Horse Nutrition

Understanding the basic concepts of how to feed horses properly is important to ensure optimal health and performance in the horse. One of the most fundamental aspects of understanding equine nutrition is learning how the digestive anatomy and physiology of the horse influences what and how we feed horses to meet their nutritional needs. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition is a two-part series of publications that educators can use to help foster a fun and easy learning environment when teaching equine nutrition. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition Part I details how to assemble a model equine digestive tract that is easy to make, store, use, and transport for equine nutrition presentations to people of all ages. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition, Part II instructs educators about the physiology of the digestive tract and how it relates to good feeding management practices.

Understanding the basic concepts of how to feed horses properly is important to ensure optimal health and performance in the horse. One of the most fundamental aspects of understanding equine nutrition is learning how the digestive anatomy and physiology of the horse influences what and how we feed horses to meet their nutritional needs. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition is a two-part series of publications that educators can use to help foster a fun and easy learning environment when teaching equine nutrition. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition Part I details how to assemble a model equine digestive tract that is easy to make, store, use, and transport for equine nutrition presentations to people of all ages. Teaching Basic Equine Nutrition, Part II instructs educators about the physiology of the digestive tract and how it relates to good feeding management practices.

Improper management of grazing horses can lead to the loss of vegetative cover, soil erosion and nutrient run-off into nearby water sources . An example of poor grazing management is to allow horses to continuously overgraze pasture without allowing for rest and regrowth of the plants. Best management practices (BMPs) are practices that farm operators can use to control and reduce the farm’s risk of negatively impacting the surrounding environment.