Question

I feed my three Tennessee Walking Horses about one-third of a coffee can of senior feed, about the same amount of beet pulp pellets, and two cups of stabilized rice bran. I have two mares (one 10 years old and one 15 years old) and one gelding (seven years old). The 10-year-old mare and the gelding are hard keepers, and the rice bran seems to have helped the gelding gain weight. They receive no supplements at this time. All of the horses have free-choice access to grass hay and pasture when weather permits. They receive only the most minimal exercise. All are healthy, though one had a recent bout with choke. Do these seem like adequate diets for these horses?

Answer

Your feeding program appears to be adequate, but there is probably a better feed to fit your horses’ needs than the senior since you are feeding such a small amount.

Feeding only one-third of a coffee can means you are likely supplying less than the recommended feeding rate for that type of feed and shortchanging your horses on some of the vitamin and mineral nutrition used to balance the shortfalls in the forage. A ration balancer will supply protein, vitamins, and minerals in a more concentrated amount and would be more appropriate than the senior feed. With 1 lb (2.2 kg) per day per horse, you will balance out the forage, beet pulp, and rice bran combination that you feed, regardless of the type of forage they receive.

Though the causes of choke are numerous, some feeds seem to precipitate episodes more frequently than others. Beet pulp pellets can be a little hard for horses to chew and swallow and are notorious for causing choke when fed dry, particularly if a horse has any dental issues. It is usually recommended that beet pulp pellets be served soaked to avoid complications.