggest you get a horse on permanent loan ,because then you will miss a huge outlay of buying one! (but make sure you have a written agrrement with the owner first)!
To find out how much to feed use a weight tape .work out 2% of your horses bodyweight and that will tell you how much to feed.
eg horses bodyweight 500kg (15hh-16hh horse) 2% of 500kg = 10kg
if the horse is in
lightwork 30% of this should be hard feed (3kgs)70% should be forage (7kgs hay )
hard work 5kgs of hard feed 5kgs of forage
This only an average idea you may need to ajust it if the horse is a good/poor doer etc
Grass is your cheapest feed so look after it.
A native good doer may need unlimited hay and just a handful of feed and a vit/min supplement.
A native horse would be ideal as they are generally easier to look after.They will probably prefer to live on aslong as they have access to a shelter /rugs where as a thoroughbred would more likely need a stable.
My horse is 14.hh in the summer he costs me about £6 aweek in hard feed ,more if the grass is short in the form of hay.
In the winter i was spending up £30 week in food for him (please note my horse is 30yrs old and has a real hard time keeping weight on )
I changed his feed to 400gms of equimins feed balancer 0.5kgs of alfa-a and 10kgs of haylage this winter.this only costs me about £15 a week which is much cheaper.
Good luck

p.s have you considered sharing a horse? (its much cheaper)