With the array of feeds out there, an ever increasing cost of feed and at times conflicting information of what to feed, we can be forgiven for being a bit confused about what our horses really need to stay healthy and receive adequte nutrition for their careers, wether as pleasure or performance horse, stud duties or retirement.

My purse strings are forever tight owning 3 horses on a tiny 2.5 acres and feeding them is, sorry… was, a constant worry. Personally I have finally found a feed that all my horses are happy with… grass hay, with the occasional treat of  a buiscuit of shedded grassy lucerene hay.  I also feed a commercial, molasses free musli type feed to my old boy to help him keep the weight on, especially during the cooler months. For my 2 horses my current feed bill is just under $90 per week.  That’s 1 round bale of grass (rhodes) hay, and 1.5 bags of the commercial feed.

Still, I am sure there must be an even better (and possibly even cheaper) way of feeding my horses to keep them healthy, thus I have embarked on a quest to learn more. I have done a search on the internet to find courses that will help me understand equine nutrition, and don’t cost a fortune… after all … as horse owners we are eternally on the brink of being broke and starved as the needs of our horses come first. Baked beans on toast for a week… as long as I can buy feed… who cares.

I have found expensive courses, and I have found inexpensive courses and it is up to you which ones you prefer, but make sure you use a reputable course, just in case you get ‘the bug’ and want to continue study and become an equine practitioner/nutritionist. The course I have chosen is recommended by Carol Layton of ‘Balanced Equine Nutrition‘.

I have chosen to study the NRC Plus course with Dr. Kellon. This course is based on and expands on the recommendations on Equine Nutrition as outlined by the National Research Council, and is an accredited course giving you advanced standing for further study. Equinology recognises this course and it is required for Master of Equine Body Worker (MEBW) certification.

I am looking very much forward to the course. If you are interested in it as well, just follow this link http://drkellon.com/coursedescriptions/nrcplus.html, and no… I do not get any commissions or incentives, other then improved knowledge on equine nutrition.

Whilst I am waiting for my course to start early next year, I am reading “Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 5th ed”, which you can get in .pdf format for free from Google Books. Just click here.