Hay Diet

• In their article "Refeeding the Poorly Conditioned Horse," David W. Freeman and Dr. Lyndi Gilliam, Equine Specialists at Oklahoma State University, recommend starting the malnourished horse on a program of small amounts of hay given at regular intervals during the day. Normal, mature horses need at least 20 lbs. of hay for every 1,000 lbs. of weight to maintain optimal health; therefore, a 1,500-lb. horse needs 30 lbs. of hay daily, for example.
  
  Because starving horses may encounter digestive issues during refeeding, Freeman and Gilliam suggest offering the horse 2 lbs. of hay every 2 hours and gradually increasing the amounts over several days. Once the animal has reached approximately half the amount he would need for energy maintenance without any gastrointestinal problems for 2 days, he can then be offered free choice hay.
  
  Dr. Carolyn Stull at the Center for Equine Health at the University of California/Davis suggests feeding malnourished horses high-quality alfalfa hay in her study "Nutrition for Rehabilitating the Starved Horse." Because of alfalfa's composition of high protein and added electrolytes of phosphorus and magnesium, plus its low carbohydrate levels, this hay offers the horse the best choice for regaining energy while avoiding a high insulin response. High insulin levels in horses often result in the onset of laminitis (founder) and Cushing's disease.
  
  

Grain Diet

• After 10 days to 2 weeks on free choice hay and when the horse is stable, he can be offered small amounts of 12 percent crude protein grain mix at frequent intervals. Three to four feedings of 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. each is usually well tolerated by most horses. A week later, if the animal remains stable, grain levels can be increased to 2 lbs. per feeding in the morning and evening and 1 lb. at noon.
  
  As the horse gains weight and his energy levels improve, the grain mix can be gradually augmented up to 9 lbs. per day. These levels will need to be adjusted to the individual condition of each horse, assuming the animal is maintaining stasis and continuing on free choice hay. Grain rations can be raised up to 16 lbs. of grain mix in two feedings daily after 1 month on this regimen, state Freeman and Gilliam. Once the horse has reached maximum weight and conditioning, grain and hay levels will need to be gradually lowered to normal limits.