Nutrition

What to feed and how much?  

The following factors should be considered before feeding; the size, body weight, breed, health status, temperament, age, and workload being done.  

High fibre, low sugar forage is an essential part of your horse’s diet for both their physical and psychological needs. It provides the necessary nutrients to keep them in good condition and provides warmth in the winter months but also aids their mental state as it can replicate their natural behaviours of roaming and foraging.  

Some ‘good doers’* (see end of page for definition), may need a diet plan, but their daily intake of food should not fall below 1.5% of their bodyweight. Discover more tips on managing weight.  

Concentrates, which are fed as grains and pellets, can be considered if your horse is in hard work, underweight, aged or is breeding stock. There are many concentrate feeds on the market with varying nutritional values; we advise you to discuss the requirements with an equine nutritionist as incorrect feeding can cause health and behaviour issues.  

The Equine Digestive System and how it works

Equines are herbivores (plant-eaters) and often consume grass and hay. They have evolved to be trickle feeders and they spend most of their time roaming and grazing, meaning they should eat little and often. 

Below is a simple guide to the digestive system which will support your understanding of the importance of feeding and nutrition. 

The digestive tract is unique as it digests some food in the foregut (oesophagus, stomach, small intestine) by enzymes and then other food is broken down by fermentation in the hind gut (caecum, large colon, small colon, rectum).  

Feeding guidelines for all horse owners 

• Provide clean, fresh water at all times – remember a horse can drink around 25 litres of water a day.

• Feed plenty of forage – this replicates their natural diet and can help provide all your horse’s daily requirements. Feed 2.5% of your horses body weight for a healthy diet. Remember if you need to restrict your horse’s daily intake do not drop below 1.5% of their bodyweight.  

• Feed according to body weight and their individual needs – if possible, use a weigh bridge for an accurate reading, or use a weigh tape. Most feed companies will provide a table with an approximate weight for the size and breed of a horse.  

• If you need to feed concentrates, feed little and often – their stomach is similar to the size of a rugby ball and cannot cope with large amounts in one go. Plan several smaller feeds throughout the day rather than just one.  

• Feed only good quality foodstuff – check for any mould or spores. Storing the food in rodent-proof and weatherproof bins to keep the food fresh. 

• Make any changes to their diet gradually and prevent potential problems such as colic by allowing the microbes in the digestive system to become accustomed to the change.  

• Keep to a routine – horses thrive from a routine.  

• If exercising, remember to leave at least an hour between feeding concentrates and riding. Having some forage in their stomach can support with gastric ulcers, preventing acid splashing on their stomach lining.  

Nutrition Glossary

Good Doers –  A good doer is a horse or pony that maintains or gains weight easily.  

Peristalsis – Where the muscles in the oesophagus contract above the bolus to push food down the oesophagus.The muscles work together to produce wave-like contractions. These have a squeezing action that pushes the bolus through the gut.

Bolus – A small ball of chewed food mixed with saliva.

Colic – A symptom of abdominal pain caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

Gastric Ulcers –  Sores in the stomach lining that occur when the lining has been damaged by stomach acid and digestive enzymes. 

Chyme – A thick semi-fluid mass of partially digested food and digestive secretions.