Rules of Feeding

1. Feed little and often as this most closely resembles the horse's natural way of feeding, and enables them to keep their relatively small stomach constantly about half full.

2. Adjust feed according to the amount of work that the horse is doing, the time of year, the age of the horse, the size and build of the horse, whether it is grass-kept or stable-kept, its temperament, and the ability of the rider. All these factors affect the type and quantity of food you should feed.

3. Always feed good quality food. Poor quality food can lead to respiratory problems and can be low in nutritional value, leading to costliness.

4. Make sure you feed at regular intervals during the day. The horse quickly establishes a routine and expects its food at certain times; disrupting this can lead to frustration-related vices.

5. Do not feed directly before exercise. The horse's stomach sits behind the diaphragm and if full will restrict the expansion of the lungs. You should allow a minimum of one hour after feeding before exercise, and preferably longer.

6. For the same reason, do not let your horse drink large quantities of water before hard work. If it is likely to do this, then the water should be removed approximately one hour before the work begins.

7. You should allow your horse access to a constant supply of clean, fresh water. If you are not able to do this, make sure you offer it water before it feeds, and not directly afterward. The latter can cause undigested food to be washed through and may cause colic and poor digestion.

8. Using plenty of bulk and roughage in feed will aid the horse's digestion and keep the digestive tract in good working order.

9. Feed succulent foods daily to aid digestion and to provide vitamins and minerals.

10. Only use clean bowls for feeding and watering.

11. Do not make any sudden changes to the horse's diet as this can upset the bacterial balance of the gut and lead to poor digestion and colic. Changes should be made gradually over several days.

12. After strenuous exercise, only allow your horse a maximum of about 4—6 pints (2—3.5 liters) of lukewarm water at a time, with a 20-minute break between each drink. This will prevent large amounts of cold water shocking the system while the horse is still recovering from exertion.

13. Do not feed more than 4—6 lb (1.8-2.7 kg) of concentrates at any one time — a greater quantity than this will overload the stomach and cause poor digestion and, in some cases, colic.

14. Always weigh your feed out so that you know exactly how much food your horse is getting.