18/01/2026
Every single day I see someone (often anonymously) asking in social media groups:
“What is everyone feeding their horse for … (insert issue of choice here)…?”
Asking random groups what to feed, supplement, add, or change—without them understanding your specific horse’s individual needs—is a dangerous game. One that can easily create more health problems than you started with.
So why is this such a problem?
1️⃣ They don’t know your horse
The people replying have no idea about:
• Body condition score or weight
• Pasture access and pasture quality
• Other feeds or supplements being used
• Workload and exercise level
• Health history or current conditions
A qualified equine nutrition professional considers all of these factors to calculate and balance a diet that actually supports your horse’s health.
2️⃣ You don’t know their qualifications
Anyone can give “advice” on social media—regardless of education or training.
Research shows only a small percentage of online health and welfare content comes from formally trained professionals.
Qualified equine nutrition advisors have current training and in-depth knowledge of equine health issues—and how nutrition can be used appropriately to support them.
One of the most horrifying example of this is a dangerous comment I’ve seen from an unqualified source appeared just yesterday on a post about weight gain in a horse. It came from a very well-known source, advising the owner to remove fibre from the diet and feed more grain.
This advice is not only incorrect—it is genuinely dangerous.
Fibre is the number one feed type responsible for healthy weight gain and condition in horses. The equine digestive system is designed to run on fibre; it fuels the body safely, consistently, and efficiently.
While grain may have a place in certain situations, it should always sit last in the diet, not as the foundation. Feeding excessive amounts of grain can trigger a physiological chain reaction in the gut, including disrupted fermentation, altered hormones, and reduced appetite—often resulting in the exact opposite outcome: weight loss rather than gain, along with an increased risk of ulcers, colic, and laminitis.
Removing fibre to add grain is not “feeding up”—it’s undermining the very system that allows horses to maintain condition in the first place.
Social media general group advice is often be influenced by:
• Commercial interests
• Personal experience or bias
• A desire for validation or popularity
—not by what is truly best for your horse.
3️⃣ Complex problems get oversimplified
Horse nutrition is not one-size-fits-all.
Reducing complex issues to short, catchy answers based on current trends often leads to misunderstandings and inappropriate feeding decisions.
4️⃣ Myths get repeated (often unintentionally)
If someone doesn’t work in this field and stay current with research, chances are the advice they’re sharing is outdated—or simply wrong.
Poor nutrition advice can lead to:
• Misdiagnosis
• Delayed professional intervention
• Worsening health issues
• Wasted money on unnecessary products
💸 Life is too expensive for trial-and-error feeding.
If you want the best possible outcome for your horse—and want your money spent wisely—work with a qualified equine nutrition advisor who can create a feeding plan tailored specifically to your horse.
🐴 Your horse deserves more than guesswork.
