Why We Feed Alongside Forage

By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS

Over the past year of writing these articles, we’ve consistently emphasised that horses’ diets should be forage-based and that they are designed to eat fibre for energy. If that’s the case, why do we need feeds and balancers, and where do they fit into horse management? While it might seem like a simple question, the answer offers valuable insight into how we care for our horses and support their nutritional needs.

The Role of Forage in a Horse’s Diet

Let’s focus on the relationship between forage and formulated feed, and how they work together. Forage comes in many forms - for example, grass (with over 160 different species in the UK), haylage made from grass, hay, and straw. Each of these has different levels of starch, protein, vitamins, and minerals, which vary depending on the time of year, weather conditions, and the specific variety grown. Even the time of day can affect the nutrient content of grass. With all this variation, we begin to encounter some challenges in maintaining a balanced equine diet.

How Horses’ Lifestyles Have Changed

The fact is, horses today are doing jobs they weren’t originally designed to do. In the wild, horses spent their days eating, sleeping, fleeing from predators, and reproducing. They gained weight in the summer when grass was plentiful and lost it during the harsher winter months. Much of their day was spent slowly on the move, with occasional bursts of speed to escape danger.

Nowadays, however, we expect our horses to maintain consistent body condition all year round, compete in various disciplines, and live on managed grazing. The forage they consume is often man-made, and the pastures they graze have been significantly altered from their natural state.

Why Feed for Horses Is So Important

This is where feed becomes an essential tool in tailoring a horse’s diet. For competition horses in hard work, forage alone may not provide enough calories to maintain a healthy body condition. Even horses in light or no work, grazing well-managed paddocks, may not receive the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Often, the signs of a nutritional deficiency - such as weight loss, a dull coat, or a decline in hoof quality - only become visible after the deficiency has been present for some time.

This is where formulated feeds and balancers come into play. These products are designed to provide consistent levels of vitamins, minerals, starch, sugar, oil, and protein. In other words, they do exactly what it says on the bag. This allows owners to manage their horses’ diets in a controlled, balanced, and reliable way.

The Impact of Variable Forage Quality

This year, we’ve seen huge variations in grass quality from month to month and region to region. As a result, the hay and haylage we feed this winter will vary too. In our local area, farmers reported a reduced crop, but the forage produced was described as “rocket fuel”. Having forage analysed ahead of winter can help identify any nutritional gaps. For some horses, this might mean adding a higher-calorie feed; for others, it could mean a boost in specific vitamins or minerals through a balancer.

In Summary