What Do Horses Eat? A Simple Guide to the Horse Diet

Horses are grazing herbivores built to eat small amounts of fibrous forage almost constantly. The foundation of every horse diet is grass and hay — forage — supplemented as needed with grain or concentrates, plus fresh water and salt. Their digestive systems are designed for a steady trickle of fiber, not large infrequent meals, which is why how you feed matters as much as what you feed.

What do horses eat?

The natural, healthiest diet for a horse is forage: pasture grass and good-quality hay. Most horses can meet the majority of their needs on forage alone. Grain and commercial feeds are added only when a horse needs more energy than forage provides — for hard work, growth, pregnancy or to hold weight. A forage-first approach keeps the gut healthy and reduces the risk of colic and other problems.

The core of a horse diet

• Forage (grass and hay). The foundation — roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of body weight per day in dry forage. See our hay-first feeding guide.
• Concentrates (grain/feed). Added only when forage is not enough. Learn how much to feed.
• Fresh water. A horse drinks 5 to 10 gallons a day, more in heat or work. Always available and clean.
• Salt and minerals. A salt block or loose salt, plus any minerals lacking in local forage.

Safe treats and what to avoid

Most horses enjoy carrots and apples in moderation as treats. Avoid lawn clippings, moldy hay, large amounts of fruit, and human snacks — and never make sudden changes to the diet. Any change in feed should be made gradually over a week or more to protect the gut. When in doubt about what is safe, ask your feed supplier or vet.

Feeding for health

Good feeding is about consistency and condition, not just quantity. Learn to body condition score your horse so you can adjust before problems appear, and start with our basic nutrition guide. For an overweight or metabolic horse, careful forage management also lowers the risk of laminitis.