Transitioning Your Horse to a New Feed
Transitioning Your Horse to a New Feed
You may be thinking your horse is in need of a senior diet, or perhaps there is a new feed available that you believe is even better for your horse. Maybe you are no longer happy with your current feed. Or, your retailer no longer carries the product you were using. Whatever the reason, switching your horse to a new feed is a change that requires care and know-how.
It’s important to transition your horse gradually over a 7 day period, gradually increasing the new feed and decreasing the old. Throughout the process, you’ll want to watch your horse’s body condition and adjust feeding rates as needed.
Mixing with Current Feed – The Ideal Process
If still have some of your current feed, transition as follows:
|
Current Feed |
New Feed |
|
| Day 1-2 |
75% |
25% |
| Day 3-4 |
50% |
50% |
| Day 5-6 |
25% |
75% |
| Day 7 |
– |
100% |
No Current Feed Available
Whether you just simply ran out, or your favorite feed has been discontinued or no longer carried by your retailer, sometimes you may not be able to mix their old and new feed slowly. While not ideal, if no current feed is available, you can still safely transition to the new feed.
Because you don’t have any of the old feed to mix, you’ll want to reduce the total amount you feed your horse and gradually increase it again over 7 days, using the new feed. It is a good idea to offer some extra hay or pasture-time during this transition, as well. Feed your horse the new grain as follows:
|
% of recommend feeding rate of the new feed |
|
| Day 1-2 |
25% |
| Day 3-4 |
50% |
| Day 5-6 |
75% |
| Day 7 |
100% |
How to Transition a Horse’s Feed
You may be thinking your horse might be in need of a senior diet, or perhaps there is a new feed available that you believe is even better for your horse. Maybe you are no longer happy with your current feed. Or, your dealer no longer carries the product you were using. Whatever the reason, switching your horse to a new feed is a change that requires care and know-how.
Changes to feed, pasture or hay in general should be made over a 7 day period, gradually increasing the new and decreasing the old. For example:
Day 1: 80% of old feed / 20% of new feed
Day 2: 70% of old feed / 30% of new feed
Day 3: 60% of old feed / 40% of new feed
Day 4: 50% of each
Day 5: 40% of old feed / 60% of new feed
Day 6: 30% of old feed / 70% of new feed
Day 7: 20% of old feed / 80% of new feed
Moving from a feed higher in Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) to one that is lower can be done relatively easily by following the instructions above. If you are moving your horse from a ‘low’ NSC feed to one that is higher in NSC, feed changes should happen over at least the 7 days recommended above, if not longer.
Research has indicated that horses fed pre and probiotics are better able to handle changes in diet than horses that are not.
Changes in hay, though generally not given much consideration, can have as much of an impact if not more than changes in feed. If possible, try to follow the same steps as above when transitioning your hay. Hay that is harvested from the same field, but in different cuttings will likely vary in nutritional content. Hay testing is available from many University Extension offices. Check with your area extension office for more information.