Water buffets for horses have gained popularity recently thanks to the hot weather – although hydration is also important in winter – but what are they and why do people use them?

Simply put, water buffets involve offering horses multiple water buckets with different extra ingredients in each. Various retailers sell starter kits with herbs and other additions you can put in clean water buckets.

Independent equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod tells us: “Some owners are interested in using them as a way to offer their horses variety and environment enrichment.”

Offering variety, however, does not mean a horse will self-select particular nutrients in accordance with their needs.

“We have to remember that a number of horses and ponies are harmed every year by eating poisonous plants like acorn and ragwort, and some by eating too much grass,” says Clare.

“Self-selection is a nice idea and it is a good thing to offer horses more choice, but we cannot rely on our horses to always know what is good for them, nor be able to select a balanced diet. Researchers have shown that horses will consistently select a sweetened feed over a balanced feed.”

That said, Clare adds that it can be useful for finding out the flavourings your horse likes.

“Knowing what tastes they like means you can replicate their preferences when you are away from home at riding camps, clinics or competitions, when some horses may be reluctant to drink different water.”

What to put in water buffets for horses

Herbs that are commonly added to water buffets include:

• Chamomile
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Peppermint
• Cleavers
• Fenugreek
• Rosehips
• Dandelions
• Aniseed
• Fennel
• Cinnamon
• Garlic 
• Spirulina
• Cider apple vinegar

Other common additions are clays and a variety of mineral salts, and sometimes fruit and vegetable pieces or fruit juice.

Golden rules of setting up a water buffet

Clare says that, at best, a water buffet adds variety and interest to your horse’s day-to-day. At worst, water buffets for horses can be a breeding ground for bacteria and potentially do more harm than good.

Clare’s rules of thumb to follow when setting up a water buffet are:

1. Keep buckets clean

“When I visit yards, I see a lot of water sources that are unclean,” says Clare. “While horses will happily drink from a puddle, there is a distinction to be made between a pool of natural rainwater and a dirty container of water that is stagnant and stale.

“Keeping buckets of water clean is especially important when you start mixing organic matter. You can create a lot of bacteria, which I’m not sure people always realise.”

According to Clare, horses are particularly susceptible to digestive disturbances, such as colic, due to their delicate digestive tracts.

“Therefore, we want to keep contact with preventable bacteria and potential pathogens to a minimum.”

2. Balance the diet

“Everything a horse ingests should be considered as part of a balanced diet,” says Clare.

“We always need to balance the diet first, considering any extras like what's added to water, then consider adding extras like herbs, which are generally added for their properties, and not essential nutrients.

“Speak to an independent nutritionist about what you plan to use if you aren’t sure.”

3. Plain water is essential

Clean, plain water should be offered at all times and as well as water with added ingredients.

Does a water buffet make horses drink more?

Some owners use water buffets to encourage their horses to drink more water, which could help support good hydration and prevent dehydration.

“We have research that tells us horses prefer things that taste sweet,” she says. “So, if you are in a situation where you really need your horse to drink, adding something sweet like apple juice will likely be the most attractive flavouring.

“Of course, you need to be guided by any underlying conditions your horse or pony might have. You wouldn't want to be tipping an unknown amount of sugar into the water of a horse with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), which now often described as insulin dysregulation (ID) or hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis (HAL), for example.

“If your main aim is to rehydrate your horse, for example after heavy sweating, then the quickest and most efficient way to do this is with an oral rehydration solution (ORS), which has a very specific electrolyte salt content, at 0.9%.”

While she is for anything that represents positive enrichment in a horse’s environment, Clare adds that owners would benefit from ensuring their time is spent doing so in the best possible way for their horses.

“In some cases, the time spent keeping multiple water buffet buckets clean and fresh every day might be better used taking your horse out for more exercise.”

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How long to soak hay for horses is one of those questions that you hear asked by owners time after time, especially in the summer months, and there’s a lot of confusion around the subject. If your horse is overweight, dust sensitive, prone to laminitis or has equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), it’s probably something you’ve questioned at some point.

Horses in these categories may have excessive body fat, which can contribute to many other conditions, such as some types of colic and arthritis, and affects the body’s normal hormonal processes. Overweight horses are also more likely to have EMS, which is a condition that encompasses insulin dysregulation and predisposes horses to laminitis.

Tackling weight gain for these horses is a potential life-or-death factor, so we’ve asked independent equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr to help you work out what’s best for your horse.

Why soak hay for horses?

The two main reasons are to reduce nutrient intake (when helping horses to lose weight) or minimise dust (for horses with respiratory problems).

Horses have evolved to spend most of their time chewing fibre, and to receive most of their daily calories from grass, hay and haylage. Often, forage oversupplies calories to horses, contributing to weight gain and obesity.

Soaking hay is an effective method for reducing its energy (calorie), water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), or sugar and fructan content. This helps cut sugar and restrict calories from an equine diet.

Fructans are not the same as sugar, Clare explains. “They are sugar units joined with bonds that are fermented in the hindgut, rather than broken down by digestive enzymes.

“Research shows some fructan is broken down via bacterial fermentation in the small intestine. This is likely why it contributes to insulin response.”

This means fructans also contribute to laminitis.

How long to soak hay for horses: things every owner should know

The length of time you’d soak hay for depends on the desired result.

You might soak hay for 15-30 minutes to minimise dust for a horse with respiratory problems.

Soaking hay for 30 minutes to an hour slightly reduces its calorie and WSC content. However, the reduction may be insufficient to keep an obese horse in a calorie deficit, which is necessary for weight loss.

“Losses from soaking can vary,” says Clare. “It depends on factors including the composition of the hay, the amount of water used and the temperature,”

“Therefore, research that shows significant losses of WSCs in an hour or two cannot necessarily be relied upon in all real-life situations.

“In addition we are not soaking just for sugar and fructan loss but also for energy (calories). Reducing sugar without a significant reduction in calories will be insufficient for weight-loss targets.

“It’s not just sugar that horses get calories from – it’s fructan and fibre, too!”

Clare says water temperature can also influence nutrient loss.

“Losses are quicker in warmer water, so we might find we can soak for less time in summer, compared to winter, and in large volumes of water, so using as much as you can is key.”

Can you soak hay overnight?

Soaking hay for longer periods of 8–12 hours, or overnight, is considered suboptimal by some due to nutrient loss and the risk of fermentation.

But, according to Clare, a balance must be struck.

“Long soaking [10+ hours] reduces dry matter – the amount of actual hay, and fibre. Therefore, we need to take this into account and slightly increase the weight of hay to accommodate this loss.

“Increasing the weight of long-soaked hay by 20% can accommodate this, but the long-soak generally means we would be feeding hay at a higher rate anyway, since it becomes less nutritious.

“This is part of the benefit of long-soaking hay: it means we can feed more forage to our horse or pony while maintaining the calorie deficit they need for weight loss or healthy weight maintenance.”

As well as feeding more soaked hay, Clare adds that owners should use the bucket feed to ensure optimal nutrition.

“In terms of nutrient intake, we do need to carefully balance the diet with long-soaked hay,” she says.

“This can be done by adding a well-formulated feed balancer, such as a low-calorie compound concentrate fed at 100g per 100kg bodyweight, if there is no grass in the diet.”

Clare recommends considering long-soaking hay in cost-benefit terms for overall equine health.

“Although bacterial count can increase on long-soaked hay, there is no evidence showing this occurs to a level that is harmful to the horse. Plus, horses and ponies have been fed long-soaked hay for years with good results,” explains Clare.

“We should only soak for as long as necessary, but also realise that a slightly elevated bacterial count in hay is less unhealthy than chronic obesity with altered metabolic parameters, for example insulin dysregulation and/or laminitis.”

How long does soaked hay last?

As a rule, Clare says that soaked hay should be fed as soon as it has drained. Avoid re-presenting any uneaten quantity to your horse.

The quality of the hay to be soaked will likely influence its longevity.

“We should select only good hygienic quality hay for long-soaking,” she continues. “By this, I mean hay that is not dusty, with no signs of a high mould spore count (no fine smoke-like clouds that go airborne when you pull it apart).”

Other good hygiene practices to improve the life of soaked hay include:

• Soaking out of direct sunlight
• Using clean water for every soak
• Keeping soaking vessels and haynets clean
• Using the largest volume of water possible to speed up the effects of soaking
• Avoiding a long soak (for 10+ hours) unless you have to
• Remove and dispose of any uneaten portions

If the hygienic quality of your hay is suboptimal and there is no alternative, Clare says you could steam after soaking to improve the hygiene.

“With less than ideal hay to soak, using straw to replace some of the hay ration might be a better choice than a long soak,” she continues. “However, very dusty or mouldy hay should never be fed to horses.”

How long to soak hay for horses prone to laminitis

While we can’t put an exact figure on how long to soak hay for laminitis, Clare has a rule of thumb to follow.

“I recommend soaking for as short a time as possible, but with caveats,” she says.

“The soak time should also be as long as it takes for that horse or pony to be able to be fed enough forage to avoid more than a four-hour fast, whilst still receiving the correct amount of energy (calories) for the desired result.

“That might be for weight loss, or maintenance if they are at a healthy bodyweight, and to control the laminitis.

“So, it really does depend on the hay, and the individual horse or pony.”

How to dispose of water from hay soaking

To prevent pollution, you should not allow uncontrolled draining from the waste water used to soak hay.

You should store liquid waste in a waterproof container and then dispose of it at a permitted facility or land spread – for more information, visit gov.uk.

You must get permission from your local water company to dispose of liquid waste to the sewer or a controlled water source. For more information, visit gov.uk

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Little and often, fibre-focused and balance in the bucket – feeding equines appropriately takes know-how

In the wild, horses self-administer fibre-rich grass and browse hedges for up to 18 hours per day. But when it comes to domestic equines, who live very different lives from their wild and feral cousins, you might be wondering how much to feed a horse.

Spend five minutes in the horse world, and you’ll find a plethora of opinions on the subject – professional and otherwise. It’s true that how much to feed a horse hinges in part on the individual: breed and type, level of work, bodyweight, age and underlying conditions. To address such nuances, consult with a professional veterinary expert or equine nutritionist.

That said, there are golden rules of feeding horses that apply more or less across the board. These help meet nutritional needs and ensure healthy gut function in every horse.

In this guide, I’ll cover not only how much to put in your horse’s bucket, but also his forage ration. Plus, we’ll explore the composition of his diet, and what you can feed as a treat.

Jump to:

• Your horse’s forage ration
• How much forage to feed a horse
• What goes in a horse’s bucket?
• How much to feed a horse in their bucket
• What can horses eat

Your horse’s forage ration

Forage is the term given to fibre-rich, stalky fodder such as grass, hay, haylage and chopped fibres such as chaff. There are many types of forage, including hay replacers, all with different nutrient, calorie (energy) and moisture levels. Whichever forage type – or types – match your horse, the important thing to know is that forage forms the vast majority of a healthy horse’s diet.

Why is forage so important?

Simply put, forage is fibre, and fibre is essential to equine gut health. Horses are trickle feeders, which means they are biologically designed to eat for the majority of their waking hours – and horses don’t sleep much. Grazing on forage is how they achieve this.

Chewing on forage encourages saliva production, which helps buffer a horse’s highly acidic stomach. It aids digestion and guards against gastric ulcers.

Importantly, your horse’s forage intake supplies most of his daily calories, so it’s a true cornerstone of his diet.

How much forage to feed a horse

Typically, the textbook advice is that horses should eat 2-2.5% of their bodyweight in forage per day on a dry matter basis, or no less than 1.5-1.8% to encourage weight loss. A dry matter basis means the weight of the forage minus its moisture content.

