Basic Physical Needs of Horses

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1 Need to Know: Basic Physical Needs of Horses Things you need to know about what horses need. WHAT EVERY HORSE NEEDS EVERY DAY: ACCESS TO CLEAN, FRESH WATER AT ALL TIMES A horse needs lots of clean, fresh water. How much water it needs will depend on the size of the animal, its health, how active it is, and even the air temperature and humidity. Water troughs or buckets should be in a place that s easy for the animal to reach, and where water does not freeze or become contaminated. Snow should not be provided as the only water supply as it will not meet a horse s daily needs. As animals that rely on people for daily care, horses need the same things that all domestic animals need: Food and water Shelter and comfort Protection from harm Freedom from pain, freedom to move, freedom to be a horse. A horse needs people who look out for its welfare and make an effort to learn how to handle and care for it properly. Snow should not be relied upon to fulfill the water requirement. More water is also required in the summer when there is heat and humidity. A horse that is in training or exercising needs additional water. Mares that are in early pregnancy or lactating producing milk also require two to three times the basic amount of water. A 500-kg horse needs 18 to 36 litres or more of fresh water every day. Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use 1

2 water? What does the Code of Practice say about Every horse must have access to a sufficient supply of potable, or drinkable, water to meet its individual maintenance and activity needs. Many factors influence water consumption, including: Air temperature and humidity Water temperature Body weight Level of activity Diet and health Physiological status (e.g. pregnant, lactating or growing). Water troughs/buckets should be located so that they are protected from freezing and fouling, the accumulation of unwanted substances on the surface of the water. Water troughs, buckets and automatic water must be kept clean. Automatic watering systems must be checked daily to ensure that they are dispensing water properly. The Code of Practice provides the table below as a guideline for the water requirements of horses. Water Requirements Of Horses Body Weight Body Weight Water Requirements - Litres Minimum Average Maximum 410 kg (900 lbs) 13.5 (3 gal) 20 (4.5 gal) 27 (6 gal) 545 kg (1200 lbs) 18 (4 gal) 27 (6 gal) 36 (8 gal) 680 kg (1500 lbs) 22.5 (5 gal) 36 (8 gal) 45 (10 gal) From Nutrient Requirement of Horses, 5 th edition, National Research Council 1989 in the Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals Horses. 2 Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use

3 A horse needs to eat at least 1.5 to 2 percent of its body weight in good quality hay or forage, every day. In summer, one horse needs 1.2 to 2 hectares of good pasture. WHAT EVERY HORSE NEEDS EVERY DAY: ENOUGH FOOD TO MAINTAIN BODY WEIGHT A well-fed horse is not overfed or underfed. Its ribs should be easily felt but not visible. How much and what kind of food a horse needs will depend on its size, its health and how active it is. When a horse eats with other animals, each should have enough manger, or trough, space so the animals don t have to compete for food. Horses are naturally hierarchical. Dominant animals in a herd will eat and drink first. Horses are creatures of habit. They prefer to be fed at the same times every day. WHAT EVERY HORSE NEEDS EVERY DAY: DIETS FOR ENERGY AND HEALTH Horses need an adequate diet to stay healthy and active. A healthy diet includes things like carbohydrates, fats, protein, calcium, minerals, vitamins and water. A horse s body burns carbohydrates and fats as fuel to stay healthy and to do the work people want it to do, such as carrying loads, pulling machines or racing down a track. Horses are grazing animals. In nature, they would eat small amounts of food throughout the day, getting protein and carbohydrates from eating grasses, or forage. The diet provided to domestic horses should include lots of forage, which is hay or roughage feeds. At least half the total weight of the diet should be forage in order for the horse s digestive tract to function normally. The hay that is used for feed should be good quality and free of dust and mold, which can cause respiratory problems. Grains should be fed to the horse in small amounts on a more frequent basis. A horse should be fed no more than 2.5 kg of grain per day. This total amount of grain should be divided between two or three feedings. Grains should make up less than half the total weight of the daily feed. A horse needs access to a source of salt and minerals in its diet. A well-maintained pasture can provide most of the nutrients a horse needs in summer months. The change in diet from winter feed to fresh pastures may cause digestive problems for some horses, so it is best to gradually introduce them to pasture, especially in spring. Horses that consume too much grain or eat from too much lush pasture grasses may develop laminitis. Laminitis is an inflammation of the laminae inside the hoof. It can lead to a rotation of the pedal or coffin bone in the foot, which results in a serious, non-curable condition called founder. Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use 3

