Ask HQ: 4 feeds a day

[Q] What would be the best times to feed a horse who should be fed four times a day if the first feed is at 7am? The horse is also usually ridden at 4pm.

Asked by Marizanne Momberg

[A] We’d recommend feeding at 7am, 11am, 3pm and then a late feeding at 8pm. Exact intervals are not always necessary and sometimes it’s better to vary feeding times slightly. It’s most important that the horse has access to ad-lib hay and water at all times. Big grain meals are never advised, so using four feeds a day to reduce the portion size of the grain meal given can aid greatly with gut health.

Answered by Charlotte Bastiaanse and Jassy Mackenzie