This means that if your hay has a 12% moisture content and you need to feed 10kg of dry matter forage to your 500kg horse, you would need to feed 11.36kg of hay.

You calculate this by dividing the weight of dry matter forage to be fed (10kg, or 2% of 500kg) by the dry matter percentage of your forage (in this case, 0.88).

The ad-lib rule

That said, there’s another rule for how much hay to feed a horse. The best way to feed forage is on an ad-lib basis. This means giving your horse as much as he can eat throughout the day and night.

Constant chewing and movement of the gut is optimal for horses, and a plentiful stream of forage is the best way to achieve this.

The ad-lib method is not suitable for overweight or obese horses, because it delivers too many calories and too much sugar. In these instances, owners must be clever about how they feed hay to extend their horses’ eating time.

For instance, they might soak hay to reduce its calorie content, meaning they can feed a greater quantity safely. Or, they might use one of the best small-holed haynets to slow their horse down.

A horse’s bucket feed – what goes in?

Although a vital source of calories and nutrients, grass, hay and haylage are naturally deficient in essential micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals.

This means a forage-only diet doesn’t deliver the full spectrum of micronutrients horses need each day, and must be “topped up” by a bucket feed.

Additionally, some horses require extra nutrients such as protein, calories (energy) or supplements to support them through work, age or a health concern.

Traditionally, horses were fed straights. This means feed rooms contained a variety of components such as grains, cereals, legumes and fibres and owners would mix them to form the bucket ration. Feeding straights correctly requires years of expertise and advanced equine nutritional knowledge.

These days, most owners feed from bags that are formulated by expert nutritionists and mixed for you by horse feed companies. These offer a correctly balanced diet when fed alongside appropriate forage.

In general terms, bucket rations often contain a selection of the following:

• Dried chopped forage or chaff to add fibre, aid digestive health and comfort, and to help encourage chewing to help avoid choke
• Pelleted or powdered feed balancers that, when fed at the recommended rate (usually around 100g for a 500kg horse) deliver the full spectrum of nutrients horses and a balanced diet alongside forage. They might also be formulated to address particular nutritional needs, such as for a veteran or breeding stock.
• Coarse mixes that look like museli. Like balancers, these are formulated for different purposes and are often workload or performance-specific. They must be fed at the recommended rate to ensure the horse’s recommended daily nutrient intakes are met. Otherwise, they can be “topped up” with a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement
• Feed cubes (also called nuts) that serve the same purpose as mixes but can help discourage fussy feeding. They must also be fed at the manufacturer’s recommended rate or be “topped up”
• Supplements that balance the diet for horses who don’t need any more calories or protein – there are joint supplements, respiratory supplements, gut balancers and so on
• Mashes or soaked sugarbeet for hydration, conditioning, added fibre and additional calories and/or nutrients. Horses with poor dentition can benefit from these
• Oils to add calories or promote a healthy coat
• Straights for top dressing, such as oats to fuel performance or linseed for condition. These must be added with regard to total diet balance. If not, they can cause harmful imbalances, so it’s best to seek advice of a nutritionist before adding these.

Generally, bucket feed is wetted to encourage thorough chewing (to help avoid choke) and to lay any dust. For most feeds, the water added wouldn’t be enough to make a difference to hydration.

How much to feed a horse in their bucket

Another common saying in the horse feeding world? Feed little and often.

Despite their stature, horses have a relatively small stomach and a complex gut. Because of this, there is clear guidance on how much to feed a horse in their bucket at a time.

According to independent nutritionist Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr, a 500kg horse’s individual bucket feed (before adding chaff) should weigh no more than 1.5kg.

“The reason for this is the relatively small size of a horse’s stomach,” she explains, adding that it has a roughly 8-15 litre capacity.

“Also, horses evolved as a trickle-feeding forage eater, not as a large meal-eater.

“Another reason to keep concentrate meal size small is that it avoids overwhelming the capacity of the small intestine (the next part of the gut). It especially helps avoid large volumes of starch, which in turn helps to keep the hindgut healthy.”

Clare adds that calculating the total weight of bucket feed a horse needs per day depends how much concentrate they need to balance the nutrient shortages in grass, hay and haylage.

Sometimes, a horse must eat several kilos of bucket feed to attain the required nutrient and/or calorie intake. Because of the little and often rule, this volume would need to be spread across two or more feeds a day.

What do horses eat?

As well as their majority fibre diet of grass and hay/haylage and the contents of their bucket (see above), horses can eat a variety of foods as treats.

The best horse treats are high-fibre and low in sugar and starch. These are ideal for digestive health. Many horse feed companies manufacture treats for horses, and these should be fed according to their guidelines.

You can also feed handfuls of chaff as a low-value food reward.

Horses can eat many other fruits and vegetables as an occasional treat, but moderation is key. Safe treats for horses include:

• carrots, cut into batons
• parsnips, cut into batons
• apples, halved or quartered
• bananas, including the skin
• celery, cut into batons
• watermelon chunks
• Turnips, cubed
• Herbs, such as fenugreek and chamomile
• Hedgerow plants, such as hawthorn, hazel, cleaver, rosehips

Highly processed foods, such as bread and biscuits, are not good for horses.

Many owners feed mints, such as Polos, to their horses as a reward but these should only be fed occasionally.

Horses should not eat foods that produce intestinal gases, such as onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Every owner should learn the rules of feeding horses because a good understanding of equine nutrition is key to ensuring your horse remains healthy and in good condition all year round.

These rules cover the basics when it comes to feeding horses. There’s so much more to learn, but this is an excellent place to start.

Golden rules of feeding horses

These rules can be applied to every horse and will help maintain good health and avoid preventable digestive problems.

1. Provide access to fresh clean water at all times

Water is the most important part of your horse’s diet and is often overlooked. Horses should have access to fresh water at all times, whether stabled or in the field, to prevent dehydration.

An average horse at rest will drink around 25 litres a day and this can increase to more than double this amount if the horse is working hard or a hot environment.

Troughs, buckets and other water containers should also be kept clean.

2. Maintain good hygiene

Store your feed in a secure rodent-proof container within a clean, dry area to prevent damage from pests and moisture. Always use clean buckets, scoops and stirrers, and clean feed bins regularly.

3. Use high quality feeds

Never be tempted to feed dusty, mouldy or old feed. Doing so could cause respiratory problems, allergic responses or digestive upset.

4. Feed little and often

Horses have small stomachs and have evolved to trickle feed rather than eat large meals. If your horse’s bucket feed weighs more than 1.5kg, it must be split into two or more feeds over the course of the day. Splitting rations that weigh less it into multiple feeds is also beneficial.

5. Feed by weight, not volume

A scoop of one feed will not weigh the same as another as they have different densities. To ensure you’re feeding the correct quantities and know that your horse is getting everything he needs, weigh each type of feed you use.

Some bagged feed balancers will come with a cup or cardboard scoop to help you measure.

6. Feed your horse as an individual

When feeding your horse, consider bodyweight, temperament, age and workload. You may need a horse to lose weight or be trying to help a horse gain weight, while some horses need low-sugar and starch options to prevent excitability.

Horses working harder will need more energy and feeding performance horses is a particular art and science. Older horses will have different requirements, too.

When something changes, such as workload due to injury, you’ll need to reassess your horse’s nutritional needs. If you’re unsure what to feed your horse, seek advice from your vet, an independent nutritionist or free nutritional helpline.

7. Make any changes to the diet gradually

Making dietary changes over at least a week will help reduce the risk of digestive upsets, such as colic. This rules applies to making changes to your horse’s bucket feed as well as the type of forage, including grass.

Introduce small amounts of the new foodstuff gradually, while withdrawing the original feed component at the same rate if necessary. This helps your horse’s digestive system adapt to the changes and produce the correct microbes to break down the new food.

8. Avoid exercise for one hour after cereal-based meals

Horses are unable to digest cereal-based meals quickly, so you should not exercise them after giving a hard feed to allow them time to digest it. It is, however, beneficial to feed horses something fibre-based before exercise to reduce the risk of acid splash in the stomach, which could lead to gastric ulcers.

9. Feed your horse at the same time each day

Horses are creatures of habit and thrive on a regular routine. Doing this helps reduce stress and is good for gut motility.

10. Ensure forage is the cornerstone of your horse’s diet

Horses have evolved to live on high fibre diets and good fibre levels will help to stimulate a healthy gut function and reduce the risk of digestive upsets.

Forage should be fed ad lib where possible – here’s more information on how much hay to feed a horse. If your horse struggles with traditional forage options due to poor dentition, check out the best forage replacers.

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Fine-tuning a horse’s diet to the specific demands of his work aids optimum results. Ed Busuttil MRCVS outlines the science behind sport horse nutrition in this exclusive feature for H&H subscribers

In the competitive world of horse sport, feeding performance horses for marginal gains can make all the difference. Nutrition and how we feed horses is one of the most influential – and sometimes misunderstood – factors in a horse’s performance and health, often interlinked with managing medical and musculoskeletal conditions.

Whether you’re preparing a dressage horse for precision work, conditioning a showjumper for power or building stamina in an eventer, feeding performance horses correctly can mean the difference between a horse that just about performs at the level expected and one that excels.

This feature explores how workload, energy sources and modern feeding science come together to create a diet that supports fitness, recovery and soundness in the sport horse.

Feeding performance horses is both an art and a science. Two horses doing the same job may metabolise feed very differently, influenced by temperament, genetics and training routine. The goal is always the same: to provide enough of the right kind of energy to support performance without compromising health, temperament or gut function.

Feeding performance horses for workload

A horse in light work – perhaps hacking and schooling a few days a week – will have very different energy requirements to one galloping cross-country or jumping in several classes at a show.

Light work – a horse who does occasional schooling and hacking can usually be maintained on quality forage, perhaps with a low-energy feed balancer or small ration of cubes.

Moderate work – those whose work includes regular jumping, novice-level eventing or mid-level dressage will need more digestible energy and protein for muscle maintenance and recovery.

Heavy work – an animal who competes at an advanced level, or those whose work is polo, Flat racing or endurance, requires higher energy density and careful electrolyte management to support intense exercise and sweat losses.

Intense work – these are the horses who compete in elite endurance and eventing, and jump racing.

Based on the National Research Council guidelines, the energy requirement for horses are:

• light work – 16.7MJ per 100 kg
• moderate work – 19.5MJ per 100 kg
• heavy work – 22.3MJ per 100 kg
• intense work– 28.9MJ per 100 kg

These guidelines do not take into account the age and breed of the horse, which is why consulting with an independent nutritionist to carry out an individualised plan for your horse is essential.

The key is to feed appropriately for the work done. Overfeeding concentrates to a horse in light work can lead to excitability or digestive upset, while underfeeding an athlete in full training will cause weight loss, muscle wastage and reduced performance, increasing the risk of injury as stride length shortens.

How horses burn energy

As a horse exercises, it burns fuel consumed from their diet to produce energy, mainly through the aerobic and anaerobic metabolism systems.

Aerobic metabolism uses oxygen to convert carbohydrates and fats into energy. It’s the horse’s main energy system for longer, steadier exercise, such as dressage training, hacking or endurance training. It is efficient and produces minimal by-products that cause fatigue.

Anaerobic metabolism comes into play when oxygen supply can’t keep up with demand during sprints, jumping rounds or the final centre line. The body relies on stored glycogen (a form of carbohydrate) within the muscles and liver and produces lactic acid when it is used, leading to fatigue if prolonged.

Most equestrian disciplines involve a blend of the two. Eventers, for example, rely on aerobic energy for dressage and stamina across phases, but also need anaerobic bursts for jumping and speed work. Understanding which system predominates helps determine what sort of energy your horse needs from its diet.

