By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS
For anyone who grew up as a member of the Pony Club, the golden rules of feeding are drilled into you. Two of the most important are: “Feed for the work the horse has done” and “Feed for the individual horse.”
On paper, both seem straightforward. In reality, however, what do they actually mean? And how do we determine what our individual horses truly need?
Every horse is different, and their diet should reflect this. Before deciding what to feed, it is essential to assess your horse as an individual rather than relying on generic feeding guidelines.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What is your horse’s Body Condition Score (BCS)?
What level of work or activity are they currently doing?
Are there any health issues to consider, such as metabolic conditions, gastric ulcers, or dental problems?
These factors form the foundation of any effective feeding plan.
Once you understand your horse’s current condition and management context, set a clear dietary goal. For example, are you feeding to:
Maintain weight
Promote weight gain or weight loss
Build muscle
Support growth
Assist with reproduction or lactation
Without a clear goal, it is impossible to judge whether a diet is appropriate or effective.
A horse’s diet must provide energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals in the correct proportions to support health and performance.
Horses require, on average, 0.03 Mcal of energy per kilogram of body weight, although this varies depending on workload, growth, pregnancy, and lactation. Horses needing to lose weight require less energy, while those in hard work or needing to gain weight require more.
Energy can come from several different sources:
Fibre
Fermented in the hindgut, fibre provides slow-release energy while supporting gut health. It is the primary energy source in most horses’ diets.
Starch
Digested in the small intestine, starch provides quick-release energy and can be useful for horses in hard work. However, excessive starch intake increases the risk of digestive upset, excitability, and laminitis. Horses with metabolic issues or those prone to gastric ulcers should be fed low-starch diets.
Fat
A highly concentrated energy source that provides slow-release energy and improves stamina. Fat allows energy requirements to be met without feeding large quantities of starch.
Protein is essential for growth, muscle development, tissue repair, and general body maintenance. It is not primarily used as an energy source.
Excess protein cannot be stored and is excreted, so protein quality is more important than quantity. Higher protein levels are required for growing horses, those building muscle, and pregnant or lactating mares.
Nurture is a super product for growth and muscle development in young horses as well as adding condition to older horses. The high level of quality proteins (16.5%), pre-digestion and long chain omega 3 fatty acid DHA works together to support semen motility, mare postpartum recovery and foal development.
Vitamins are required in small amounts to support metabolism, immunity, and tissue repair.
Minerals are essential for bone strength, muscle function, nerve transmission, and overall health.
Both must be supplied in the correct balance, usually through forage, compound feeds, or supplements. Deficiencies or excesses can lead to serious health issues, making careful management vital.
Most nutritional information is presented as a percentage, yet horses eat kilograms of feed, not percentages. To understand what your horse is actually consuming, percentages must be converted into real-world quantities.
Simple formula:
Nutrient weight (kg) = Amount of feed fed (kg) × (Percentage of nutrient ÷ 100)
This calculation allows you to compare diets accurately and practically, ensuring your horse receives the correct amounts of protein, starch, fibre, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Looking at nutrients in kilograms rather than percentages enables informed adjustments and better feed choices tailored to your horse’s individual needs.
Feeding a horse is about far more than simply filling a bucket. It requires an understanding of the horse as an individual and providing a balanced diet based on their workload, condition, and health status.
By assessing your horse properly, understanding the key components of the diet, and measuring nutrients in real terms, you can ensure your horse remains healthy, fit, and happy.
The Keyflow Range
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