| Horses were born to eat grass, it is their natural | | | | horse in a catch pen, usually built into a corner of a |
| food. The supplemental feeding of grain was created | | | | pasture, with no grain until the other horses are |
| by man in order to keep weight on horses as they | | | | finished eating. Remember, if you are giving grain to |
| were being used for beasts of burden. Horses pulling | | | | pasture horses, the amount that you feed will be |
| caravans across this vast country did not have time | | | | much less than that of winter time. Lets' say you |
| to graze, so man had to supplement their need for | | | | turn your horses out during the day in the winter. |
| food. This is probably when feed bags were invented. | | | | They will just forage around and pick a little on old |
| As man settled and began to farm, horses were | | | | dead grass that has little to offer as opposed to |
| necessary for plowing and traveling long distances | | | | gorging themselves all day long and even during the |
| either for supplies or for herding cattle; again | | | | nighttime. Horses can suffer from a severe condition |
| demonstrating the need for grain. | | | | called laminitis (founder) when they are carrying too |
| Horses can survive on grass alone. The need to give | | | | much weight and producing too much heat in their |
| them grain will depend on the age of the horse, what | | | | bodies, and the heat travels to their feet. This |
| kind of activity the horse is performing on a daily | | | | condition is not only very painful for the horse but it |
| basis, the amount of pasture that is available for the | | | | is a permanent condition. They become more |
| individual and the quality of the pasture. Young horses | | | | sensitive, can re-founder, will need extra care and |
| that are weanlings (babies just weaned from their | | | | specialized shoeing, and it can even cause them to |
| mother) and yearlings are growing at a fast pace. | | | | loose their life if they are not removed from the |
| Actually any horse under the age of five for most | | | | environment that originally caused them to founder. |
| breeds is still growing. If you want a horse that is | | | | Horses have been around for millions of years and |
| strong and will grow to their full potential, giving them | | | | they survived without grain. The decision is yours and |
| grain is the right thing to do. Horses that are being | | | | if you have horses in a rich pasture and they are not |
| ridden often or on a daily basis should have grain. | | | | being ridden often and they have a healthy weight |
| Now if your horse is in a pasture that has a lot of | | | | on them, then grain probably is not necessary. As |
| weeds or the grass stays short because there are | | | | long as your horse has a plentiful supply of rich grass, |
| too many horses in one pasture, then you may also | | | | plenty of fresh water, trees or woods or a lean-to |
| want to supplement them with hay as well as grain. | | | | structure for protection, and you have them on a |
| Another factor that comes into play is the breed of | | | | regimented worming program (will be discussed at a |
| the horse. Certain breeds will need only a small | | | | later date), life will be good for them without grain. |
| amount of feed, others such as Thoroughbreds, | | | | Even though they seem to be self sufficient, horses |
| need much more grain to accomplish the | | | | always need to have a watchful eye on them at |
| development of a healthy, strong animal. | | | | least once a day. It is necessary to check their water |
| Being a horse owner means that you must monitor | | | | and clean the waterer or tubs often. Make sure all |
| your horses weight and condition constantly, whether | | | | the horses seem happy, and are following their usual |
| they are in a stall or in a pasture. If you have a horse | | | | daily habits. You must also check them thoroughly |
| or pony that is an aggressive eater and is becoming | | | | making sure there are no serious cuts, wounds, or |
| too fat or even obese, when you are graining the | | | | kick marks, and check their eyes for injuries or signs |
| other horses in the pasture, you will have to put that | | | | of illness or allergies. |