For sustained aerobic effort, such as that seen in endurance or extended schooling sessions, slow-release energy from fibre and fats is ideal. For short, explosive efforts, such as showjumping or racing, more rapidly available carbohydrates provide quick power.

Fuelling and feeding performance horses for different sports

Each sport demands a unique nutritional balance to support its predominant energy system.

• Dressage: controlled, rhythmic work mainly utilises aerobic pathways. Diets rich in quality forage and oil-based calories promote calm, sustained energy without excess fizz.
• Showjumping: combines stamina with short anaerobic bursts. Moderate starch levels, balanced with digestible fibre and oils, support both energy systems.
• Eventing: the true all-rounder. A blend of fibre, oil and controlled starch fuels endurance and speed phases alike. Careful feeding before and after event days is key.
• Endurance: almost entirely aerobic. High-fat, high-fibre diets improve fat metabolism and delay fatigue, while electrolytes and hydration strategies are vital.
• Racing: high-intensity sprinting relies on glycogen oxidation to generate energy. Whereas anaerobic metabolism supplies up to 600m or 30% of the energy during a race, aerobic metabolism powers the rest.

It is also important to remember that racehorses are generally still growing and maturing, requiring extra energy. The caveat to this is that excess provision will predispose growing horses of any discipline to increased developmental orthopaedic disease and gastric ulceration risk, which may have welfare implications.

The importance of water

Water is the most essential yet most often underestimated nutrient in the sport horse’s diet. A 500kg horse in light work may drink around 25–30 litres per day, but this can easily double or even triple during hard training or competition, especially in warm weather.

Fluid loss through sweat can be significant. A galloping horse may lose more than 10 litres per hour. Dehydration quickly impairs performance, concentration and recovery, while increasing the risk of impaction colic and tying-up.

Constant access to fresh, clean water is vital, both at home and when travelling. Horses can also receive a salt lick or measured daily salt in feed to encourage adequate drinking and maintain electrolyte balance. Monitoring drinking habits, urine output and skin elasticity offers useful clues to hydration status.

Where horses get energy from

Hydrolysable carbohydrates (starch and sugar)

Broken down in the small intestine into glucose, these fuel high-intensity work. However, when overfed, they can lead to digestive and behavioural problems – particularly equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS).

Diets providing more than 2g of hydrolysable carbohydrates per kilogram of bodyweight per day markedly increase ulcer risk, as undigested starch ferments in the stomach, producing acid and gas.

The type of carbohydrate matters too, with feeds with a high glycaemic index, such as oats or corn, causing rapid spikes in blood glucose and insulin, which can make sharp horses sharper and may influence muscle metabolism and gastric stability. Note that a kilogram of oats and corn have approximately 600g and 700g of hydrolysable carbohydrates respectively.

Feeds with a lower glycaemic index, like rice bran, provide calories without the sharp sugar rush of cereals. It delivers steady, cool energy while helping maintain condition and topline, particularly valuable for horses prone to ulcers or excitability.

Fermentable carbohydrates (fibre)

Fibre is the cornerstone of every equine diet. Fibre from different types of forage, including hay, haylage, beet pulp and chaff is fermented in the hindgut into volatile fatty acids (VFAs), a slow-release energy source ideal for endurance and general work. Fibre also supports digestive motility and a healthy gut microbiome.

Replenishing the glycogen store after exercise is most efficiently done within the “glycogen window”, within one to two hours of anaerobic work. For every 1g of stored muscular glycogen, 3g of water is also required. Although hydrolysable carbohydrates can be a useful source of glycogen replenishment, fermentable carbohydrates such as soaked beet pulp provide the quickest refuelling without the subsequent energy spikes associated with hydrolysable carbohydrates.

Fats and oils

Fats are highly energy-dense (more than twice the energy of carbohydrates) and produce a calm, long-lasting energy source. Common oil options for horses include linseed, soya and rice bran.

Horses adapt to fat supplementation over several weeks, gradually improving their ability to both digest and use fat as a fuel. This is hugely beneficial for stamina and reducing lactic acid build-up.

The ratio of omega-3 (alpha-linoleic acid) to omega-6 (linoleic acid) is an important consideration, as omega-6 can be pro-inflammatory, as opposed to omega-3, which is anti-inflammatory.

The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is 1:6.5 and 4:1 in soya and linseed oil respectively, indicating that linseed oil is significantly less inflammatory, and soya oil may be pro-inflammatory.

The forage-to-concentrate ratio

Even elite equine athletes are grazing animals at heart. Forage must remain the foundation of the diet, for both digestive health and mental wellbeing.

Horses should receive at least 1.5% of bodyweight in dry matter daily (around 7.5kg for a 500kg horse). Most sport horses thrive on a 70:30 forage-to-concentrate ratio, though top performers with very high calorie needs may require a little more concentrate.

Reducing forage too much increases the risk of gastric ulcers, colic and stereotypical behaviours, such as weaving or crib-biting. High-quality hay or haylage, ideally analysed for nutrient content, ensures consistent energy and protein intake. Soaking and steaming hay may reduce protein content by approximately 30% and 40% respectively.

Feed sensitivities

Feed allergies, intolerances and sensitivities can affect performance. Signs include dull coat, poor condition, recurring skin irritation or digestive upset.

Blood tests and skin testing can now detect immune reactions to specific ingredients such as soy, molasses, linseed or alfalfa. While these tests can be informative, a controlled elimination diet may still be required.

• For unlimited access to expert advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Need to know how to help a horse to gain weight? Whether it’s through age, type, illness or fussiness, some horses struggle to gain and keep on the pounds – and feeding horses like this can feel like an uphill battle.

Concerned owners should call their vet first to determine any underlying medical issues. It’s also wise to consult a qualified equine nutritionist for help tailoring your horse’s diet for weight gain.

It’s important to be sure your horse needs a significant increase in their body condition. Many horses in the UK are overweight and so your eye may be used to seeing horses that are fat, rather than fit. The glimpse of a rib or two coming into spring is healthy for most horses, so it is worth doing a body condition score check first before starting an active weight-gain programme.

Once you are confident your horse needs to gain weight, it’s not just what’s in the diet that counts. While feeding the best feeds for weight gain will usually have an impact, adjusting meal sizes, changing the types of forage the horse consumes, weighing feeds rather than guessing, and splitting feeds into smaller portions can also help a horse gain weight.

Looking for in-depth advice? Here are some helpful, practical tips from experts to help you tailor a poor-doer’s diet and optimise how you feed to make him gain weight.

How to make a horse gain weight: tips to help poor-doers

1. Consult your vet

“Remember that factors like stress, poor dentition, horse worm burdens or underlying health problems can also affect how well a horse maintains their weight,” says Katie Reeve, equine nutritionist at Dengie. “If your horse is struggling, it is worth contacting your vet.

“Speaking to an equine nutritionist is also helpful as they will be able to provide more tailored advice for your horse’s feed and forage.”

2. Underweight or undermuscled?

Louise Scott, senior nutritionist at D&H, explains that a horse’s muscle tone may give a false impression of their body condition. “Many horses lacking muscle and topline will look poor even if they have a healthy body fat level,” she explains.

“Conversely, some horses with a lack of topline and weak core muscles may have a dropped belly, making them look like an overweight horse even if they are underconditioned,” she continues.

“Take the time to assess topline and muscle tone, as well as rib cover and overall body condition score, before making any adjustments to your horse’s routine.”

She adds: “Calories are key to putting on body fat to support condition, so look for conditioning feeds that have a digestible energy content of 12MJ/kg or higher.”

Louise says that to support muscle development and topline, owners could focus on supplying adequate protein in the diet.

“Look for feeds with ingredients rich in quality protein, such as soya, or with added amino acids.”

3. Deliver more calories

Vanessa Allen, nutrition content manager at Spillers, reminds owners to ensure their poor-doers’ meals are calorie-dense.

“Oil is high in calories, relatively cheap, non-heating and starch- and sugar-free, so may be a useful addition,” she explains.

“With oil, 300ml is equivalent to 1kg of oats. Oil for horses should be introduced gradually, and it is advised to check with a nutrition specialist if you’re feeding more than 100ml per day.”

Katie of Dengie concurs. “If you’re interested in feeding fibre sources that are highly digestible, alfalfa and beet pulp are useful ingredients to look out for,” she says. “Using feeds that are low in sugar and starch is preferable for supporting gut health and helping your horse to get the most out of what you’re putting in.”

4. Investigate different energy source types

Emma Short, senior nutritionist at Baileys, encourages owners to be mindful of different energy source types – both what they are and how they work.

“The calories in quick-release sources are rapidly absorbed and readily available, so may not suit the fizziest types, but do work well for many horses,” she explains.

“Quick-release sources include carefully cooked cereals,” she adds. “They are used in higher-calorie horse feeds for weight gain because they are a highly digestible and concentrated source of extra calories for promoting weight gain.

“The starch they contain can increase acidity levels in the stomach, which may exacerbate gastric discomfort in the horses prone to gastric ulcers, however.”

On the other hand, slow-release energy sources include highly digestible fibres, known as “superfibres”, such as beet pulp, alfalfa and soya bean hulls, and vegetable oils.

“They provide more than twice as many calories as the same weight of cereals,” says Emma, and these are more suited to feeding horses prone to ulcers.

She adds: “Many conditioning and competition feeds now contain energy sources which take longer to digest and absorb into the bloodstream and do not exacerbate excitability, so are ideal for fizzy, stressy horses.”

5. Consider gut health as a whole

Some horses seem to eat well, but don’t gain weight as expected.

“Supporting the whole digestive system, from encouraging saliva production and helping to manage stomach acidity, through to supporting nutrient absorption in the small intestine, can make a real difference,” shares Jane Bansted, customer experience and advocacy manager at NAF.

She adds that adding an appropriate gastric supplement or gut balancer could be helpful. “Nourishing the hindgut with prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics helps maintain a healthy microbial balance, supports efficient fibre digestion, and ultimately allows the horse to get more from the diet they’re already eating.”

6. Consider your forage – and forage alternatives

Emma Short of Baileys says the texture of your forage could hold information about its nutritional value. “Choose soft, leafy forage – hay or haylage should be clean and sweet smelling, but feel it in your hand and look for the least stalky bales.

“The stalkier the grass when it was harvested, the less digestible it is,” she continues. “So, try to find softer hay or haylage, with a higher leaf content, which will also be more nutritious and reduce the amount of additional calories that will need to come from bucket feed.”

If your horse is not a good hay or haylage eater, Emma suggests providing some alternatives, such as one of the best hay replacers. “Adding additional fibre sources in separate buckets alongside his forage to browse on and increase your horse’s overall fibre intake.

“This will supply some extra calories from digestible fibre but will also help ensure that gut health and digestive efficiency are optimised so that the system can make the most of the whole diet.”

7. What is ad lib really?

D&H’s Louise Scott acknowledges that feeding forage ad lib is best, but staying informed is even better. “Giving forage ad lib allows horses to self-regulate how much they want to eat,” she begins.

“However, it is important to be aware of how much you have provided, especially if your horse is underconditioned or your horses share access to forage, so you can notice if your horse is not eating enough or if there are any changes in his eating habits.”

Calculating how much hay to feed a horse depends on a few factors.

“Horses that need to gain condition should ideally receive around 2% of their total bodyweight in forage each day on a dry matter basis,” says Louise. “Dry matter refers to the amount of water in the forage and differs depending on whether you feed hay or haylage.

“Haylage contains more water than hay, so you need to feed more haylage to provide the same dry matter than if you were feeding hay.”

