How is a poor doer horse? A poor doer is an animal that struggles to maintain healthy weight and condition even when it seems to be eating enough. The main problem is often a mismatch between calorie intake and the horse’s needs, which can be affected by workload, age, temperament, health, and its naturally higher metabolic rate . Some poor doers burn fuel quickly, while others may have a lower appetite, weaker digestion, or trouble using feed efficiently. A s
Which Feed Is Best for Horses with Dental Problems?
Selecting the appropriate horse feed for a horse with dental problems is more than being easy to chew. A good feeding plan promotes chewing , safe swallowing, digestibility , and steady intake while protecting body condition. A horse suffering from poor mastication may drop feed, quit on hay, or eat slowly enough that the ration does not meets energy needs. That can result in weight loss , uneven condition, and a decline in overall health. The goal is to m
How Many Horse Feed Does a Horse Eat Per Day in Kg?
How Many a Horse Eats Per Day in Kg How much horse feed a horse consumes per day in kg depends on body weight, forage quality, workload, and body condition score. A practical starting point is that most horses eat about 1.5% to 2.5% of their body weight per day in total dry matter, with most of that coming from forage such as hay or grass. This means a 500 kg horse may consume roughly 7.5 to 12.5 kg of dry matter daily, before adjusting for pasture moisture and the
Feed for Horses for Hard Keepers: What to Give and What to Skip
What exactly is an Easy Keeper Horse? An easy keeper is a horse that holds weight on relatively little feed and often puts on weight faster than expected. These horses usually do well on a simple forage-focused diet , but their weight management can become a challenge if feed choices are too rich or portions are too large. The key is not to “underfeed” them in a careless way, but to match intake to body score , work level, and overall health. Easy keepers of
Horse Nutrition for Water Balance Support: What to Feed and The Reason
How hydration works in horses Support for hydration starts with understanding how a horse utilizes water. A horse’s water intake is affected by weather, activity level, forage quality, salt intake, and the full ration design. Water is not just about relieving thirst; it supports cooling, circulation, nutrient delivery, and normal digestive health . When hydration status declines, feed digestion can slow, manure can become drier, and the horse may show appetite chang
Choosing the right horse feed is not just more than choosing a familiar bag off the shelf. The best option depends on pasture quality, workload, body condition score, age, metabolic needs, and budget. In some cases, a complete feed solves several problems at once by supplying digestible fiber, vitamins and minerals, and enough calorie density to support a daily ration without relying heavily on hay or pasture. For others, a traditional grain or a sweet feed for horses may s
Best Horse Feed Choices for Insulin Resistant Horses
How Insulin Resistance Looks Like in Horses Insulin resistant horses respond poorly to insulin as effectively as they should, which makes it harder to regulate blood sugar and maintain consistent blood glucose levels. This matters because insulin resistance is closely linked to equine metabolic syndrome, a condition that often involves increased body weight, difficulty losing fat, and a higher risk of laminitis. For many horses, the main feeding goal is not simply to red
Selecting the right horse feed for a Thoroughbred is more than chasing a single “best” product and more about creating a practical plan around body condition, workload, and digestive tolerance. A Thoroughbred in poor thoroughbred condition may need more than extra calories: it needs the right balance of forage , digestible energy, protein , amino acids , and micronutrients to encourage healthy weight gain and muscle tone without upsetting the digestive s