19/09/2025
Why Accurate Feeding Matters for Every Horse 🐴
In equine nutrition, there’s no such thing as “one size fits all.” Yet it’s common to see feeding routines described in cups, scoops, or handfuls. While this may sound convenient, it creates significant inaccuracies.
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⚖️ Why weighing feed is essential
- Different feeds vary in density. A scoop of chaff will not weigh the same as a scoop of pellets.
- Without weighing, it’s impossible to know how much energy, protein, or nutrients your horse is truly receiving.
- Inaccurate feeding often leads to issues such as excess energy (resulting in excitable behaviour) or insufficient intake (causing difficulty maintaining condition).
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🍽️ The Problem with Feeding Trends
Social media has created an influx of “feeding trends,” where influencers share what they give their own horse as if it applies universally. What works for one horse can be completely unsuitable for another, yet these posts often encourage copycat feeding without context or science to back it up…
At the same time, some brands market their feeds or supplements for issues they are not designed to fix. Clever marketing can make a product sound like the solution to every problem, when in reality, no single feed can meet every horse’s needs without proper assessment of the bigger picture.
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❤️🩹 Common Misconceptions: “My horse can’t have X, Y, or Z”
It’s often said, “My horse can’t have this feed, it sets them off.” But the question is why?
- What else was happening at the time you introduced that feed?
- Do they have an intolerance?
- Was the overall diet too high in protein or energy for their workload?
- Were you doubling up on nutrient sources unknowingly?
- Was there fresh grass coming through, adding unexpected sugars and starches?
- Was the hay tested, or were hidden sugars contributing?
Often, it’s not the product itself that’s the problem, but how it fits into the overall ration and these are all questions we ask
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🔐 Key factors to consider in every diet
- Energy Input vs Output: Feed must align with workload. Too much energy for light work can cause behavioural issues; too little leads to poor condition.
- Protein Balance: Both excess and deficiency can create problems.
- Forage Quality: “Empty” paddocks can still have shoots high in sugars and starches. Teff hay is often assumed to be low sugar, but recent tests show it can run high — reinforcing why testing hay is essential.
- Feed Overlap: Multiple feeds with similar nutrient profiles can result in unbalanced rations.
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🎇 Why we need the full picture
When we design a diet, we base it on the information YOU provide — your horse’s weight, workload, health status, pasture condition, and existing feed program. But if there are extra feeds being added by an agistment centre, staff, or well-meaning helpers, the results can be very different from what’s expected.
For example, if your horse seems to have “way too much energy,” and we later discover additional feeds are being provided outside the plan, that’s likely the reason.
A proper assessment of the entire situation is the only way to truly understand what’s happening with your horse’s nutrition and behaviour.
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🐎 Every horse is an individual
What works for one horse may be completely unsuitable for another. Breed, size, age, workload, health, and even temperament influence nutritional needs. Copying another horse’s diet — or following social media trends — without adjustment can do more harm than good.
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😌 The Bottom Line
A balanced diet requires accuracy, context, and individualisation. By weighing feed, testing forage, looking beyond marketing claims, and considering all contributing factors — including what others may be feeding — we can prevent guesswork, support performance, and give each horse the best chance to thrive!
Need a hand with your horse’s diet?
Donna’s in store today! Pop by, say hi, and don’t be shy about picking her brain. She’s always happy to chat nutrition — bonus points if you bring along a cup of tea or a skinny hot chocolate. ☕🍫🐴
