When it comes to feeding your horse, you would think the horse could naturally take care of itself grazing on grass and weeds. However, for most domestic horses this is not always the case. They are dependent on you helping them meet all their nutritional and dietary needs. Horses which are very active need even more food and energy to stay fit.

Apart from horse supplements, what else do you need to do to make sure your horse stays healthy? First talk to your vet about what you can do. Here is some more information to help give you a better idea of what you should feed your horse:

Obviously, the horse needs hay or grass. They can‘t live without it. However, did you know there are several different types of hay? My advice is to contact local feed stores and ask what types of feed they carry. You can also allow your horse to graze from pasture now and then but make sure the pasture is safe without any potential poisonous plants it could eat.

Your horse is going to require plenty of water, around six to nine gallons a day. It should be clean and changed frequently. Check to see if the water is clear and it shouldn't have type of foul smell to it. It is important that the horse can get a drink whenever it wants. Also be sure the water is a good temperature. It shouldn’t be either too hot or too cold. A horse won’t drink icy water, causing it to drink very little and potentially getting sick.

There are several different kinds of grain mixes available today. Most experts recommend reading the ingredients before making a purchase. Most of these grains have tables on the back of the bag which allow you to see how much grain your horse requires. Keep in mind that some grains can be very rich and fed only to active horses. The more mild grains can be fed to all horses.

There should always be mineral and salt blocks in the stall or pasture. These should be kept dry and clean and in a place where the horses can easily get to them. The majority of mineral blocks include salt. I prefer to provide my horses with both a mineral block and a salt block, instead.

When it comes to feeding your horse hay, it must be dry and free of mold, insects, and weeds. I like hay that is slightly greenish. For example, alfalfa has to be bright green, not dried out brown. I also prefer to buy the freshest hay possible.