By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS
Selecting the right feed can be surprisingly complex. After a recent conversation with a client, I was reminded just how overwhelming it can be for horse owners to make informed feeding choices. Many feeds are marketed towards specific age groups or activity levels, but these labels can be misleading.
Take, for example, a lady I spoke with who had switched her older horse onto a veteran feed simply because the mare was in her twenties. However, the horse was still in full work and actively competing. She had begun to lose weight and lacked energy - clear signs that the feed didn’t meet her actual nutritional needs.
So, how do you choose the right equine diet for your horse?
Before selecting any feed or supplement, begin by answering the following essential questions:
1. What is your horse’s body condition score (BCS)?
Is your horse underweight or overweight?
Do they gain weight easily, or struggle to maintain condition?
Use the BCS scale (1 to 9) to objectively assess fat coverage and overall body condition.
2. What level of work are they in?
Is your horse in hard work, turned out at grass, breeding, retired, or lightly ridden?
Are they young, middle-aged, or a senior?
A horse in full training will require a very different feeding regime compared to a retired field companion.
3. Are there any health conditions to consider?
Is your horse prone to EMS, Cushing’s disease, gastric ulcers, or PSSM?
These conditions have a major impact on what kind of horse feed is appropriate.
Once you’ve assessed your horse’s current condition and lifestyle, the next step is to set a clear goal for their diet.
Examples:
“My horse is an underweight, middle-aged broodmare with no underlying health issues. I want to improve her condition ahead of the breeding season.”
“My horse is an overweight young Connemara with EMS. I want to help her lose weight and get show-ready.”
“My horse is a point-to-pointer prone to ulcers. I’m bringing him back into training and want to reduce the risk of recurrence.”
Knowing your goal helps narrow down the most suitable feeding options.
Now that your goal is clear, review your horse’s current diet. Break it down into two categories:
Write down your forage source and the volume being fed.
Forage should make up at least 1.5% of your horse’s body weight in dry matter daily.
In the UK, common forage options include:
Hay
Haylage
Grass
Small adjustments to forage intake can have a significant impact:
An overweight pony on haylage may do better on soaked hay.
An underweight broodmare on poor grazing may improve with added haylage.
Adding concentrates can help meet specific nutritional requirements, especially for horses in higher levels of work.
There are two main types:
Feed Balancer – A low-calorie pellet containing essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Ideal for horses on forage-only diets or good doers.
Nurture Pro is a versatile feed balancer that can be used for a variety of horses ranging from broodmares & stallions to top level competition horses.
Complete Feed – A higher-calorie feed designed to add energy. Formulations vary, so choose based on your horse’s workload and health status.
Nurture is a high fibre, conditioning complete feed that supports semen motility, mare postpartum recovery and also foal development.
Always follow the manufacturer’s feeding guidelines. Underfeeding a complete feed can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
🔍 Top Tip: Read the nutritional information on the back of the feed bag. This will help you evaluate whether the feed suits your horse’s needs.
If your horse struggles to chew, consider soaked fibre feeds such as beet pulp or fibre cubes. These can partially or fully replace traditional forage and are easier on ageing teeth.
In Part 2, we’ll dive into how to read a feed label so you can fully understand what’s in your horse’s diet - and make informed choices with confidence.
If you're still not sure what your horse should be eating, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our experienced equine feed specialists. We’re here to help you build a practical, effective feeding plan tailored to your horse’s individual requirements.
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