How much food and water should be provided daily for a horse in order to ensure its health and wellbeing?
How much food and water should be provided daily for a horse in order to ensure its health and wellbeing?
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On average, a horse should be provided with 1.5 to 2.0 times their body weight in both food and water on a daily basis in order to ensure their health and wellbeing. So, for example, a 1,000 lb horse would need to consume roughly 1,500-2,000 lbs of food and drink the same amount of water per day.
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How much food and water should be provided daily for a horse in order to ensure its health and wellbeing?
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Daily feed and water intake for a horse should be determined based on their size, activity level, and the ambient temperature. Generally speaking, an average-sized horse needs to consume at least 2.7 liters (7 gallons) of water a day and eat 1.5-2 percent of its body weight in forage or grain each day. Water consumption can vary based on exercise, with horses consuming more fluid when the temperature is hot and sweaty.
Horses that are lame or have chronic health problems may require additional feed while others who are extremely active may require more water and food.

It’s important to make sure that your horse always has access to plenty of fresh water and that its diet contains balance nutrients to ensure it stays in good health.
Forages such as hay should compose the main part of a horse's diet because it provides essential vitamins, minerals and fibers. A well-balanced diet should also include proper proportion of grain concentrates, vitamins and mineral supplements so as to meet its needs according to its workloads.

Finally remember: Horse feeding is highly individualized — talk with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist if you need help developing a proper feed regime for your horses.
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