Ultimate Equine Nutrition Blog

What’s horse feed? Horse feed is any commercial or home-mixed feed used to nourish a horse’s equine nutrition beyond forage. Most horses get the majority of their diet from hay or pasture, which provides the base forage , while feed products act as a concentrate to add extra protein , fiber , fat content , and calories when needed. The types of horse feed available today differ greatly. Some formulas are designed for performance horses , some

What creates horse feed digestive-friendly? The best horse feed for gut health is built with a clear goal: back the horse’s natural digestive health rather than overwhelming it. Horses are designed to take in small amounts of fibrous plants throughout the day, so a gut-friendly diet matches that biology rather than against it. The core is steady forage intake, especially hay , because it maintains the digestive tract moving and supports healthy hindgut fe

The right horse feed for easy keepers is usually a starch-reduced , low-sugar , fiber-forward option that promotes metabolic health without adding unnecessary calories. In many cases easy keepers, the right answer is not a traditional grain at all. Rather, a forage-first plan, paired with a ration balancer or a carefully chosen low-NSC concentrate, gives the horse what it needs while protecting body score . An good-doer is a horse that maintains weig

Why proper horse feed storage matters Proper storage is essential for keeping horse feed safe, appetizing, and nutritionally useful. After feed is left open to air, moisture , heat, or sunlight , quality can drop quickly. That matters because stale or contaminated feed can lead to wasted money, reduced intake, and potential problems for the horse. The primary risks are mold , pests , and loss of freshness . Mold can develop when feed absorbs water or sits

How Much Horse Feed Does a Horse Eat Per Day? The right portion of horse feed is based on the horse’s body weight , years, health, and workload . A horse’s daily ration is generally based on forage first, then adjusted with concentrates, grain, or a complete feed to support weight maintenance , weight gain , or athletic work. As a rule of thumb, most horses eat about 1.5% to 2.5% of their body weight in total dry matter per day. That total includes for

What exactly is Horse Feed? Horse feed is any nutritional feed used to meet a horse’s regular nutrient requirements, usually alongside forage such as hay and pasture . In equine nutrition, feed is more than just “grain.” It can include a broad variety of ingredients and formats designed to supply digestible energy , protein , fiber , fat content , vitamins , and minerals . The most common types of horse feed can be divided into a few broad categ

What nutrients promote hoof health in horses? Hoof health starts with balanced feeding, because the hoof wall, sole, and frog all depend on a steady supply of building blocks from the equine diet. The most important nutrients in horse feed for strong hooves are biotin , methionine , zinc , and omega-3 fatty acids . These nutrients contribute to hoof quality in different ways, and none of them works as well in isolation as they do in a complete feeding progra

The short answer is: yes, oats may be a suitable horse feed for many horses, but not all horses and not in every feeding program. Oats have traditionally been a staple in equine nutrition because they are familiar, palatable, and easier to digest than some other grain sources. They can fit well into a balanced ration when the horse has enough forage, the workload matches the energy intake, and the overall diet is managed with care. That said, oats are still a concentr