For the Health of It
How to Feed a
Severely Neglected Rescue Horse
by Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D.
When we can offer a safe, caring
home to a severely neglected horse,
everyone in the horse world cheers.
If you have recently adopted a rescue
horse, let me first commend you for your
actions. Saving a horse that is in desperate need of care and nursing him back to
health can be one of the most gratifying
experiences a horse owner can have. But
you must be committed to giving him a
lot of time and attention. The transition
period is critical. He’ll need to be moved
in and out of pasture throughout the day,
fed hay nearly every couple of hours, and
given frequent supplemental meals until
he gets to where he can hold his own.
If your horse is very thin due to
starvation, you will want to proceed
slowly and with caution, giving his
body a chance to adjust to change with
each step. Some horses are in such poor
condition they are unable to eat. In this
extreme situation, your veterinarian will
use a stomach tube to feed the