“We are what we eat” is as true for horses as it is for humans. Making sure a horse or pony is getting the appropriate nourishment is critical to their health and happiness and forms a major part of good horse management. Horses need forage, as this is the foundation of a healthy diet. But what else is important to consider?
What’s the best diet for a horse?
Forage and fresh clean water are the foundation of healthy horse feeding. In addition, concentrated feeds, vitamin and mineral mixes, electrolytes, and functional feed ingredients are important to consider. However, selecting feeds that are appropriate for each horse’s needs as an individual are important, because they are all unique. Factors to consider to make the right choices include age, height, breed, clinical history and the amount of exercise or work the horse receives. Which types of feeds are available and, importantly, how do you choose the right ones? The choice can seem bewildering sometimes.
Forage, concentrates and juicy vegetables
It helps to split the available feeds into three basic groups, the first of which is forage. In the wild, horses need to graze for a large part of the day and night in order to get the nutrition and fibre they require. They don’t only eat grass – they also select from a menu of herbs and wild plants with very varied compositions, including meadowsweet, hedgerows and even dandelions. They will also browse on bushes and trees such as willow and gorse. Domesticated horses also receive forage in the form of hay, straw, haylage and other preserved forage options. These are usually preserved grass products that can be fed throughout the winter or when there’s little to no grass available. The benefit of feeding preserved grass such as hay is that the horse-keeper knows exactly how much forage is in the horse’s diet because it can be weighed. Often there’s an overlap between winter and summer when the horse will receive some hay in addition to going out to graze. The sugar, starch, protein and fibre content of grass can fluctuate significantly with the weather, and in certain conditions can risk causing laminitis. Keeping the horse on some forage, especially soaked hay, while controlling the grass intake is a reliable way to avoid this. There are also pelletised grass products which can be fed as part of the diet or as treats.
The second feed group, which is more important, is concentrated feed, which includes various forms of processed feed ingredients. These come in the form of mixes, some of which are molassed and include oils and other nutritional additives, and also in “straights”, which focus on just one feed ingredient. These feeds often focus on specific nutritional needs relative to certain conditions, workloads and other requirements.
Thirdly, there are other feedstuffs which add juiciness and flavour to the diet. Most people quickly learn that horses love root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, and turnips. These can be an especially useful addition to the winter diet, adding taste and mental stimulation when there’s less succulent grass around. Hanging a turnip or swede up in a horse’s stable makes a good boredom buster, too. However, it’s important to not feed too much, as they can cause digestive upset and are not concentrated in the most important nutrients that horses need. Horses also usually enjoy apples, pears and even bananas! Though, caution is the keyword here as fruits are best viewed as an occasional treat or reward and not as a consistent or significant part of their healthy diet. The golden rule of feeding is: always feed according to individual needs, and seek professional advice from an equine nutritionist.
Explore Forage Feeds for Your Horse
Discover Thunderbrook’s premium forage‑based feeds – naturally fibre‑rich, gentle on digestion, and crafted for equine well‑being.
Vitamin and Mineral supplements
Vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements can be a valuable addition to a horse’s diet. These can help with various conditions including symptoms of vitamin deficiency. They are also helpful as preventative measures for keeping horses and ponies healthy. Before deciding whether a horse needs supplements, it’s important to assess their needs as an individual, which considers their age, workload, clinical history, current management, grazing and forage, and to rely on a professional nutritionist to advise.
