Choosing the right horse feed for miniature horses is not the same as feeding a larger horse. Minis have very small stomachs, a unique metabolism , and a much greater risk of getting excess calories, starch, or sugars for their size. The best method is usually a forage first plan built around good-quality hay or pasture , with a precisely portioned balanced ration only if the horse truly needs extra nutrients. As miniature horses can gain weight quickly,
What Sets Apart Broodmare Nutrition Unique? A broodmare’s diet is not the same as feeding a horse for general maintenance, training, or stallion shape. A mare’s needs shift through pregnancy and lactation, and the right horse feed has to feed both her body and the unborn foal. The goal is a balanced ration that promotes a healthy body condition score, supports foal development, and keeps the mare fit enough for milk production after foaling. In early pregnancy, many m
What makes a high fibre horse feed? A high fibre horse feed is any horse feed designed to provide more energy from fibre rather than from cereal starch. In practical terms, that means the feed is built around ingredients such as beet pulp, alfalfa, soya hulls, and other forms of easily digested fibre that support intestinal health and digestive health . For most owners, the big advantage is that fibre helps fuel the horse more steadily through the hindgut
Horse Feed for Hard Keepers: What to Feed Healthy Weight Gain
A hard keeper horse can be difficult to manage, especially when good nutrition and regular care still do not seem to support weight gain . The right horse feed is more than about adding more feed to the bucket. It is about matching the ration to the horse’s body condition score , workload, temperament, digestive tolerance, and day-to-day forage intake. Some horses need more calories because they use energy rapidly. Others struggle with appetite, poor dent
A pregnant mare needs a practical roughage-first feeding plan that promotes pregnancy, fetal development, and a healthy body condition score without taxing the digestive system. The best approach comes with quality hay and pasture, then adds the right concentrate or horse feed only when the mare’s forage intake and nutrient needs make it necessary. Because every mare is different, equine nutrition should be adjusted by phase of pregnancy, workload, forage quality, and body
How Much Should You Budget for Horse Feed to Plan Per Month
Figuring out how much horse feed to purchase each month is less about guessing and more about matching a horse’s daily ration to its body weight , exercise level, and forage intake. An effective budget starts with the basics: most horses should get the bulk of their calories from forage such as hay or pasture , while grain concentrate and other feeds bridge the gaps for energy, protein , fiber , and minerals . When you need a realistic horse fe
Picking the best horse feed for pasture supplementation is based on one basic idea: pasture needs to be assessed before anything is mixed into the equine diet . A horse with ample pasture access and good-quality forage may need little more than a ration balancer , while another horse on the same acreage may need extra calories, protein , vitamins and minerals , or a more calorie-rich grain mix . The best choice depends on forage quality , body cond
What’s the Best Horse Feed for Insulin Resistance?
Understanding insulin resistance in horses Insulin resistance in horses is a metabolic condition where the body fails to respond normally to insulin, which affects how blood sugar is regulated. This can develop as part of EMS, a pattern often linked to easy weight gain, an overweight horse body type, and changes in body condition score over time. Because insulin dysregulation can raise the risk of laminitis, feeding choices matter just as much as exercise and pasture man