4 nutrition? What does the Code of Practice say about Horses should receive a daily diet that is adequate for maintaining health. Horses should be fed on a regular schedule. Diets for all horses should be formulated in accordance with the current recommendations of the National Research Council s (NRC) Nutrient Requirements of Horses. Commercial feeds must comply with the Feed Regulations as provided by the Feeds Act of Canada. When horses are fed high-grain (high-energy) diets, attention should be paid to avoid nutritionrelated health problems such as grain overload, laminitis or obesity. Abrupt or sudden changes in diet should be avoided. The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Horses will be updated and completed by the summer of Information on the progress of this new Code can be found on the National Farm Animal Care Council website at All feed components used in the diet should be free of spoilage. Dusts and molds are harmful to horses. When horses are fed in groups, enough manger space or feeding points should be available to minimize competition for feed. All horses should have simultaneous access to feeders so that all can eat at one time, unless self-feeding is being practiced. Horses should have access to a source of salt and appropriate minerals. These may be incorporated in their diet or fed free-choice. All feeds and supplements should be properly labelled to avoid misuse. Feeds designed for other species, particularly medicated feeds and those containing urea, are not suitable for horses. Feed troughs and buckets should be cleaned regularly. To prevent digestive and health problems, horses should be gradually introduced to pasture, especially in springtime. Priorities for the updated Code include water requirements in winter, feed and nutritional needs, obesity in horses and laminitis. 4 Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use

5 Ventilation systems that keep dust, gases and humidity from building up but don t create drafts or excessive noise More than one way out of the building in an emergency Adjacent pens or pastures so horses can be turned out for exercise. A 500-kg horse needs a bedding area that is at least 3 metres by 3 metres. WHAT EVERY HORSE NEEDS EVERY DAY: SHELTER, LIGHT, FRESH AIR AND ROOM TO MOVE Horses need a clean, safe and spacious area in which to live. Horses do very well in both hot and cold environments if they are given time to adapt. Horses kept outside require a shelter from wind, rain, snow and sun. The best type of shelter for horses: Can be trees, a three-sided shed or an enclosed building Should have enough space for all horses Should be clean and dry Must be free of hazards that can cause injuries. Some people choose to keep their horse in a barn or stable for part of each day. The best type of barn or stable has: A clean, dry area for lying down Enough space to stand up or lie down comfortably Natural light sources and work areas that are well lit WHAT EVERY HORSE NEEDS EVERY DAY: A PASTURE OR PEN Horses are most at home in a pasture or range with access to enough food and water. A wellmaintained pasture will provide most of the nutrients a horse needs. If the pasture is not of the best quality, horses will need feed supplements to make up for nutrients they are not getting through grazing. When horses are on pasture, they should be inspected regularly, especially during high-risk periods, such as springtime, when mares are due to foal, or when new animals are introduced to the herd. Horses should have access to a well-drained resting area and a natural or built shelter to protect them from bad weather. To prevent digestive problems, a horse needs to be gradually introduced to pasture, especially in spring. Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use 5

6 What does the Code of Practice say about shelter, stables, light and ventilation? Shelter The design and use of shelter facilities should promote the health, well-being and good performance of horses throughout all stages of their lives. Natural or constructed shelter areas must offer adequate protection from adverse weather conditions. All shelter areas should be structurally safe for horses and personnel. Shelter design should facilitate easy and safe handling. Shelter areas should be located to avoid adverse effects of predictable natural occurrences, such as flooding. Pastures, paddocks and feedlots used during cold seasons must have adequate windbreaks to reduce the effects of wind chill. Stables Housing facilities should be designed and constructed to provide for the horse s welfare. Horses should be provided with a clean, dry area for lying down. In all types of housing systems, horses should be free to stand up or lie down comfortably at all times. Alleyways and box stalls should be constructed to permit easy access for both horses and attendants. Horses and attendants should be able to move about safely. Lighting & Ventilation Horse stables/housing should be lit to permit the effective observation of all horses. Natural light sources should be utilized as much as possible in the design of the facility. Ventilation systems in horse stables/housing should be capable of maintaining an air change rate to prevent excessive heat and moisture levels and to remove major dust and gas contaminants that can be damaging to the respiratory system of horses and humans. Mechanically ventilated stables should be equipped to introduce and uniformly distribute fresh air and/or to exhaust foul, moisture-laden air. Stables may be adequately ventilated through the use of air intakes and exhaust openings and/ or in combination with the use of window and door openings to give reasonable air exchange without creating drafts. Air movement should not cause discomfort to horses in the stable. Excerpts from the Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals - Horses ( 1998) have been used with permission, Equine Canada. The process for the development of updated Codes can be accessed through the National Farm Animal Care Council at codes-of-practice. 6 Alberta SPCA 2012 albertaspca.org Permission granted to duplicate for classroom use