If your horse has diet-related issues, what you feed as hard feed can either help reduce the problem or contribute to it.
For the horse’s metabolism to have a chance to rest and reset its self-regulating mechanisms, we recommend keeping hard feeds as simple and basic as possible.
Over the years, we have found that potassium, crude protein and soluble sugars are three nutrients that need particular consideration. When present in excess, they can place additional and cumulative stress on the horse’s metabolism.
Green feeds such as lucerne/alfalfa, fresh herbs, willow and poplar leaves, as well as ingredients such as molasses, concentrated protein feeds, kelp and other seaweeds, may add to the problem rather than helping to resolve it.
Feeding Hay
The bulk of the diet should come from low-sugar grass or meadow hay. For horses that are considered "grass affected", we generally recommend avoiding lucerne, ryegrass and clover.
Depending on your location and the types of grass hay available, look for Rhodes, Teff, Timothy, Orchard or Meadow hay. Ideally, choose hay that has not been heavily fertilised and has a relatively low sugar content.
Coarse-stemmed hay is generally less digestible than fine, soft hay. If you are feeding a coarse hay, your horse may need to consume more of it to obtain the same level of available nutrients as they would from a finer hay.
If you have your hay tested, we recommend looking for approximately:
Hay Analysis Recommendations
- Protein: 10–12% (lucerne is usually around 20–25%)
- Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC): ideally 10–12% for horses with EMS or those in light or no work
- NSC: up to approximately 15–18% may be suitable for horses in moderate work, depending on the individual horse
Hay analysis can be particularly useful when managing horses with metabolic or diet-related issues, as the nutritional content of hay can vary considerably.
How Much Protein Does My Horse Need?
The diet should contain adequate, rather than excessive, protein. For many horses, this can be supplied through their hay, provided the hay contains around 10% protein.
Feeding significantly more protein than a horse requires is generally unnecessary and may place additional demands on the body. For horses with insulin dysregulation, keeping the overall diet balanced and avoiding unnecessary excesses is particularly important.
On the other hand, very low protein levels — particularly below around 8% — may not provide enough protein to support healthy muscle, tissue and body condition.
The aim is to provide enough good-quality protein without unnecessarily overloading the diet.
The Importance of Fibre
Fibre is extremely important and is an essential part of a horse's diet. A high-fibre diet supports healthy digestion and helps provide a steady source of energy.
Fibre is fermented in the hindgut and provides a significant proportion of the horse's energy requirements. The best source is generally safe, suitable grass hay, which should form the bulk of the diet.
For horses with metabolic or diet-related problems, choosing the right type and amount of fibre is particularly important.
How Much Hard Feed Should I Give?
The amount of hard feed required will vary considerably depending on the horse's breed, size, workload, age and individual metabolism. Adjust the amount according to the horse's condition and aim to maintain an ideal body weight.
For overweight horses or ponies — often referred to as "good doers" — a very small, basic feed can be used simply as a carrier for vitamins, minerals or other nutritional supplements.
When horses lose weight, they can also lose muscle. In these cases, it is important to provide adequate protein and amino acids rather than simply increasing fats and carbohydrates.
ShipShape contains a blend of amino acids and can be added to the diet to support topline and muscle development, particularly in horses that struggle to maintain condition.
Hard Feed Options
Chaff – Oaten or Timothy:
Oaten or Timothy chaff can be useful additions to a basic feed. We generally recommend avoiding lucerne chaff for "grass affected" horses. Oaten chaff should also be limited in horses prone to EMS or insulin dysregulation, depending on the overall diet.
Oats:
Oats are best avoided for horses with insulin dysregulation or those recovering from, or at risk of, laminitis or EMS. For other horses, whole oats or oaten chaff can be suitable and may be added when additional energy is required.
Barley:
As with oats, barley should be used cautiously in horses with insulin dysregulation, laminitis or EMS. If feeding barley, use it crushed or boiled rather than extruded. Extrusion involves grinding and cooking the grain, making the starch more readily digestible and potentially providing a rapid source of energy.
Barley is also higher in phosphorus than calcium.
Linseed Meal or Ground Flaxseed:
Linseed and flaxseed are the same seed. Ground flaxseed is the whole seed that has been ground, while linseed meal generally refers to the meal remaining after some or most of the oil has been extracted. Either can be added to feed for palatability, as most horses enjoy the taste.
Boiled Linseed/Flaxseed:
Boiled linseed is a traditional option for helping horses maintain weight and can contribute to a healthy, shiny coat. It can be cooked in a slow cooker with barley to make a warming winter feed.
Copra:
Copra can be useful for adding calories and can help disguise the taste of minerals and supplements. It also blends well with beet pulp and can help balance the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of the overall feed.
Unsweetened Beet Pulp (SpeediBeet):
Beet pulp is the fibrous portion of the sugar beet root. When prepared correctly, it provides a useful source of highly digestible fibre and calories without relying on grain-based starch.
It combines well with copra, barley, oats or bran. Rinse before soaking if you wish to further reduce surface sugars and minerals such as iron.