So, how much do you actually need to feed? “For a 500kg horse, 2% is equal to 10kg of forage on a dry matter basis. If you feed hay which is around 85% dry matter, this means feeding 12 kilos of fresh hay each day.”

The table below demonstrates the approximate fresh weight of hay or haylage you would need to feed daily, depending on your horse’s weight. Weighing haynets is easy to do with a handheld luggage scale (like this one on Amazon).

8. Know your bucket feed size

Vanessa suggests being clear on bucket feed weight, too. She adds that it’s good practice to weigh all your horse’s feeds to make sure you’re feeding the correct amount, and know how much your scoop holds.

“Keep meal sizes small, no more than 2kg per meal for a 500kg horse,” she advises.

“Feed three or more meals if you need to feed more than 4kg per day. Horses don’t digest large meals so efficiently; feeding large quantities may cause other issues or simply waste money.

“Smaller meals can be useful for tempting fussy horses – large meals can be overwhelming.”

How to help a horse gain weight quickly

According to H&H veterinary consultant Karen Coumbe, those with concerns about their horse’s weight and body condition are likely to benefit from a second opinion before rushing to feed him up quickly.

“Owners who see their horses every day can find it hard to perceive changes in their horses’ weight in either direction, or simply become used to how the horse looks,” she explains.

In Karen’s experience, the average leisure horse owner’s opinion on body condition differs from the average professional competitor. This depends on many factors, especially discipline, but what really matters is that weight and body condition are appropriate to the individual horse.

“When I’m working with racehorses, you can admire almost every bit of muscle on them,” she continues. “They’re built for speed, so there’s barely an ounce of excess fat there.”

Although the average horse owner does not own a racing thoroughbred, Karen adds that horses generally benefit from being on the leaner side.

However, if you’re worried about a very thin or emaciated horse, consult your vet and/or a professional nutritionist to avoid the dangers of refeeding syndrome.

“Certainly very thin horses are better fed back up slowly,” she says. “When we start to think about getting horses to gain weight quickly, it can be dangerous.”

Karen cautions against an immediately calorie-dense diet, adding an influx of volume and energy to bucket and forage at once. This can unbalance a horse’s fat metabolism, or the ability to break down and store fat, and do far more harm than good.

Abrupt changes to the diet can also contribute to gastrointestinal conditions, such as colic, or inflammatory diseases, such as laminitis. Gradual weight gain, therefore, is safest – find out more about how long it takes for a horse to gain weight.

“A golden rule is to work a horse ahead of his feed,” she adds. “This helps avoid problems such as tying up (exertional rhabdomyolysis, or azoturia).

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Weighing a horse accurately isn’t usually that easy; most yards aren’t equipped with an equine equivalent to bathroom scales, which would make things much easier. Nevertheless, knowing how to weigh a horse – or how to work out if they sit within their ideal weight range – is an important equine management skill.

There are three standard methods for determining a horse’s weight: applying a weight estimation formula, using a weigh tape, or a weighbridge. Below, we’ll explore how these methods work and their pros and cons with expert input.

Why is weighing horses important?

Katie Reeve, an equine nutritionist at Dengie, highlights several reasons to have an accurate picture of your horse’s weight – including how much hay to feed your horse.

“Having an accurate weight for your horse helps to ensure they are receiving enough forage in their diet,” she says. “This is particularly helpful if they are on a restricted ration to help promote weight loss.

“Once the horse’s weight is known, we can then calculate 1.5% of their bodyweight to ensure there is enough fibre in their ration. It can also help ensure you feed the correct quantity of products like feed balancers to provide the horse with the vitamins and minerals they need.”

Katie adds that knowing your horse’s weight is helpful for practical reasons, too.

“Knowing your horse’s weight ensures correct dosage for deworming and medication or making sure you aren’t exceeding the payload in your horsebox.”

How much should my horse weigh?

You can find weight estimations on the back of feed bags, but a good indicator that your horse is in the right weight range is having an optimal body condition score. In the UK, body condition score is measured on a scale of 0–5. An optimally healthy horse scores between two and three.

“Knowing your horse’s body condition score is arguably more important than the number on the scales,” says Katie. “It tells you if your horse is carrying a healthy amount of bodyweight or if they are overweight or underweight.”

Katie gives the example of two horses, both 500kg, one with an optimal body condition score of 3/5 and other 5/5.

“Although the two horses weigh exactly the same, the first horse has a much healthier body condition score and the second is very overweight,” she says.

“In this instance, it is the body condition score that tells us how healthy the horse actually is and if there are any changes that need to be implemented in their ration.”

How to estimate a horse’s weight

There’s a formula you can use that’s designed to estimate a horse’s weight – you just need a calculator, a long measuring tape with centimetres, and possibly a helper.

The two measurements you need to know are:

• Your horse’s heart girth (the distance around the whole torso behind the elbows), and;
• Your horse’s body length from the point of shoulder to the point of buttock.

Then, the formula you use to calculate the weight in kilograms is:

(Heart girth (cm) x heart girth (cm)) x body length (cm) ÷ 11877

While useful as a guide, there are flaws the formula, such as the fact that doesn’t take body condition into account. It is most useful when used alongside a weighbridge so the figures can be compared.

How to use a weigh tape

“Weigh tapes [like this one available on Amazon] are very useful for tracking weight, especially when used regularly,” says Vanessa Allen, nutritionist at Spillers. “We suggest weekly for those who need their weight monitoring for gains or losses.

“They may not be accurate, but are a useful guide and confirm if your horse’s weight is going in the right direction.”

Step by step

Emma Short, senior nutritionist at Baileys, says…

• Make sure your horse is standing square – bearing in mind some horses can be nervous on their first weigh tape encounter.
• On their near side, keep the end of the tape in your right hand and pass the rest of the tape over the horse’s back, behind the withers.
• The tape needs to sit where the girth normally goes, just behind the front legs. It should be pulled snug to depress the flesh very slightly.
• Read the weight by overlapping the tape and taking the measurement at the arrow.

Pros and cons of weigh tapes

While weightaping is quick, convenient and home-based, it can’t be relied upon as an accurate measure.

“In overweight horses, weigh tapes typically slightly underestimate bodyweight,” says Emma. “This is because the tape does not account for any fatty deposits over the neck or around the tailhead.

“Body length is also not accounted for on the tape, so horses with longer backs may come up slightly lighter on the tape.”

Katie adds that a combination of measures can work best. “In an ideal situation, you should weigh tape your horse at the same time as using the weighbridge,” she explains.

“You can then use the weigh tape more frequently to easily monitor the horse’s weight in between weighbridge sessions.”

How to weigh a horse with a weighbridge

You can weigh your horse at a public weighbridge, or some feed companies and vets have portable devices to bring along to yard visits.

“Using a weighbridge will always be the most accurate reading for your horse,” says Katie. “It should be used alongside regular body condition scoring and weigh tape readings to monitor fluctuations.”

Some weigh tapes also have a scale to measure your horse’s height.

Step by step

Topspec’s veterinary nutritionist Anna Welch says…

• If using a portable scale, position the weighbridge on a firm, flat, level surface with a straight, unobstructed approach and exit.
• Calibrate or sense-check the weighbridge with a known weight, such as a bag of feed or a full water container.
• Approach confidently with your horse, like you would a trailer ramp. Look ahead, allowing him time to investigate, sniff and pause if needed.
• For an accurate reading, your horse should be straight, centred, and standing completely still on the weighbridge. If he becomes anxious, it may help to step off and re-approach.

Using a weighbridge for the first time

Vanessa says she has weighed thousands of horses, and of those only a handful refused to go on.

“Even if they have a little snort or are suspicious to start with, if the owner is confident and walks straight across it their horse will usually just follow,” she says.

“Some owners will walk around it and their horses follow them, seeing the weighbridge as something to avoid.”

Vanessa says it takes only a couple of seconds to register the weight, so a well-handled horse should be fine after a couple of practice runs.

“I’d recommend owners follow instructions from the nutrition advisor who brings the weighbridge,” she continues. “We’re really experienced and genuinely know all the tips if a horse is shy to start with.”

Pros and cons of using a weighbridge

Anna says as well as providing greater accuracy than a weigh tape, it means you can be sure you’re supporting your horse with an accurate feeding and worming programme, and precise doses of medication too.

“Limitations include limited access to a weighbridge, which makes regular monitoring a challenge,” she adds. “Errors can occur due to uneven footing and failing to zero the weighbridge, and accurate readings depend on your horse standing completely still.”

Anna says the biggest error owners can make is ignoring body condition because the weight in kilos seems acceptable.

“When weighing your horse, make sure you replicate the conditions,” she says. “For example, if you ride to a weighbridge and weigh your horse in his saddle, make sure to do the same next time.”

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Equine vet Edward Busuttil MRCVS helps explain how to feed the resting horse to aid recovery and maintain welfare

Understanding how to feed a horse on box rest is a challenge for horse owners that requires the horse’s nutritional requirements to be balanced with their welfare needs. An effective feeding strategy must reduced the horse’s calories while continuing to support their digestive, immune and psychological health. Accurate weight estimation, careful energy management and thoughtful forage preparation are key to avoiding complications.

As box rest for horses is normally linked to an injury or illness, feeding for recovery involves more than simply reducing the food ration – it means using nutrition as a tool to preserve wellbeing, reduce stress and promote healing. Careful planning and regular monitoring can help horses on box rest to recover safely and comfortably and return to health with fewer setbacks.

How to feed a horse on box rest

Stabled horses are denied natural behaviours such as grazing, walking and socialising. This can lead to stereotypies like crib-biting, weaving or box walking, alongside signs of anxiety and boredom. Physically, reduced movement can result in weight gain, muscle loss, a slowing of the digestive tract and gastric ulcers.

Nutrition plays a critical role in mitigating these effects – an appropriate feeding plan must address both reduced energy demands and support mental and digestive health.

Accurate body weight estimation is essential for planning a suitable diet. It guides forage allocation, nutrient intake and tracking of weight changes. The gold standard is a weighbridge, but most owners use weigh tapes (like this one) or body measurements. Consider clipping a couple of patches to ensure that your weigh tape consistently passes through the same areas, to avoid artificially “changing” your horse’s weight.

An often used formula is: Weight (kg) = (heart girth² × body length) / 11,880

Although not exact, it provides a useful estimate for monitoring trends over time. Fluctuations in weight, particularly when a horse is on box rest for an extensive period of time, should not be too concerning as muscle mass decreases and posture changes also result in slight changes with your measurements.

Assessing their body condition score could be equally beneficial – ideally, you should be able to feel your horse’s ribs when running your hands along their side, but not be able to see them.

Keep a weekly diary so you’re able to make regular, small tweaks, decreasing the risks of stress and colic associated with sudden alterations to the diet.

With reduced physical activity, energy requirements drop. According to NRC (National Research Council) guidelines, horses need 12.5–15.2MJ of digestible energy (DE) per 100kg body weight daily. Therefore, a 500kg horse typically needs 62.5–76MJ/day under maintenance conditions, but those on box rest often require less. Good-doers may need further reductions to avoid weight gain.

Feeding even slightly more than needed can cause unwanted weight increases, especially with calorie-dense forage types or unnecessary concentrates.

How to support normal gut function on box rest

Fibre plays an essential role when feeding a horse on box rest. It maintains healthy gut function, limits digestive issues like impaction colic and ulcers and, as a long-lasting food source, supports mental wellbeing. A horse’s digestive system slows with reduced movement, so continuous fibre intake – as forage, like hay or haylage – is crucial to keep the gut moving.

Fibre also helps satisfy the horse’s natural urge to chew, reducing boredom and stress while confined. Providing adequate, good-quality fibre is key to keeping a box-rested horse healthy physically and mentally. Forage analysis is available to check quality, and this may be particularly useful in cases of long-term box rest when a consistent hay source will be provided. Poor-quality hay can contain dust and mould, which may trigger or worsen equine asthma.

