Horses are non-ruminant herbivors/browsers. Their digestive tracts need a constant supply of fiber in the form of grass pasture or grass hay. They are designed to munch all day on the grasses, herbs, roots, even bark they will find in natural surroundings. A horse that is well nourished will not eat toxic plants (they are usually distasteful - with odd exceptions like locoweeds). By basing your ration on grass hay, you provide the foundation. We like bermudas, orchard grasses, timothy, wheat grasses - be aware of fescues (they can have a fungus that causes photosensitivity), sudan (can cause urinary cystitis) or johnson grass (can contain cyanide). Oat hay is the oat grass cut before harvesting the oats, it's value varies greatly, but is usually safe. Alfalfa is a legume full of protein and minerals/vitamins. Alfalfa is a great supplement! It can be fed as 1/4 to 1/2 the hay ration if needed, but is questionable as the only hay source because of the high protein and nitrogen. Horses adapt really well considering their unique digestive system and often you will hear of horses surviving and looking great on alfalfa and corn or something equally alarming! But survival is a minimum goal - we want our horses to thrive and feel good as well as look good. Building a more natural diet helps their systems work more effectively and with less dis-ease of the the entire body. Grains are added only when excess energy requirements are made upon the equine metabolism and rolled barley is best, then oats whole or rolled. Herbs that the feral horse would seek can be added to feed and wheat bran adds fiber, phosphorus and should be fed soaked with water to also add moisture (if you feed high calcium alfalfa - wheat bran balances it with the phorphorus). Every horse is unique - every circumstance is unique. Balancing the diet is ongoing and fun. The Holistic Horse Care Handbook has lots of information!
