With all the technology available today, sometimes the average horse owner is overwhelmed with choices. From what kind of bit to use to the color of the saddle blanket, there are endless possibilities. In this article we hope to clear up some of the misconceptions on horse nutrition. Hopefully, you will be able to get better performance from your horse simply by taking the time to understand how their diet affects their health. There is much discussion and many choices these days on how to feed your horse. The right choice for you will depend on many factors which are age, breed, body type and athletic use. A rule of thumb for most horses is to eat 2.0/2.5% of their body weight daily. For example, a 1000-pound horse will eat approximately 20-25 pounds of dry matter in one day. Most horses should be fed forage such as good quality hay with nutrition such as timothy, brome, and legume. The ideal rations of forage and grain should be 60/40. In other words, if a horse is receiving hay and grain, the hay should consist of 60% of the diet; grain should not exceed 40% of the total daily intake. This is important because feeding more grain may lead to digestive problems or founder. If you own a 1000-pound horse, it will eat approximately 25 pounds of feed daily, which can be supplied as 15punds of good quality hay and 10 pounds of grain. Endurance Horse The protein requirements of the horse are not greatly increased by work. The nutrience loss in sweat is easily compensated for by the increased intake of the water intake. High levels of protein (24%) were neither harmful nor helpful to horsed ridden 50 miles per day, at a rate of 9 miles per hour. However, the excess protein may increase the water requirements. This may be determined if water availability is limited. Electrolyte losses may be of particular concern in horse that sweats profusely. Such as endurance houses, therefore, it is prudent to administrate electrolyte solution substitutes 24 hours before, during and after an endurance race. Pregnant Mares The pregnant mare early in the gestation does not have nutrience requirements greatly different from the open mare. During the last few months of gestation the fetus is developing rapidly and the mare's needs are increased. During the last 90 days of gestation, the 1000 pregnant mare's daily nutrient needs are 12 pounds of hay and 3.5 pounds of grain are needed. The hay 11-15% protein and gain, preferably oats, should be 12% protein. This will help with the need of the pregnant mare in the last stages of the pregnancy. Hopefully, we have helped in the daily diet of your horse. Just remember, a hungry horse is an unhappy horse. An unhappy horse is an unhappy owner!!