Best Equine Nutrition Tips, News and Tutorials

Why lactating mares need from horse feed Lactating mares carry some of the greatest nutrient demands in equine nutrition because they must support their own body condition while producing milk. During lactation , the mare’s milk production increases her need for energy needs , protein , and key minerals far beyond maintenance levels. Good horse feed for this stage should offer a balanced ration with enough energy density to keep up milk yield with

What Molasses-Free Horse Feed Means No-molasses horse feed is essentially any horse feed made without added molasses or other sweeteners that are commonly used to improve taste and bind the feed together. For many horse owners, this means choosing a non-sweetened option that supports a specific feeding goal, such as low sugar , low starch , better fiber , or a more controlled energy profile. Traditional sweet feed for horses often includes molasses for

What’s Horse Feed? Horse feed is any commercial or home-mixed feed used to support a horse’s equine nutrition beyond roughage alone. Most horses get the bulk 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 vary widely. Some formulas are designed for performance horses , some

Hot weather changes how a horse uses energy, consumes water, and processes horse feed . The right approach is often not “more feed” or “less feed” by default, but the right mix of forage , smart types of horse feed , and enough hydration support to keep appetite steady and reduce heat stress . In most cases, a hotter season means you should depend more on forage, watch body condition score , and cut back on heavy horse feed grain if your horse is not doing i

Choosing the right horse feed for a pony is not just finding the “best” bag on the shelf and more about tailoring the feed to the pony’s unique needs. Ponies often have a thrifty pony metabolism , which means they can keep weight on fewer calories than many full-size horses. That ability is useful in the wild, but it also means ponies can gain weight too easily if the diet is too rich in sugar and starch . A pony-friendly feeding plan usually starts with a fo

Could an overweight horse still need horse feed? Yes, an overweight horse may still need horse feed , but the type and amount should meet its actual needs. The goal is not to eliminate all feed automatically. Instead, you want a forage-first plan that supports balanced nutrition without adding unnecessary calories , starch , or sugar . An easy keeper often maintains weight on hay, pasture, and very little concentrate. But some horses still need a rati

If you’re trying to help an heavier horse slim down, the most useful answer is usually not a specific brand of horse feed. It is a diet plan built around calorie intake, roughage quality, serving control, and the horse’s body condition score. The best-fitting horse feed can support better body condition, but only if it fits the whole diet and you avoid common rich mistakes. For many horses, weight loss starts with a roughage-based diet, tighter pasture access, and a low-

How nutrition impacts hoof health A well-chosen horse feed can bring about a real difference in hoof health because hooves are built from living tissue that depends on consistent nourishment. The hoof wall, laminae, and supporting structures all rely on adequate protein , amino acids , trace minerals, and enough digestible energy to promote normal hoof growth . When the diet is short on key nutrients, the body tends to prioritize essential functions first,