Soaking hay reduces dust and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), helping manage laminitis or weight gain risk, but also leaches minerals like calcium, and palatability and hygienic quality are reduced if hay is soaked for too long. Long soaking (six to eight hours) can encourage microbial growth, especially in warm weather. Soaking and repeatedly lifting and submerging hay for 20 minutes can effectively reduce WSC.

Steaming hay at over 90°C using a commercial hay steamer effectively kills mould spores, bacteria and dust mites, improving respiratory safety. Steaming preserves more nutrients than soaking but does alter protein structure, reducing digestibility. Total crude protein remains stable, but digestible protein may drop by more than 40%, which may require dietary adjustments.

A constant supply of clean fresh water should always be available, alongside a high-forage diet. When temperatures drop, adding some hot water to water buckets may increase the amount the horse drinks. Providing water in buckets for horses on box res, rather than using automatic drinkers, will allow their intake can be monitored.

Avoiding gastric ulcers during box rest

Box rest greatly raises the risk of equine gastric ulcer syndrome, driven by stress and amplified by improper feeding practices. Horses are continuous grazers with stomachs that secrete acid constantly. Without regular forage, stomach acid can damage the unprotected, non-glandular part of the stomach.

To mitigate this, horses should have constant access to low-calorie forage to promote chewing and saliva production, which helps buffer stomach acid. Concentrates, especially high-starch feeds, should be avoided when feeding a horse on box rest.

Alfalfa, with its high calcium content, can help buffer stomach acid. Different companies provide alfalfa chaffs of various flavours to provide food-based enrichment. Alternatively, straw-based chaffs are also available, rich in fibre and low in energy. Unmolassed sugar beet provides digestible fibre and natural pectin and lecithin, which soothe the stomach lining and support gut health in ulcer-prone horses.

Read more about feeding horses to avoid gastric ulcers.

How to feed a good-doer on box rest

With horses that tend to maintain or gain weight easily, the lack of exercise associated with box rest can lead to significant increase in their body condition. It is important to reduce their calorie intact while continuing to provide the essential nutrition to maintain health. This is a necessity with cases where horses are confined owing to laminitis or where horses have an diagnosed with metabolic issues, such as PPID and EMS.

In addition to feeding soaked hay, having hay tested will help owners chose a forage that is low in WSC and therefore less likely to result in weight gain. Feeding forage using small-holed haynets and slow feeders to make the hay ration last as long as possible is also recommended.

Feed balancers can be really useful when feeding a good-doer. Including a feed balancer when feeding a horse on box rest – or vitamin and mineral supplement – alongside a straw-based chaff will ensure the horse receives all the micro nutrients needed during their period of recovery without any extra calories.

How to maintain body condition during box rest

If your horse is a more highly strung type, who struggles with confinement and is likely to worry their weight off during a period of box rest, forage should still be the primary feed source. Good quality hay fed ad-lib, ideally in multiple feed stations located at different heights around the stable, will encourage the horse’s natural foraging instinct and serve to provide enrichment.

If additional calories are required to maintain condition, a fibre- and oil-based concentrate feed will provide extra calories without the risk of disrupting the horse’s gut by feeding starch. High fibre and oil conditioning feeds are also less likely to encourage undesired excitable behaviour when the horse needs to rest. Adding a digestive feed supplement will also help the horse to get the most out of the nutrition provided.

How to promote healing on box rest

Horses recovering from trauma may need more protein in their diet, but most on box rest benefit from moderate-protein hay (under 10%) and diets tailored to actual needs. Alfalfa is a high-protein forage (over 15%) and may increase urination if fed in excess.

Excess protein in a low-exercise diet can lead to increased urea production and higher urinary output. This results in wetter bedding, stronger ammonia odour and possible irritation to the respiratory tract and hooves. If your horse experiences increased urination, wood shavings can provide a far more absorbent bed than straw – but this does not negate the need for frequent mucking out and hoof care.

How to reduce boredom

Box rest restricts natural foraging behaviour, which can increase stress and boredom. Gustatory enrichment – food-based mental stimulation – can reduce frustration and support digestive health.

Offering forage in multiple small nets around the stable, changing hay types or using slow feeders can promote engagement. Low-sugar treats like swede or celery, or hay-based, low-sugar licks, provide sensory stimulation without excess calories. These strategies mimic natural feeding patterns and improve mental wellbeing, keeping horses happier and healthier when stabled.

You can also consider purchasing hay blocks with chamomile (like this one) or making ice blocks with shredded carrot and apple during the warmer months of the year.

There are a range of stable toys and other boredom busters for horses available to help entertain your horse during a period of enforced rest.

How to avoid respiratory problems

Stabled horses are at increased risk of developing respiratory issues, particularly if ventilation is poor or the environment is dusty. Conditions such as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), commonly known as heaves, can be exacerbated during prolonged periods indoors.

The choice of bedding type and forage is particularly important. Traditional straw can be dusty and should be replaced with low-dust alternatives such as cardboard, paper or high-quality shavings, including lavender-scented brands.

Hay should be soaked or steamed to reduce airborne particles and haylage may be a suitable alternative for some horses. Stable ventilation must be optimised without creating drafts. Open doors, high windows and the use of fans (when safe) can help improve airflow, as well as cleaning away cobwebs and bird nests.

Ammonia build-up from urine is another concern, as it can irritate the airways. Frequent mucking out, and the use of absorbent bedding, can help reduce exposure.

Supplements for a horse on box rest

Targeted feed supplements for horses can support recovery in certain cases:

● digestive supplements with prebiotics and yeast support hindgut health, particularly if antibiotics have been used or if diet changes occur

● ulcer-prone horses may benefit from gastric supplements that contain gastroprotective agents such as lecithin, pectin and buffering compounds, although veterinary treatment may also be required

● omega-3 fatty acids from linseed oil or marine sources support joint and immune function

● vitamin E supplementation is often necessary during periods of box rest, as horses have reduced access to fresh forage. Vitamin E (as d-alpha-tocopherol) is a key antioxidant supporting muscle function, immunity and recovery. Deficiency can lead to stiffness or even neurological signs

● respiratory supplements can also help maintain respiratory health if your horse is at risk of respiratory disease. This can come in the form of omega-3s, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane; which decreases upper airway inflammation) and marshmallow root (which may help to reduce mucus build-up in the lungs)

Knowing how to feed a horse on box rest can be a challenge, but by making the right decisions you can help keep your horse happy and healthy during this period of enforced rest.

If you’re still unsure about feeding a horse on box rest, then we recommend speaking to an independent equine nutritionist. To find a nutrition specialist, visit the British Equestrian Trade Association’s equine nutritionist and feed advisor register.

• For more expert advice on caring for your horse in the best possible way, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Do you really know who you are getting your horse’s feeding advice from? A new register of equine nutritionists and feed advisors has been launched to give owners confidence that the information they are seeking comes from a trusted source.

The British Equestrian Trade Association’s (BETA) Equine Nutritionist and Feed Adviser Register (ENFAR) aims to “promote the highest standards of evidence-based feeding advice for horse owners and the wider industry”.

The project has been led by Dr Katie Williams, of Dengie Horse Feeds, and developed by BETA’s feed committee.

ENFAR has two categories: feed advisers and equine nutritionists. Each person accepted onto the register has committed to engage in continuing professional development and to ENFAR’s code of best practice.

Both advisers and nutritionists must also complete a series of online assessments before they are accepted.

“The assessment process is designed to ensure that everyone is in the right category and be rigorous enough to ensure a minimum standard of competency and knowledge,” said Claire Williams, BETA’s executive director.

“The assessments include technical skills and knowledge, but are also looking at how effectively someone can communicate. Ultimately, we want to be sure that the candidate can advise effectively.”

A BETA spokesperson explained that currently the profession of equine nutritionist has no protected status, which means anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of their qualifications or experience.

“Inevitably this means a lot of advice is of a very poor quality, which has the potential to be detrimental to equine welfare and damage the credibility of those operating professionally,” added the BETA spokesperson.

Dr Katie Williams said that the idea behind ENFAR is to “recognise those who are doing a good job and who horse owners can trust”.

“What I love about the register is that anyone who is giving advice on feeding and nutrition can apply, so ultimately it will help to raise standards across lots of different equestrian professions including veterinary personnel, bodyworkers and coaches,” she said.

The register is live on the BETA website at https://beta-uk.org/enfar-directory/ and professionals wishing to join can also apply online.

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It’s stressful having an underweight horse, and you’ll be looking for the best horse feeds for weight gain as we head into winter. Many horse owners are also finding their horses haven’t gained their usual summer weight this year, so you’re not alone. Whether your horse is a poor doer, fussy eater or has been affected by the lack of grazing, now is the time to review your horse’s feed.

I’ve spoken to feed companies who have recommended products from their range that would be suitable for a horse who needs to gain weight and condition. If you’re struggling sourcing forage, and this is causing weight loss, consider one of the best hay replacers first to increase the fibre in your horse’s diet.

Best horse feeds for weight gain

NB: Cost per day has been calculated using the feeding rate for a 500kg horse in light work (where there was variation) and the RRP of the smallest available bag/tub. Some products require you to feed more in certain situations, which will increase the cost per daily measure – these costs per day and feeding rates are a guide only.

How to feed a horse for weight gain

Owning an underweight horse will have you researching how to help a horse gain weight. Once you’ve identified that your horse is underweight – body condition scoring can be a useful tool to help with this – it’s important to identify the root cause. It could be a range of problems, such as inefficient digestion or dental issues – or you could simply be feeding the wrong feed or the wrong ration.

Horse feeds for weight gain will contain a range of components – some will be high fat, while others will contain extra proteins. To work out what your horse needs and what will suit him best, it’s worth contacting a range of feed manufacturers to see what they would suggest. Most offer a free nutritional helpline service and will take a full history of your horse in order to offer the best advice.

It’s also important to know that not all feeds – even horse feeds for weight gain – will provide your horse with everything he needs in his diet. Ones that do (assuming you feed them at the recommended rate) are called complete feeds. To be absolutely sure he’s receiving a complete and balanced diet, an additional feed balancer or vitamin supplement could be your answer, but it’s best to consult a nutritional helpline if you’re unsure.

Is haylage better than hay for weight gain?

To encourage weight gain in horses, forage (hay, haylage, and grass) should be provided ad-lib. Haylage is cut at an earlier, less mature stage, and undergoes a wilting process that preserves more nutrients, leading to a higher digestible energy content compared to hay. This elevated energy content makes haylage an effective way to help horses put on weight. When feeding haylage, it’s generally necessary to offer a greater quantity by weight than hay, due to its higher water content.

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If you’ve got a horse prone to gastric ulcers, choosing the best feed for them is really important as feeding a horse with gastric ulcers in the right way is key for their health and comfort. A horse with diagnosed or suspected gastric ulcers should receive a high-fibre, high-forage diet that contains little or no whole cereal grains.

We’ve rounded up a selection of feeds that have the BETA EGUS approval mark, but have also included a selection of feeds that are low in sugar and starch, and include other ingredients that support the digestive system. These feeds are all deemed suitable for horses prone to gastric ulcers or horses requiring low-starch diets. If your horse doesn’t need additional feed for energy or condition, you may want to consider a supplement for gastric ulcers, which is formulated to help balance the pH, instead.

Best feeds for horses and ponies prone to gastric ulcers

• Balancers
• Fibres
• Mixes, cubes and mashes

Balancers suitable for horses with or prone to ulcers

NB: Cost per day has been calculated using the maintenance measure for a 500kg horse in light work (where there was variation, unless stated) and the RRP. These costs per day are a guide only.

