Dietary fat has been used to increase the energy density of horse feeds, to lower the bulk in the bowel and decrease fecal output, and to reduce health risks associated with high intakes of sugar and starch. Dietary fat also provides essential fatty acids, aids in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, and may improve hair coat quality.

Articles on Horse Feeding and Nutrition - NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia. Feeding Wheat to Horses in a Drought; Drought Feeding and Management for Horses; Pastures for Horses PDF; Feeding the Brood Mare PDF; Practical Feeding of Horses; Feeding the Working Horse; A Bin for Storing Horse Feeds; Feeding Horses in Australia; Practical Horse Nutrition

Having a mare in foal means that you're taking on new responsibilities. The most important may be your mare's nutrition. Proper nutrition during gestation is critical to producing a healthy foal. There are three common mistakes in broodmare nutrition. They are: 1) Feeding too much protein and energy during gestation. 2) Underfeeding minerals and vitamins during gestation. 3) Underfeeding protein and energy during lactation. Broodmares should be fed as much forage (pasture or hay) as possible along with the least grain needed to maintain moderate box condition.

There are a number of advantages of adding fat, usually in the form of vegtable oil, to a horses diet. However for the average trail or show horse with no problems with nervousness or tying up and receive adequate amounts of forage, the extra trouble is difficult to justify. For race or show horses whose grain portion of the diet is approaching 50% of total intake by weight or horses that have special medical problems, vegetable oil can significantly improve a horse's health and performance. This report contains information on deciding whether adding fat to the diet of horses may benefit you and how to do it.

Making premium hay is both an art and a science. While much of the success of a hay field can be attributed to such technical factors as seed selection and fertilization, the critical moments of when to mow and bale require somewhat of a sixth sense. Luck, especially with the weather, also plays a large part in making good hay. By Cherry Hill, 1998.