The Ultimate Horse Feeding Guide: What, When & How to Feed Your Horse

Feeding your horse the right way is essential for its health, performance, and longevity. Whether you own a performance horse or a retired companion, understanding how to meet their dietary needs is key. This comprehensive guide covers everything from digestive basics to daily feeding charts and practical tips to help you keep your horse healthy and thriving.

1. Understanding the Equine Digestive System

A horseā€™s digestive system is designed for continuous grazing, not large, infrequent meals. As hindgut fermenters, horses digest forage primarily in the cecum and colon using beneficial bacteria. Sudden changes, poor-quality feed, or long periods without forage can upset this delicate balance, leading to colic or ulcers. Thatā€™s why consistent, fiber-rich feeding is essential.

2. Basic Nutritional Requirements

Your horseā€™s diet should provide all essential nutrients for maintenance, growth, performance, or reproduction.

Water and Salt

  • Fresh, clean water must be available 24/7.

  • Provide plain white salt blocks or loose salt to encourage hydration and support electrolyte balance.

Carbohydrates

  • The main energy source from forage (fiber) and grains (starch).

  • Overfeeding starch can lead to digestive upset; forage should remain the foundation.

Protein

  • Important for tissue repair, especially for growing or working horses.

  • Alfalfa and soybean meal are quality sources.

Fats

  • Dense energy source thatā€™s easy to digest.

  • Helpful for hard keepers or performance horses.

Vitamins and Minerals

  • Often included in fortified feeds or ration balancers.

  • Pasture and high-quality hay can provide many vitamins naturally.

3. How Much to Feed Your Horse

Feed should be based on your horseā€™s weight, age, and activity level. On average, horses need 1.5ā€“2.5% of their body weight in total feed per day.

Horse Daily Feeding Chart (for a 1000-pound adult horse)

Work Level Forage (lbs/day) Grain/Concentrates (lbs/day)
Maintenance 15ā€“20 0ā€“2
Light Work 15ā€“20 2ā€“5
Moderate Work 15ā€“20 5ā€“8
Heavy Work 15ā€“20 8ā€“12

Note: Always measure feed by weight, not by scoops or volume.

Sample Calculation Using NRC

If a 1000-lb horse requires 2% of body weight in feed:

  • Total daily feed = 20 lbs (15 lbs forage + 5 lbs concentrate)

4. Types of Horse Feeds

Forage

  • The cornerstone of your horseā€™s diet.

  • Includes pasture, grass hay, and alfalfa.

Concentrates

  • Provide extra energy or nutrients not available in hay.

  • Includes pelleted, textured, or sweet feed.

Supplements

  • Only necessary when specific nutrients are lacking.

Complete Feeds

  • Designed to be fed without hay, useful for horses with dental issues or allergies.

5. Feeding Schedules and Best Practices

  • Feed horses 2ā€“3 times per day if possible.

  • Stick to the same feeding times daily.

  • Small, frequent meals mimic natural grazing behavior.

  • Donā€™t make sudden changes in feed type or amountā€”transition gradually over 7ā€“10 days.

6. Smart Feeding Tips

  • Start with forageā€”it should make up the bulk of the diet.

  • Adjust feed based on work level, age, and condition.

  • Avoid overfeeding grain; too much can cause colic or laminitis.

  • Never dilute a balanced ration with extra ingredients.

  • Use top-quality hay and feedā€”moldy or dusty feeds can cause health issues.

  • Ensure adequate roughage: at least 1.5% of body weight in hay.

7. Monitoring Your Horseā€™s Health

  • Evaluate Body Condition Score (BCS) monthly.

  • Monitor manure: overly dry or loose droppings may indicate a problem.

  • Watch appetite, energy level, coat quality, and hydration.

  • Adjust feeding plan seasonally and as your horseā€™s workload changes.

8. Additional Feeding Management Tips

  • Provide clean, fresh water at all times.

  • Float teeth regularly to ensure proper chewing.

  • Practice regular deworming and fecal testing.

  • Avoid overcrowding at feeding stations in herd settings.

  • Exercise helps maintain healthy digestion.

  • Prevent stress and avoid drastic changes in routine or feed.

9. Does Your Horse Need Grain?

Not every horse needs grain. Horses in light work or at rest often meet their needs with hay alone. Grain may be necessary for:

  • Hard keepers

  • Performance horses

  • Pregnant or lactating mares

  • Growing foals

If your horse does need grain, choose a balanced, low-starch option and feed in small, well-spaced meals.

10. Take-Home Message

Feeding a horse isnā€™t just about hay and grainā€”itā€™s about balance, consistency, and understanding your horseā€™s unique needs. Whether youā€™re caring for a pasture companion or a high-performance athlete, keep these principles in mind:

  • Forage first

  • Feed by weight, not volume

  • Provide clean water and salt

  • Monitor health and body condition

  • Avoid sudden changes

  • Keep feeding routines consistent

When in doubt, consult your vet or an equine nutritionist to build a feeding plan tailored to your horse.

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