Chopped fibre feeds suitable for horses with or prone to ulcers

This high-calorie, fibre feed is ideal for promoting condition, coat shine and fuelling work. It’s a natural blend of pure alfalfa, which buffers acidity in the digestive tract, and rapeseed oil, which provides a comparable amount of energy to a conditioning mix/cube, with really low levels of starch (2%) and naturally occurring sugar at (4.5%). It is free from straw, molasses and preservatives.

This combination of precision-dried alfalfa and grass has a high oil coating, which promotes coat shine, and a light addition of molasses and spearmint oil to encourage fussy feeders. It helps to increase chew time and support gastric health, while being naturally low in starch (1.5%) and sugar (12%), which is comparable to grass hay.

This low-starch, high-oil fibre feed that is designed to support horses prone to gastric ulcers following veterinary treatment. The short-chopped alfalfa extends eating time and provides a natural buffer to stomach acid, while the high oil content provides energy for condition and performance. It contains a full range of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E for immune support and muscle health, plus high-quality protein to support muscle development.

This nutritionally-balanced, high fibre feed is made from pure, chopped and pelleted alfalfa. The energy provided is comparable to a medium-energy mix/cube, but with significantly lower levels of starch (2%) and naturally occurring sugar (4.5%). It contains a prebiotic formula, a high-specification of vitamins and minerals, and a blend of herbs to tempt fussy eaters. It is free from molasses, straw and preservatives.

This high-fibre, low-calorie feed is made of a blend of straw, grass, alfalfa pellets and herbs, which increases chew time without adding too many additional calories. It is naturally low in starch (2%) and naturally occurring sugar (6%). It contains prebiotics and calcium for optimal digestive health, and has a light oil coating that provides slow-release energy and promotes coat shine. It is free from molasses, artificial flavours and preservatives.

This soft, conditioning alfalfa blend with oil contains added vitamin E to balance the high oil content.

This all-in-one, fully balanced conditioning fibre feed is suitable for horses who need to build condition at any level of work, but is particularly ideal for poor-doers, those prone to ulcers, horses coming into (or back into) work, and those who need to gain condition while keeping a cool head.

Blends, cubes, mixes and mashes suitable for horses with or prone to ulcers

Ideal for promoting weight gain, maintaining condition and supporting performance in horses requiring a low starch, high specification diet. Ease & Excel is a low-starch feed that includes no micronised cereal flakes, which means the slow-release calories are provided by fibre and oil. It has a full balance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and contains a bespoke blend of antacids, pre- and probiotics.

The blackcurrant-flavoured Re-Leve cubes are a highly versatile, low-starch (9%), low-sugar (4.5%) cube is formulated specifically to help support a healthy digestive tract and maintain normal muscle function. Highly digestible super-fibres and oil are the main energy sources, which is ideal for horses prone to ulcers. The cubes are fully fortified with a full spectrum of vitamins, chelated minerals, and antioxidants, including natural vitamin E, along with a live yeast to support optimum digestive health.

These cubes supply elevated levels of slow-release energy – for condition or performance – from a low-starch (8%), high-fibre (18%) formula. They are ideal for sensitive horses that require a low-starch diet, and are designed to support healthy gastric and digestive environments and muscle function. Ease & Excel is fully balanced with performance levels of vitamins and chelated minerals, plus grapeseed extract, an innovative concentrated source of natural antioxidants to support immunity and recovery. Compared to Baileys No.21, the cubes are slightly lower in oil and calories.

TopSpec UlsaKind cubes are low in starch (7%) and formulated to provide calories for condition while being highly sympathetic to the digestive system. They contain very high levels of β-glucans, which form a gel and coat the stomach lining with a soothing film. This helps to prevent stomach acid splashing the less protected portion of the stomach.

The gel also slows the rate of passage of feed through the stomach and intestines, reducing the time period that the stomach is empty. The absorption of sugar is also slowed and the glycaemic index of the feed is lowered, reducing the effect on blood sugar levels. UlsaKind is designed to be added to feed balancer or supplement and therefore, contain no added vitamins or trace-elements.

This is the lowest starch (12.5%) muesli in Dodson & Horrell’s range. It provides performance level nutrition suitable for those that may be prone to gastric ulceration, as well as prebiotics and probiotics to support a healthy hindgut and nutrient uptake.

This high fibre, non-heating, fully balanced mash is formulated to maintain condition, while helping encourage a calm temperament. It contains highly digestible super-fibres and is fortified with quality protein, vitamins and minerals, and a prebiotic, while also being low in starch (7%) and sugar (4.5%). It soaks into a mash in 10 minutes and is barley-free, with linseed for a shiny coat. It supplies slow-release energy and is suited to horses in up to medium work.

This cereal-free, low-starch (8%), blackcurrant-flavoured mix has been specifically formulated to replace all cereal-based hard feed for working horses that react adversely to high-starch feeds or are prone to ulcers. It provides controlled energy from highly digestible super-fibres and oils.

It fully fortified with vitamins and minerals along with elevated levels of antioxidants, such a vitamin E, to support normal muscle function and recovery. It also contains the recommended level of yeast to support the maintenance of the hindgut and stabilise the stomach pH level.

This herbal mash, which soaks in less than 10 minutes, is formulated to support immune and digestive function. It’s molasses free, low in starch and sugar, and non-heating, which makes it really versatile. It contains prebiotics, probiotics, yeast and psyllium for digestive support, antioxidants and echinacea for immune support, and mint, fennel and cinnamon.

What is the BETA EGUS Approval Mark?

In 2016, the British Equestrian Trade Association launched a new feed approval mark that offers feed companies the opportunity to highlight products suitable for horses and ponies prone to, or at risk from, EGUS. It aims to make it easier for horse owners to identify feeds most suitable for horses prone to ulcers.

There are many legal restrictions around how feed and supplement products can be described in relation to different ailments – in short, they can’t be linked in a way that suggests they are nutritionally beneficial. But the launch of this scheme has allowed feed manufacturers with approved products to highlight feeds (not supplements) best suited for horses and ponies prone to EGUS without breaking the rules and regulations involved in marketing equine feeds.

Companies can submit products for approval, which includes the examination of ingredients, labelling, marketing claims and independent laboratory analysis. They must have, among other things, lower levels of sugar and starch than comparable products on the market. If accepted, the companies pay an annual fee to cover the cost of running the scheme and can display the logo on their packaging and marketing materials.

Products can be developed that are suitable feeds for horses with gastric ulcers, but the manufacturers may choose not to enter the scheme for various reasons.

What to feed a horse with ulcers

In addition to consuming at least 1.5% of their bodyweight a day in forage (hay, haylage or a suitable forage replacer), a feed balancer that provides a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals and quality protein is a valuable addition to the diet. If your horse requires more energy, this is best to be delivered by fats and oils rather than starch and sugars. It’s important to look for high-fibre, low-starch and low-sugar options when selecting feeds for horses with ulcers.

Adding short chopped fibre, ideally containing alfalfa, to every meal is beneficial as the high protein and calcium content in alfalfa is thought to help buffer stomach acid.

It is important that horses chew regularly, which produces saliva that helps to neutralise this acid – without frequent intakes of forage, the acidity increases and the horse is at a greater risk of developing ulcers. This increase in acidity is what gastric supplements aim to buffer. Lengthy periods without access to forage can leave the stomach walls vulnerable to acid attack, so calorie control should not come at the expense of fibre or other essential nutrients.

Which horses are prone to gastric ulcers?

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome isn’t just a problem for performance horses – it can affect any breed or any age – and there are increasing numbers of leisure horses and ponies being identified as, or suspected of, suffering from the condition. This is especially true for horses or ponies whose forage intake is restricted, perhaps due to poor grazing or in efforts to reduce calorie intake.

You might also be interested in:

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Keeping horses properly hydrated to help prevent digestive upset can be a real challenge. The challenge increases when your horse is subjected to anything out of the norm, which could be travel, intense exercise, cold winter weather or hot summer temperatures. The best rehydration mashes for horses offer an effective solution, combining a tempting feed with electrolytes already mixed in to help replace vital salts lost through sweat or decreased water intake.

Like the best electrolytes for horses, high-quality rehydration mashes support fluid balance and encourage horses to drink more. They’re also quick to prepare, often highly palatable and can be a valuable part of any horse’s routine – whether for competition, travel recovery, or everyday training.

From fast-soaking options for busy yards to tasty recipes designed to tempt even the fussiest eaters, these are the best rehydration mashes worth adding to your feed room shelves.

NB: The Feeding rates are offered as a guideline and have been calculated per day for a 500kg horse.

Best rehydration mashes for horses: H&H’s quick guide

Best for fussy eaters: Saracen Re-Covery Mash

Best for sensitive horses: Pure Feed Company Re-fuel

Best value for money: Spillers Perform & Restore

Best for versatile feeding: Simple System Horse Feeds Simply Complete

Best rehydration mashes for horses

Saracen Re-Covery Mash

Sizes: 1.5kg, 20kg

RRP: £8.99 (1.5kg), £21.99 (2okg)

Soaking time in cold water: 5 minutes

Feeding rate: 500g–1kg per day (adjust as needed)

This mash is designed to boost hydration without upsetting your horse’s usual diet. It’s made with familiar ingredients and high in super fibres, while staying low in sugar and starch – ideal for horses needing a low-starch feed.

It also includes salt to encourage drinking and vitamin E to support muscle recovery. Plus, the distinctive banana flavour tempts even fussy eaters. Also, with both travel-sized pouches and larger bags available, it’s easy to keep on hand for any situation.

H&H’s products editor Franchesca Slack uses this mash regularly during the summer months and says: “My horses struggle to drink when we’re away from home and this mash has really helped. I have the smaller bag on the lorry ready to hand and I love the smell! Also great for those extra hot days to keep the horses hydrated.”

Pure Feed Company Re-fuel

Sizes: 15kg

RRP: £26.55

Soaking time in cold water: 5 minutes

Feeding rate: 500g dry weight per day

Pure Refuel sets itself apart by including three crucial amino acids – lysine, methionine and threonine – that are essential for proper muscle repair after exercise. It’s also rich in antioxidants, such as selenium, vitamin E and vitamin C, to help combat oxidative stress.

Low in sugar and starch and completely free from molasses, cereals, alfalfa, and soya, it’s a safe option for sensitive horses or those with metabolic conditions. It’s packed with electrolytes and soaks down into an appetising cherry mash, making it a thoughtful, comprehensive choice for horses needing careful dietary management.

Spillers Perform & Restore Mash

Sizes: 20kg

RRP: £17.95

Soaking time in cold water: under 2 minutes

Feeding rate: 3.5kg dry weight per day (split into at least two meals)

This cost-effective mash is designed for performance horses needing fast recovery and condition support without excess starch. It’s cereal-free and low in sugar and starch, making it a smart option for horses prone to muscle issues or excitability.

It has added amino acids to promote muscle health and recovery. It also has electrolytes and antioxidants to help replace what’s lost through sweat. The mash soaks in less than two minutes and has an enticing apple aroma, making it easy to feed after hard work or travel.

Simple System Simply Complete

Sizes: 20kg

RRP: £27.25

Soaking time in cold water: 5 minutes

Feeding rate: Up to 0.5% of bodyweight per day (up to five feeds of 500g)

Simply Complete is a handy, quick-soaking mash that brings together top-quality forages and essential extras in one feed. It’s especially useful for performance, endurance and competition horses needing a boost in stamina, hydration and sodium levels.

