Best Equine Nutrition Tips, News and Tutorials

What Exactly Is a Poor Doer Horse? A poor doer horse is one that struggles to maintain condition even when it has access to a balanced diet and adequate handling. These horses may have a naturally rapid metabolism, poor digestibility , a demanding workload, or they may simply use energy quickly. Some are easy to spot because they look thin, lack muscle, or have a low body condition score . Others slowly lose condition over time, which can be missed until weig

Selecting the right horse feed for horses on controlled grazing is less about finding one “perfect” bag and primarily about matching the diet to the horse’s forage intake , workload, and condition. When restricted grazing or restricted pasture restricts grass access, the diet usually needs better planning so the horse still gets enough forage , energy, fibre , and micronutrients without leading to excess starch or sugar. The best approach is usually a forag

What makes a horse feed effective for weight gain? The most effective horse feed for weight gain is one that supports a horse build body condition score without causing causing digestive stress. For a hard keeper , the goal is not just more feed, but improved use of calories, digestible energy , and nutrients. A well-balanced horse feed should support weight maintenance , muscle development , and overall intestinal health while fitting the horse’s age, w

What maintenance horse feed means for daily care Picking horse feed for routine upkeep comes down to one goal: keep the horse in good health, steady in energy, and at an appropriate body condition score . The maintenance ration isn’t about boosting performance or causing quick weight gain ; it is about covering maintenance requirements with the right mix of forage , hay , and any necessary supplements or concentrates. The most effective approach is a

Choosing an appropriate horse feed for a horse with laminitis is about not just finding a “healthy” bag on the shelf. The goal is to promote metabolic health, steady blood sugar, and a forage-first diet while keeping non-structural carbohydrates as low as practical. For many horses, that means focusing on low starch, low sugar options with measured feeding, detailed feed analysis, and ingredients that fit a laminitis diet. Laminitis-prone horses often do best with carefu

How many days does it take to transition horse feed without risk? For most horses, a careful change in horse feed takes about around two weeks, and in some cases longer if the horse is easily affected, older, feeling pressure, or has a record of gut problems. The key is a slow changeover , not a quick swap. Horses depend on gradual intestinal adaptation in the hindgut, so the goal is to let the intestines acclimate to the new ration without causing digestive up

The short answer is: yes, oats can work as a healthy 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 well-known, 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 co

What Influences Horse Feed Cost? Horse feed cost is determined by more than the price listed on a feed bag . The biggest drivers are the types of horse feed you buy, how much your horse needs each day, and whether the ration is built around forage, concentrate, or a mix of both. A maintenance horse on good hay may need very little added grain, while a performance horse in hard work may need a higher-energy ration with more protein and fat. For most feedin