What to feed a pleasure/trail horse?

Question

I'm looking at getting my first horse in the next year (I'm in my late 20's), I am looking to get a 16-17 hh paint or standard bred horse.
The horse would be agisted in Queensland, I am thinking I'd prefer a gelding if that matters.
The places I'm considering full agistment at have at least 1 acre of grass paddock to graze in and I have options of a private or shared paddock.
I do work 5 days a week so I would be riding on weekends and holidays only, trail rides with some cantering/trotting, maybe a little galloping but nothing major.
Should the horse be grazing only, or also have alfalfa hay/grain/vitamin supplements?
I've asked a few people with more experience than me and I've been told just grazing will be fine (is that enough?), others have said grazing plus 2 hard feeds a day plus hay (sounds excessive!)
I seriously don't want to overfeed or underfeed!

Rebecca · Accepted Answer

It depends on the quality and quantity of pasture he'll be on and also how fast his metabolism is. My Stockhorse x Quarter Horse is agisted in QLD and is a pleasure horse ridded a few times a week, as he has some weight to put on he's on hard feed once a day but if he wasn't underweight he'd soley be on pasture with a min&vit block and salt lick.

Generally Stockhorses are very good doers so if the pasture is good and you're only keeping him in light work just pasture is great but having min&vit licks and salt blocks is essential for any horse. But if you do have to give hard feed for some reason a good blend is: maxisoy, copra and alfalfa chaff.

Amazing Grace · Answer

You are in a part of the world where I am not familiar with the pasture but 1 acre is not much land to graze on. A horse will walk down much more grass than they eat on that size which is in reality just a roomy paddock. An acre is only a little less than 64 meters squared.
So I think yes, you are going to have to feed some grain and hay.

Jamieson · Answer

Given how much riding you intend on doing, you won't need that much hard feed. Hay will be more than enough. If you need to hard feed (which has to be done every day) a pelleted feed like Hygain Allrounder (fed per instructions on bag) will be fine with a scoop of chaff

? · Answer

Find someone local to you who has horses kept in a condition that you desire yours in. Ask for her specific recommendations and get a look see at her feed room

rebecca · Answer

I would feed a little hay. Feed orchard hay. And there is different supplements. Go to your local feed store to see what they suggest for grain.

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What to feed a pleasure/trail horse?

5 Answers