Equine nutrition is simpler than the supplement aisle suggests. Get forage, water and salt right and most horses need very little else.
A horse’s digestive system is built for a steady trickle of fibre, not large grain meals. Aim for roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of bodyweight in forage daily. Skimping on it invites ulcers, colic and stable vices.
Clean, unfrozen water at all times, and loose salt available free-choice. Dehydration is a quiet cause of impaction colic, particularly in winter when horses drink less.
Add grain when forage alone cannot maintain condition and workload — a hard-working horse, a hard keeper, a broodmare in late gestation. Many horses in light work need nothing more than good hay and a vitamin-mineral balancer to fill nutritional gaps.
The gut microbiome adapts to a diet over days, not hours. Any change to hay or feed should be phased over seven to ten days. Sudden change is one of the more preventable causes of colic.
No. Many maintain healthy weight and energy on forage alone, especially in light work. Grain fills a gap that may not exist.
Roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of bodyweight in forage. For a 1,000 lb horse that is about 15 to 20 lbs of hay.
Gradually, over seven to ten days, mixing increasing amounts of the new with decreasing amounts of the old.
Not by default. They are most useful for a specific identified issue, once forage, water and salt are already right.
Find Feed & Hay Suppliers
Find Feed & Hay SuppliersNo. Many maintain healthy weight and energy on forage alone, especially in light work. Grain fills a gap that may not exist.
Roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of bodyweight in forage. For a 1,000 lb horse that is about 15 to 20 lbs of hay.
Gradually, over seven to ten days, mixing increasing amounts of the new with decreasing amounts of the old.
Not by default. They are most useful for a specific identified issue, once forage, water and salt are already right.