Horse owners in Iowa have multiple options to choose from
Equine owners have numerous choices when it comes to which forages to feed their horses. In order to help make the decision easier, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has released a new publication called “Forages for Horses in Iowa.”
A dozen different species of legumes and grasses are covered, along with information on how to seed each species and maximize the yield potential.
“A mature horse that is not working hard will eat 1.5 to 2 pounds of air-dry feed per 100 pounds of body weight,” said Peggy Auwerda, associate professor in animal science and extension equine specialist. “That would be 15 to 20 pounds of hay daily for a 1,000-pound horse. In Iowa, horses will require about 2 tons of hay per head per year, plus summer pasture.”
Pasture is an ideal forage for horses in the spring, summer and fall, but during winter months, a high-quality hay is essential.