Horses are sensitive and intelligent animals, and understanding their nutritional needs is essential to ensure they remain healthy and content. Feeding your horse the right food can help it to remain calm and relaxed, which is important for its long-term well-being. Here we look at what food calms horses and how you can best provide this type of nutrition.
The Benefits of Calm Foods
Calm foods are those that contain nutrients that help to stabilize the horse’s mood and reduce anxiety. These foods work by helping to regulate the hormones that are responsible for the horse’s mood, making them less prone to sudden changes in behavior. Eating calm foods can also help to reduce the risk of colic, digestive problems, and colitis, which can be caused by stress.
Understanding Horse Nutrition
It is important to understand the horse’s nutritional needs in order to provide the best nutrition for your horse. Horses require a balanced diet with plenty of roughage, along with vitamins, minerals, and proteins. In addition, they need plenty of water to stay hydrated and healthy. To ensure that your horse is receiving the right nutrients, it is important to provide a variety of foods, including hay, grass, grains, and treats.
Types of Calm Foods
There are several types of food that can help to calm horses. These include:
Grasses:
Grasses are an important part of a horse’s diet and can help to promote a calm demeanor. They provide essential vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber, which helps to keep the horse’s digestive system healthy. Feeding your horse a variety of grasses can help to ensure it is receiving the nutrients it needs.
Hay:
Hay is an important source of fiber and nutrients for horses. It helps to keep the digestive system healthy and is also a good source of energy. Feeding your horse hay can help to keep it calm and content.
Grain:
Grain is a great source of energy for horses and can also help to keep them calm. It is important to feed your horse a balanced diet that includes grain as well as hay and grass.
Herbs and Supplements:
Herbs and supplements can be a great way to provide nutrients that may be lacking in the horse’s diet. Herbs such as chamomile, valerian, and lavender can help to relax the horse and reduce stress. Supplements can also provide essential vitamins and minerals that can help to keep the horse’s mood stable.
Treats:
Treats can be a great way to reward your horse and keep it calm. Treats such as apples, carrots, and sugar cubes are good options, as they provide essential nutrients and can also help to keep the horse content.
Feeding Tips
When feeding your horse, it is important to keep the following tips in mind:
• Provide a variety of foods to ensure the horse is receiving the nutrients it needs.
• Ensure hay, grass, and grain are all part of the diet.
• Monitor the horse’s behavior and adjust the diet if necessary.
• Feed treats in moderation to avoid overfeeding.
• Provide plenty of fresh water to keep the horse hydrated.
Conclusion
Providing the right nutrition can help to keep horses calm and content. Feeding your horse a variety of foods, including hay, grass, grain, herbs, supplements, and treats can help to ensure it is receiving the nutrients it needs. It is also important to monitor the horse’s behavior and adjust the diet if necessary. By following these tips, you can help to keep your horse healthy and happy.