Horses can suffer dehydration for a number of reasons, including hot weather as well as their diet. It can happen even at cold times too, especially if water buckets or troughs freeze. Soaked horse feed can be a fantastic option. We want to have a closer look here to see how beneficial it can be, so read on to learn more.

The problem

Before we look at the benefits though, let’s explore why dehydration is such a big problem for horses. The crucial thing to keep in mind is water is essential for the function of the digestive system. It is also vital for other bodily functions.

If there isn’t enough water, it can cause health problems like impaction colic. What happens here is food may not pass smoothly through the digestive system. Instead, it can get stuck, causing pain, discomfort, and serious health issues. You need to ensure that horses get enough water to hydrate the gut and allow easy passage of food.

The right type of food

Giving horses a soaked feed is a really good idea if you want to boost how much water they ingest. It can work well at any time of the year, including hot summer months and cold winter months.

A crucial thing to keep in mind is the moisture content of the horse feed. For most of the year, a large part of their diet will likely be grass. It can have an impressive 85% water content. However, if you switch to haylage or hay, it falls to 60% or even as low as 20%. In these cases, you need to ensure they get more water from other sources. Some horses won’t drink more to compensate, so a soaked feed can be the best solution.

Benefits

The main benefit is you have an easy way to ensure horses consume more water with soaked feed. It can result in much better gut health and reduce the risk of dehydration.

Soaking feeds is also beneficial because it makes them easier to chew and swallow. This is a big advantage and reduces the risk of issues like choke. If you have older horses with dental problems, it is a great feed choice.

A third benefit is soaking feed can get rid of dust. It can offer some big advantages, such as reducing the risk of respiratory trouble and allergies.

Do you want to order quality horse feed?

JS Hubbuck Ltd understands the challenges with dehydration in horses. Whether it is hot weather, poor availability of water, or less water content from feeds, a number of factors can cause it. You need to make sure you take steps to boost intake where possible. Soaking feeds is a simple option.

You do need to be careful when you choose soaked horse feed though. The most important thing is to ensure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Most importantly, they will provide details of how long to soak for. When you’re mixing, make sure you don’t use boiling water. Plus, check the temperature before you give it to horses. Finally, make sure you don’t allow feeds to dry out or freeze.

If you want to order quality horse feed, please speak to us. We have products from leading manufacturers, so you can give your horses fantastic diets.