What are the nutritional needs of thoroughbreds? Chris Baker from Three Chimneys Farm shares some comprehensive information on equine nutrition for foals, weanlings, mares and stallions. For the first several months, foals receive their basic nutrients from milk. This means that the mare or nurs...
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Photographer: Kathy Landman
A balanced diet for horses consists of grass or hay, grain mix, and water.
The nutritional components of a horse’s diet can be grouped into five categories: protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
A foal ingests colostrum from its mother’s milk when it first begins to nurse, giving the foal antibodies to fight off diseases.
Diet formulation for Thoroughbreds requires finding the balance between nutrient-rich caloric intake and energy output.
Photo courtesy of Chanteclair Farm
Depending on its age and activity level, nutritional needs can vary greatly from horse to horse.
Pregnant and lactating mares, racehorses, and stallions require tailored diets to meet their specific nutrient and caloric needs.