How much of grain in a horse diet depends on the horse’s size, workload, body condition score, and what the rest of the ration already provides through forage. In many cases, horse feed grain should be a addition, not the foundation of the diet. A basic starting point is this: feed grain only when hay, pasture, and a balanced horse feed are not meeting the horse’s energy needs. For an ordinary mature horse in maintenance, that may mean little to no grain. For a perf
What Is Concentrated Horse Feed? Concentrated horse feed is a rich ration or ration designed to add calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals to a horse’s diet without requiring a high feeding volume. Different from forage, which includes hay and pasture, concentrated horse feed is formulated to deliver higher digestible energy in a smaller serving. That makes it an important part of equine nutrition for horses with higher needs, including growing horses, hard keepers, l
What Amount of Hay a Horse Needs Per Day Finding the right amount of hay starts with horse feed principles: a horse should get most of its calories from forage, not from concentrates alone. A simple horse feeding chart usually starts with horse body weight and then adjusts for activity, climate, and health. As a guideline, many horses do well with daily hay intake at about 1.5% to 2.5% of body weight on a dry matter basis, with the exact amount shaped by forag
Poorest Horse Feed Brands to Avoid and What to Select Instead
Bifid 1-833-288-3874 [email protected] https://bifid.com/ What Makes a Horse Feed Brand “Worst”? Not every bag of horse feed is formulated for the same job, and this is where many buying mistakes begin. The worst horse feed brands are usually not “bad” in every situation; they are weak choices because the formula, ingredient quality, or pricing does not match the horse’s actual needs. A feed can look affordable and still deliver limited balanced nutrition , too
How to Choose Horse Feed Using Body Condition Score
What body condition score means for feeding horses A horse’s body condition score is one of the most practical tools in equine nutrition because it helps match horse feed to the horse’s actual needs instead of guessing. The body condition scoring system evaluates how much fat covers key areas of the body, which reflects whether the horse is underweight , at an ideal body condition , or overconditioned . That makes it easier to create a balanced ration u
Best Horse Feed Selections for 2026: Brands, Kinds, and Prices
What are the leading horse feed options for 2026? The top horse feed selections in 2026 depend on the horse, not only the brand. A calm trail horse on a forage-first maintenance diet needs a different kind of horse feed than a hard-working performance horse with a low body condition score . The best-informed buyers start with equine nutrition basics: plenty of hay or pasture, a sensible forage-to-concentrate ratio , and a feed that matches digestible en
Textured Horse Feed: Understanding It and How to Select the Best Horse Feed
What Is Textured Horse Feed? Mixed horse feed is a type of horse feed that usually combines broken grains, pellets, and supplemental ingredients designed to improve palatability and support a horse’s everyday nutrition. In comparison to a plain grain mix, it often has a lighter, more layered appearance and may include molasses or other flavor enhancers. Some horse owners choose it because horses often eat it readily, which can make feeding easier for finicky hor
Molasses-Free Horse Feed: What to Buy and Why It’s Important
Selecting the right horse feed is about not just picking a bag with a familiar name. For many owners, the main question is whether a molasses free horse feed is the right fit for daily management, budget, and long-term equine nutrition. A non-molassed formula can be a practical option for horses that need low sugar , low starch , or more support from digestible fiber rather than extra sweetness. The challenge is that feed labels can be hard to read. Terms li