Beet pulp is higher in calcium than phosphorus and can be fed at approximately 1–4 cups daily, depending on the horse and the rest of the diet.
Wheatgerm:
Wheatgerm is a good source of B vitamins and provides some selenium. It can be used as a nutritional supplement in small amounts. For a 500 kg horse, approximately 1–2 tablespoons daily is sufficient.
Rice Bran:
Some horses do well on rice bran, while others do not tolerate it. A small handful used for taste is generally sufficient. Rice bran is higher in phosphorus than calcium.
Wheat Bran:
Wheat bran is high in fibre and provides a range of minerals. It can be added in small amounts to improve palatability rather than being used as a major feed source.
It blends well with beet pulp to help balance the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. For a 500 kg horse, approximately ½–1 cup daily can be used. Wheat bran is higher in phosphorus than calcium.
Pollard:
Pollard is a processed grain-based feed that can be useful for adding weight, but we do not recommend it as a regular feed choice where the focus is on supporting overall health.
Supreme MVA Horse Vitamins & Minerals can be added daily to provide a broad range of vitamins and minerals.
If feeding larger amounts of feeds that are high in phosphorus relative to calcium, additional calcium may be required. If using XtraCal or SOS, these can help provide additional calcium.
ShipShape can also be added to support topline and muscle development or for horses that struggle to maintain weight.
Omega Oils
It is important to consider the balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in your horse's diet.
Omega-3 fatty acids generally have anti-inflammatory roles, while some Omega-6 fatty acids can contribute to inflammatory processes. Both are essential, but maintaining an appropriate balance is important for overall health.
When horses are completely off fresh grass, for whatever reason, additional Omega-3-rich foods may be beneficial because stored hay contains significantly less Omega-3 than fresh pasture.
Many vegetable oils are considerably higher in Omega-6 than Omega-3, including rice bran oil. If these oils are fed regularly, it is worth considering how they fit into the overall fatty acid balance of the diet, particularly in horses prone to inflammatory conditions.
Commercial feeds may also contain soybean or corn oils, which are relatively high in Omega-6 fatty acids.
This does not mean Omega-6 fatty acids are "bad" — horses need both Omega-3 and Omega-6. The goal is to provide an appropriate balance rather than eliminating either one.
Flaxseed/Linseed
Linseed and flaxseed are the same seed and are one of the best plant sources of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Whole Flax (Linseed) can be freshly ground using a coffee grinder or NutriBullet and added to feed. It provides protein, fibre and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Linseed Meal is supplied in ground form and contains residual oil. It is a convenient source of fibre, protein and fatty acids.
Flaxseed Oil can also be used in moderate amounts if preferred.
Black Sunflower Seeds
Black sunflower seeds are a rich source of Omega-6 fatty acids, protein, magnesium and fats.
Because they are high in Omega-6, they can be combined with a source of Omega-3, such as flaxseed, to help maintain a more balanced fatty acid profile.
Feeding fats and oils to horses has sometimes been controversial because horses do not have a gall bladder. However, horses are able to digest and utilise dietary fats, with bile produced by the liver entering the small intestine to assist with fat digestion.
Personally, we prefer to feed whole-food sources of fats wherever possible, rather than relying heavily on extracted oils.
Remember that fat is a concentrated source of energy. One cup of oil provides roughly the same amount of energy as more than a kilogram of oats, so oils should be fed thoughtfully, particularly to horses that are not doing at least moderate work.
What About Fish Oil?
Although horses would not normally consume fish, fish oils such as Cod Liver Oil are rich in long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA.
These fatty acids play important roles in the body and may help support a healthy inflammatory response.
Many people feed fish oil to horses without problems. However, fish oil does not provide the essential fatty acid Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), which horses cannot manufacture in sufficient amounts and therefore need to obtain from their diet.
ALA is found in plant sources such as Flaxseed and Chia Seeds which are my prefered source to feed.
For this reason, plant sources of Omega-3 can be an important part of a horse's overall fatty acid intake.
Fatty Acids in Grass
The concentration of fatty acids in pasture varies throughout the season. Young, actively growing grass generally contains more Omega-3 fatty acids than older, mature grass.
As grass matures and hay is made, the amount of Omega-3 available can decline. When feeding predominantly mature grass or hay, adding an Omega-3-rich food or oil can help compensate for this reduction.
What Do Fatty Acids Do?
Essential fatty acids play many important roles throughout the body. They:
- Support cellular development and the formation of healthy cell membranes.
- Assist with the development and function of the brain and nervous system.
- Support normal thyroid and adrenal function.
- Play a role in healthy blood and circulation.
- Help regulate the immune response.
- Support normal liver function.
- Have important roles in maintaining a healthy inflammatory response.
A diet that is lacking in essential fatty acids may also contribute to poor skin and coat condition, including dry skin, dandruff and a dull coat.
As with all aspects of feeding, the goal is not simply to add more nutrients, but to provide the right nutrients in the right amounts and in balance with the rest of the diet.
For more advice, complete our complimentary Horse Questionnaire.