What does a horse eat? We've got a farmhand helping out around the ranch but I'm too scared to ask what he feeds the horses. I also don't want anyone that I know to think I am stupid for not knowing. I know about oats, hay, carrots and apples but what else do they eat?

The best food for horses, according to all veterinary literature, is fresh green grass. Funny that.

In stables lucerne hay is pretty popular and a fairly good food. A lot of places will use other types of hay too, because horses need a large portion of fibre in their diet.

They are also often fed grains for extra energy, eg oats, barley, corn, wheat. Good protein sources are lupins, peas and similar things. Some people use oil seeds such as sunflower or chaff too.

Or there are often comercial formulations, but they are more expensive long term for large places.

I could swear I've already seen a couple threads that answered this...let me see if I can dig them up. It pretty much depends on whats available and affordable for you. Horses have nutritional needs that can be met by a wide variety of things depending on what you choose to do.

http://www.equineboard.com/food-30.html
http://www.equineboard.com/boiled-grains-as-food-for-horses-149.html
http://www.equineboard.com/how-much-grass-is-enough-164.html

Well I can tell you that my aunts gets grain in the AM and the PM, but chews up the grass like there is no tomorrow! I just managed to upload a picture, this is the lovely one. :)

http://www.equineboard.com/gallery/files/5-IMG_5537.JPG

There is snow in my area right now so there is no grass. Money is no object for me but my dad likes to pinch pennies. It is his way of making sure I don't get spoiled :D.
I made an appointment with the local vet so that he can check out the horses and give me information on how to best care for each one.

I have heard of some that will even eat bird seed, not sure thats the best way to go but since they do love grain it doesn't come as a shock to me.