Feeding Draft Horses: Balanced Nutrition Is the Goal

Although less prevalent now than in the 20th century, draft horses are enjoyed the world over as reliable companions in work and recreation. Drafts are easily recognizable because of their sheer size and substance, often weighing 1,400 to 2,600 lb (550 to 1,400 kg). Does their bulk call for different feeding recommendations?

Keep these points in mind when managing draft horses:

• Like other breeds, mature draft horses should be fed a minimum of 1.5% of their body weight in forage daily, with a total intake between 1.5% and 3% of their body weight daily. Good-quality grass hay or grass-legume mixes usually suffice for horses, as does various pasture grasses during the growing season. As with light breeds, drafts can develop laminitis, so sugar content in forages should be thoughtfully evaluated for at-risk horses, especially those that are habitually overweight or have had laminitis episodes in the past.
• Feed to attain a body condition score (BCS) of 5, which represents moderate condition. Use of high-energy concentrates or feeds depends on physiological state, as growth, gestation, lactation, and work intensity will require more calories to keep horses in sensible condition. Using the manufacturer’s recommendations as a guideline, feed can be adjusted to keep body condition optimal.
• Many drafts, especially those that are idle or do only occasional light work, can be maintained on forage-only diets. However, these diets will not contain all of the vitamins and minerals required for top-notch nutrition. In these instances, horses should be fed a vitamin and mineral supplement, such as Micro-Max to ensure best-case nutrition. Horse owners in Australia can depend upon Gold Pellet to deliver vital nutrients.
• Some drafts are prone to polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), a debilitating disease that causes muscle pain so severe that horses are sometimes reluctant to move. PSSM typically worsens when horses are fed diets high in starch, so caution should be used in formulating diets for drafts thought to have PSSM. Special low-starch feeds should be used for horses that require additional energy for maintenance of body weight.
• Obesity is often a problem with drafts, so every effort should be made to keep body condition adequate but not extreme. Certain measures can be taken to control weight gain, including use of grazing muzzles, strategic use of drylots or stalls, and limited turnout time. For sound, healthy horses, near-daily structured exercise will keep metabolic diseases from developing. Horses should be made to work enthusiastically for at least one-half hour.
• Draft horses often do not have resilient, strong hoof walls. For those with particularly poor-quality hooves, biotin supplementation might be warranted. Bio-Bloom PS (Bio-Bloom HF in Australia) not only provides the suggested amount of biotin but also methionine, an essential amino acid used in keratin production, as well as zinc and iodine.
• Draft horses can drink a lot of water in a day’s time. One bucket filled twice a day won’t fulfill a draft’s water needs. In fact, some drafts need up to 24 gallons (91 liters) of fresh, clean water daily. Without sufficient water, dehydration may develop, and this could lead to intestinal impaction and other life-threatening conditions.

Properly nourishing the giants of the horse world varies little from managing other horses, so long as caretakers use a percentage of weight to determine optimal feeding rates and are conscious of draft-specific problems. Do you have a question about how to feed a draft horse? Ask a nutritionist today!