Posted 2015-11-05 12:14 PM Subject: Feeding a Horse on Stall Rest
No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935 Location: Texas
What kind of diet do you feed a horse on stall rest? Do you change the diet since exercise will be practically zero? I know that he needs a balanced diet to help the healing process. This is going to be a long process of 6 to 8 months.
Posted 2015-11-05 12:48 PM Subject: RE: Feeding a Horse on Stall Rest
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 502 Location: United States
If he is recovering from a limb injury, yes be careful about his diet and don't overfeed him or plump him out. Slow feeder hay nets and a stall next to the outdoors. We made a outdoor stall next to paddocks for my friends horse.
Posted 2015-11-05 5:18 PM Subject: RE: Feeding a Horse on Stall Rest
Make sure that you are providing all the necessary nutrients without any "grains" - keeping the diet as nutrient rich and as filler-less (sugar, NSCs) as possible. Maybe install a non-glass mirror where he can see himself and if he likes it, add a boredom distractor. I would also get him a cobalt block - they are bright blue in color which is a little odd but the body uses cobalt in B12 synthesis and B12 enhances mood. Plus it gives him something to lick without compromising his mineral ratios. Take a look at the Animal Element Foundation Detox product as well as the Cissus Quadrangularis product. I am not a dealer but I sure have been impressed with what the detox does for horses and after reading about the Cissus - if I had a horse with an injury, that would be the first product I put them on. Slow feed hay nets are going to be your friend, try to find one with the smallest holes possible. There are some herbs that you can add to his diet - chamomile and passion flower are good options.
Feeding a Horse on Stall Rest