Because it’s purely forage-based and free from starchy cereals, it can be fed right before exercise – or even immediately after, while your horse is still hot – to help with recovery. It’s a versatile option whether you’re looking to “target feed” small portions around work or feed larger amounts to support overall condition.

Rowen Barbary Sports Mash

Sizes: 1kg, 10kg tub, 20kg

RRP: £6.90 for 1kg, £22.50 for 10kg, £29.95 for 20kg

Soaking time in cold water: 10 minutes

Feeding rate: 500g dry weight per day

Rowen Barbary Sports Mash packs a lot into each serving, blending highly digestible fibres like soya hulls, sugar beet and grass nuts with electrolytes to help replace minerals lost through sweat. It also includes vitamins E and C for antioxidant and immune support, making it a solid choice for horses needing a bit more after intense work or travel.

Unique touches include calcareous marine algae and probiotics to promote gut health. Beetroot powder not only boosts recovery but also helps make the mash more appealing. Supplied in resealable pouches, it’s practical for both yard and travel use.

Premier Performance Fibre Hydration Mash

Sizes: 1kg, 2.5kg, 5kg, 20kg

RRP: £6.50 for 1kg, £12.50 for 2.5kg, £19.99 for 5kg, £32.99 for 20kg

Soaking time in cold water: 4 minutes

Feeding rate: Up to 3kg per day, or 500g with 1 litre water for rehydration

Premier Performance Fibre Hydration Mash is a versatile, grain-free mash. It’s low in sugar and starch (both just 4%), making it a smart choice for horses needing a controlled diet.

Packed with high-quality fibre sources, it includes a full spectrum of electrolytes to help maintain fluid balance, along with Acid Buff for digestive comfort. Alltech Nupro Technology adds further support for muscle recovery and performance. The highly palatable apple flavour encourages fussy eaters, and the mash soaks in just four minutes in cold water.

Whether used for rehydration after work, as a top-up feed, or even as a forage replacer, this mash is a practical option for horses needing extra care in training or competition.

Cavalor Sportmash Recup

Sizes: 1.5kg, 15kg

RRP: £7.50 for 1.5kg, £23.08 for 15kg

Soaking time in cold water: 5 minutes

Feeding rate: 500g dry weight per day

This mash features a blend of puffed grains and high-quality proteins with a carefully balanced amino acid profile, tailored to support muscle repair after intense work. It’s designed to be easily digestible while offering quick energy replenishment for horses in heavy training or competition.

Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride help restore mineral balance after sweating. It’s a practical choice for maintaining condition and aiding recovery without excessive starch or sugars.

What is the best mash for horses?

The best mash for your horse depends on why you’re feeding it and your horse’s individual needs. Different mashes serve different purposes. For hydration and recovery, rehydration mashes are a great choice. These quick-soaking feeds encourage water intake, help replace electrolytes lost through sweat, and support muscle recovery after exercise or travel. If your horse is prone to metabolic issues like equine metabolic syndrome, look for mashes that are low in sugar and starch.

If your horse needs extra fibre or conditioning, fibre-based mashes made from ingredients like beet pulp, grass nuts, or soya hulls can help boost calorie intake and support digestive health. Some mashes also work as forage replacements, which is helpful for horses with dental problems or reduced appetite.

When choosing a mash, check factors including soaking time, ingredient list – especially for horses with allergies or sensitivities – electrolyte content for hydration, and whether it suits your horse’s workload and dietary needs. Always introduce new feeds gradually and follow recommended feeding rates.

Does recovery mash have electrolytes?

Most recovery mashes do contain electrolytes. They’re designed to be fed as a soaked product to help increase your horse’s water intake and replenish the minerals lost through sweat after exercise, travel, or hot weather. Electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride are essential for maintaining hydration, muscle function, and overall recovery.

However, not all recovery mash recipes automatically include electrolytes. Some are purely fibre-based or designed for digestive support rather than post-work recovery. Always check the product label or description to see if electrolytes are included, and ensure the mash you choose matches your horse’s specific needs and workload.

What is the fastest way to hydrate a horse?

Dehydration not only seriously impacts a horse’s performance, it can also become life-threatening. Horse sweat is hypertonic, meaning it holds more salts than body fluids, so a sweating horse loses electrolytes faster than it loses water. Therefore, giving plain water to a dehydrated horse isn’t enough to fully rehydrate it.

Water alone can dilute the fluids around the body’s tissues and reduce the horse’s natural urge to drink more. That’s why the most effective way to rehydrate a horse is to include electrolytes in its feed or water. This helps replace lost salts and encourages further drinking.

For more tips, read our full guide on how to prevent, recognise and treat dehydration in horses.

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Salt licks for horses are an easy and convenient way to make sure your horse always has access to salt as it’s a really important part of his diet. They are also frequently used as part of some of the best stable toys to help prevent boredom.

Sodium is one of the main electrolytes that horses need and if their levels become low, their body will signal the horse to avoid drinking, which could lead to dehydration. Providing the right amount will help your horse’s body to function at its best – it works with chloride to aid nerve and muscle function – particularly at times of stress, such as during performance or hot weather. Some horses are good at regulating their salt intake and will only consume what their body needs, but others will over-consume or completely ignore their salt lick, so it’s wise to monitor your horse’s intake.

We’ve rounded up a great selection of licks on the market and grouped them into the following categories:

• Himalayan salt licks
• Flavoured licks
• Field licks

Himalayan salt licks for horses

Lincoln Himalayan Salt Lick

Sizes: 1kg, 2kg, 3kg

Provides pure natural rock salts, wrapped and complete with rope.

NAF Himalayan Salt Lick

Sizes: 750g, 2kg, 4.25kg

Offers the purest form of salt, naturally mined to support your horse’s needs to instinctively self-supplement. Each salt lick is ready to hang and includes a rope.

Hilton Herbs Black Himalayan Salt Lick

Sizes: 1kg

A natural Ayurvedic product made by combining pink Himalayan salt with herbs and spices, including harad, which gives it a dark colour and sulphurous flavour. Its properties help support your horse with balanced digestion, healthy eyesight, and skin.

Likit Himalayan Rock Salt

Sizes: 1kg

100% natural himalayan rocksalt, specially shaped to be used in conjunction with the Likit holders or Boredom Breaker. Weather resistant and can be left with your horse to ‘self dose’.

Redpost Himalayan Salt Lick

Sizes: 1kg, 3kg

A pure and natural form of salt which is convenient for allowing your horse free access to self supplement, both in the field and stable. Available in two sizes to suit your horse’s needs.

Flavoured licks for horses

Flavoured licks are fun for owners and keep things interesting for horses. Many are compatible with the stable toys, which makes them ideal for keeping horses entertained while they’re inside.

Rockies Flavoured Health Lick

Flavours: Apple, carrot, cherry, garlic, or mint

Sizes: 2kg, 5kg

Unique flavouring, high purity minerals, and trace elements. This combination ensures that your horse will only consume as much as they need. For use all year round but especially during hotter months.

Likit Refill Flavoured Licks

Flavours: Wide choice

Sizes: 650g

These tasty licks are compatible with Likit holders and Boredom Breakers. Available in a huge variety of colours and flavours.

Horslyx Mini Licks

Flavours: Original, garlic, mint, pro digest, mobility or respiratory

Sizes: 650g

These licks can be held in your hand and are handy for distracting and practising stretches.

Little Likit Refill Flavoured Licks

Flavours: Wide choice

Sizes: 250g

These tasty licks are compatible with Likit holders and Boredom Breakers. Available in a huge variety of colours and flavours.

Bizzy Bites Lick Refill

Flavours: Original, garlic, mint or apple

Sizes: 1kg

To be used with the Bizzy Bites toy that can be hung, wall mounted or used on the floor.

Field licks for horses

Paddock licks typically contain more vitamins and minerals than a standard salt lick. They are a great way to ensure your horse is getting some extra nutrients, particularly if he doesn’t receive a hard feed. They are harder to monitor for intake, and if your horse shares a field there’s no way of knowing who is benefitting – apart from perhaps a telltale sticky muzzle.

KM Elite Ultimate Oil Lick

Sizes: 7.5kg

This vitamin, mineral and trace element lick is designed to support your horses’ diet throughout the year.

Likit Paddock Lick

Sizes: 8kg

This lick offers a broad spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals, plus the added benefits of garlic, yeast and oils.

Dodson & Horrell Uniblock

Sizes: 12.5kg

This lick provides vitamins and minerals that are not always present in grazing.

SmartLick Original

Sizes: 12.5kg

This lick contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals, plus a yeast-based prebiotic to support beneficial intestinal bacteria.

Simple System Salt Lick Tub

Sizes: 10kg

This lick comes in a reusable flexible tub to provide sodium and a top up of magnesium.

Horslyx Original Balancer

Sizes: 5kg, 15kg

Horslyx Original Balancer is a palatable, nutrient rich lick containing vitamins, minerals and trace elements to balance the deficiencies in forage and grazing. Also available in respiratory, mobility, pro digest and garlic varieties.

Saracen Pasture Lick

Sizes: 20kg

A highly palatable lick that is full of vitamins and minerals to help support your horse’s diet.

How to choose a salt lick

There are a few different types of salt to offer – the main ones are white, red or Himalayan.

White salt blocks contain sodium chloride and are a good place to start if you’ve not offered your horse a salt lick before. Red trace mineral blocks also contain copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iron and iodine – your horse might not need these, especially if he’s fed a complete feed or balanced diet, but he may prefer the taste and therefore it will encourage him to consume it.

Himalayan salt is sourced from the nutrient-rich water and soil found in the Himalayan mountains. This pink salt is high in calcium and may help to strengthen bones, joints, teeth and hooves.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Due to the fact that laminitis is effected by diet, finding feeds suitable for horses prone to lamintis is a real challenge. Horses prone to laminitis require a low starch and sugar diet – a combined level below 10% is considered low, but really the lower the better. Even if overweight, they still need a balanced feed ration to avoid deficiencies, especially when grazing is restricted.

It’s important to understand that these feeds don’t treat laminitis, but are formulated for horses prone to the condition. This guide explores the options available to help you make the right choice for your horse. If you’re still unsure, consult a feed manufacturer’s nutritional helpline.

Feeds suitable for horses prone to laminitis

Jump to:

• Fibre-based chaffs
• Soaked feeds
• Low-calorie balancers

Fibre-based chaffs

Dengie Meadow Lite with Herbs

Bag weight: 15kg

RRP: £14.99

• Energy: 5MJ/kg
• Sugar: 3%
• Starch: 0.5%

A soft, tasty blend of British grown, chopped, precision-dried grass and high-quality oat straw for maximum fibre content whilst being low in calories. Suitable for good-doers and those prone to laminitis, naturally low in sugar and starch with tasty herbs – cinnamon and thyme – plus postbiotics to promote digestive health, can be fed as a total or partial forage replacer. Free from molasses, cereals, alfalfa & preservatives.

Mollichaff Light Molasses Free

Bag weight: 12.5kg

RRP: £8.79

• Energy: 7.5MJ/kg
• Sugar: 1.8%
• Starch: 3.9%

High in fibre, while being low in starch and sugar. This highly palatable chaff contains straw, fibre pellets, and grass that is dressed with soya oil. This chaff can be fed as a partial forage replacer or to complement your hard feed or balancer. It is suitable for good doers and those that have endocrine and metabolic issues that could lead to laminitis.

Spillers Happy Hoof Molasses Free

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: £18.15

Laminitis Trust Approved: Yes

• Energy: 8.8MJ/kg
• Sugar: 1.25%
• Starch: 1.5%

This product is the same as the original Happy Hoof, providing all the same nutrients, but without the molasses coating, which lowers the sugar content from 4% to just 1.25%. For those concerned about molasses this is a low calorie fibre blend with garlic and no added sugar. It contains biotin and a full range of added vitamins and minerals to provide a balanced diet and can be used as a total hay replacer.

Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: £17.45

• Energy: 8.5MJ/kg
• Sugar: 2.5%
• Starch: 1.5%

This nutritionally-balanced, high fibre feed has been formulated with B vitamins, biotin and MSM to promote stronger hooves and healthy joints. It’s made from a blend of soft cereal straw with chopped and pelleted nutrient rich alfalfa. It’s low in calories, which makes it ideal for good-doers and laminitis prone. It has a light rapeseed oil coating that provides slow-release energy and coat shine, plus garlic to help tempt fussy feeders.

Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound

Bag weight: 18kg

RRP: £19.29

• Energy: 8.7MJ/kg
• Sugar: 5%
• Starch: 5.8%

This fibre-based feed is formulated specifically for horses prone to laminitis. It contains blended herbs, added biotin for hoof support and antioxidants to support the body’s ability to fight against free radical damage.

Honeychop Lite & Healthy

Bag weight: 15kg

RRP: £16

• Energy: 8MJ/kg
• Sugar: 3.5%
• Starch: 0.5%

Is a non-heating, molasses-free, low sugar fibre feed suitable for those prone to laminitis. It is a soft, palatable blend of oat straw, timothy grass, herbs, marigolds and cinnamon with a light coating of oil.

Spillers Happy Hoof

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: £17.45

• Energy: 8.8MJ/kg
• Sugar: 4%
• Starch: 1.5%

This high fibre feed is suitable for horses prone to laminitis as it will produce a low insulin response – and being low calorie it is also ideal for good-doers, natives and those in light work. It can be fed on its own, alongside a balancer or as a hay replacer. The blend includes short chopped fibre to extend eating time, contains biotin to support hoof health, and a full range of added vitamins and minerals to provide a balanced diet.

Pure Feeds Pure Fibre Balance

Bag weight: 15kg

RRP: £23.93

• Energy: 9MJ/kg
• Sugar: 3%
• Starch: 7%

Specially formulated for good doers – horses that maintain condition easily and don’t need extra calories. With a high fibre content and a concentrated dose of balancer, it provides all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients without the risk of unwanted weight gain. This low-calorie, all-in-one feed supports digestive health including prebiotics and probiotics for gut function, essential amino acids for muscle maintenance, biotin for healthy hooves and coat, and added salt for electrolyte balance.

Thunderbrook Organic Herbalite

Bag weight: 12.5kg

RRP: £17.75

• Energy: 7.2MJ/kg
• Sugar: 4.6%
• Starch: 1%

A tasty mix of diverse, organically grown UK meadow hay, combined with organic oat straw, plus organic mint and fennel seed.

Allen & Page L Mix

Bag weight: 15kg

RRP: From £16.40

• Energy: 7MJ/kg
• Sugar: 1.5%
• Starch: 3.75%

L Mix is a chaff based feed that is suitable for those prone to laminitis. The alfalfa and chaff ensures increased chewing time, which is beneficial for horses on a restricted diet and can help to maintain a healthy digestive system. It contains no added sugars, molasses or cereal grains and has an extremely low digestible energy. It contains herbs for palatability, pre- and probiotics, and linseed, which is a good source of omega-3. Suitable for horses with intolerances to cereal grains or molasses.

Soaked feeds

Also known as a mash, these products are soaked before feeding. While frequently composed of fibre-based elements, they can also include cereals and other components, such as herbs.

British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: £20.50

Soaking time: 10 minutes

Laminitis Trust Approved: Yes

• Energy: 2MJ/kg
• Sugar: 5%

A highly nutritious, quick soaking (10 minute) beet pulp feed, with no added molasses, 95% sugar free. Made using only best quality British Beet Pulp, Speedi-Beet is subjected to a patented cooking process to produce a unique feed.There’s a high proportion of soluble fibre, mostly pectins, which means its fibre is more easily digested than that found in forage e.g. hay. This makes it a great source of non-heating slow-release energy. It’s starch free and low in sugar, so safe for horses prone to laminitis.

Spillers Speedy-Mash Fibre

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: £18.15

Soaking time: 1 minute

• Energy: 8MJ/kg
• Sugar: 2.5%
• Starch: 7.5%

This molasses and cereal-free, low-starch and sugar formula is suitable for laminitic, senior, and weight-prone horses, even those with poor teeth or in light work. Its quality protein supports topline and muscle tone without excess calories. Prebiotics and probiotics support hindgut health. Highly digestible and palatable with an apple aroma, to temp fussy feeders.

Baileys Natural Meadow Cobs

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: From £22

Soaking time: up to 1 hour

• Energy: 6MJ/kg
• Sugar: 7.8%
• Starch: 2.2%

Made from late-cut perennial meadows, these are high in fibre, yet low in starch, sugars and calories, and soak to a tasty fibrous mash for extended chew time alongside any existing balanced diet. Ideal as an alternative to a low calorie chaff or unmolassed beet pulp.

British Horse Feeds Fibre-Beet

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: £22

Soaking time: 45 minutes

Laminitis Trust Approved: Yes

• Sugar: 5%
• Starch 3%

This is a combination of Speedi-Beet and alfalfa supplemented with biotin, sodium and calcium. It has all the benefits of Speedi-Beet with its high level of easily digested soluble fibre for slow energy release, along with low starch and sugar but can be fed in larger quantities. This makes it a good conditioning feed and is ideal for those needing to control starch intake.

Allen & Page Care & Gain

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: From £16.40

Soaking time: 3 minutes

• Energy: 10.75MJ/kg
• Sugar: 4.5%
• Starch: 4.5%

This high-calorie feed designed for laminitis-prone horses and ponies, ideal for weight gain and higher energy needs with low starch and sugar. Contains quality protein for muscle maintenance in older horses, plus vitamins C and E for immunity, antioxidants, and muscle function. Calories from digestible fibre and oil support controlled weight gain and normal metabolism.

Keyflow Pink Mash

Bag weight: 15kg

RRP: From £24.50

Soaking time: 5 minutes

• Energy: 9MJ/kg
• Sugar: <2%
• Starch <2%

This mash is enriched with super fibres and beetroot to support the daily diet with high levels of prebiotics, aiding in the restoration of beneficial microflora for improved fibre digestion. Its low sugar and starch content makes it ideal for barefoot horses and thoseprone to laminitis. It can serve as a partial substitute for hay or forage and is particularly suitable for horses prone to digestive issues, with a very low feeding rate.

Balancers

Balancers, typically pelleted, are concentrated feeds formulated to offer horses a well-rounded diet without excessive calorie intake. Their low feeding rate makes them a great option for good-doers.

TopSpec AntiLam Forage Balancer

Bag weight: 15kg

RRP: £34.75

• Energy: 9MJ/kg
• Starch: 6.5%

This balancer is designed to provide nutritional support for those prone to laminitis. The formula combines several supplements with a high fibre, very low-calorie carrier to make it palatable. It can also be used as part of a calorie-controlled diet when weight loss is required.

Baileys No.14 Lo-Cal Balancer

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: £34

• Sugar: 5.5%
• Starch: 6%

This balancer provides essential nutrients without the calories associated with a mix or cube. It contains quality protein to provide the building blocks for muscle, skin and hoof and help maintain topline and tissue integrity, as well as a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals, including biotin and antioxidants. It also has Digest Plus prebiotic and a probiotic yeast to support gut health.

Blue Chip Lami Lite Balancer

Sizes: 15kg

RRP: £40.35

• Energy: 9.1MJ/kg
• Sugar: 4.5%
• Starch: 11%

A palatable formulation for those prone to laminitis, on restricted grazing, and a wide range of good-doers. Lami Light is a low starch, molasses free, no added sugar balancer that supports digestive health, fat metabolism and hoof quality.

Simple System Horse Feeds MetaSlim

Sizes: 10kg or 20kg

RRP: £39.95 for 10kg, £71.95 for 20kg

• Energy: 11.75MJ/kg
• Sugar: <4%
• Starch: <4%

A balancing feed specifically designed for those challenged by weight, and prone to laminitis. Made from functional, plant-based ingredients, MetaSlim offers natural support, for horses with fat pads, crests and metabolic issues.

Baileys No.19 Performance Balancer

Bag weight: 20kg

RRP: £36

• Sugar: 6.5%
• Starch: 6%

This balancer supplies the additional nutrients that are required by an increased workload without the unwanted calories. It helps build and maintain muscle and topline, while a full balance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants support healthy hoof growth, metabolism and recovery. The low starch and sugar levels also make it suitable for those with elevated nutrient requirements (not calories) and prone to laminitis.

Spillers Lite & Lean Balancer

Sizes: 20kg

RRP: £34.89

• Energy: 9.5MJ/kg
• Sugar: 3%
• Starch: 7%

A multi-vitamin and mineral balancer that supports the health of horses on a weight loss diet. These feed pellets are high in the essential amino acid, lysine, which is typically deficient in weight loss diets and supports muscle and topline.

Dodson & Horrell Go Lite Balancer

Sizes: 15kg

RRP: £26.13

• Energy: 8.5MJ/kg
• Sugar: 4%
• Starch: 8.5%

This low-calorie balancer is suitable for horses in need of a calorie-controlled diet and those prone to laminitis. It contains an effective level of biotin, zinc and methionine for hoof strength and growth, as well as natural antioxidants to support overall health, and protected yeast to support a healthy hindgut and nutrient uptake.

How to choose a suitable feed for a laminitis prone horse

If a horse is overweight and laminitis prone, it can be tempting to think they don’t require a bucket feed at all. While they don’t need to be supplied with energy or calories, consuming only grass or forage won’t provide everything they need. Deficiencies are even greater if grazing or forage have to be restricted to facilitate weight loss and manage the risk of laminitis. Therefore, feed rations for horses prone to laminitis need to be balanced and tailored to their individual needs.

It’s important to be aware that these feeds do not treat laminitis in any way, but are carefully formulated so that they are suitable to feed to a horse that is prone to the condition. If you’re at all unsure, it’s advisable to call a free nutritional helpline for additional advice – these are provided by most feed manufacturers.

For a good-doer or overweight horse, the bucket feed tops up the nutrients that are naturally lacking in grass and forage. This top up can be achieved by using a fortified feed, which is designed to provide a balanced ration when fed at the recommended quantity, or by feeding one of the best vitamin and mineral supplements (you can also find supplements for horses on restricted grazing) or feed balancers added to a low-calorie fibre feed.

Feeding a poor-doer that is prone to laminitis can be more challenging, as you’ll need to find feeds that contain more energy/calories but are still low in sugar and starch – look out for unmolassed alfalfa chaffs with added oil, or soaked beet products.

What is The Laminitis Trust approval mark?

The Laminitis Trust established an approval mark for horse feeds that reach certain standards as outlined by their scientific committee. The idea is that it will help owners identify feeds that are considered suitable for horses that either are considered prone to laminitis or are suffering from laminitis.

Feed manufacturers can apply to The Laminitis Trust for approval, but many choose not to do so despite developing feeds that are specifically formulated for horses prone to laminitis.

We’ve rounded up a selection of feeds that manufacturers describe as suitable for feeding to horses prone to laminitis, some of which are also approved by The Laminitis Trust. It includes some fibres, fully balanced feeds and balancers, so that you can find something that works for you and your horse. Before deciding what to feed a horse who is prone to laminitis, it’s advisable to call a free nutritional helpline for additional advice.

You might also be interested in:

12 supplements formulated for horses on restricted grazing

Best feed balancers for all horses: what’s on the market?

Laminitis: how to spot the signs, plus treatments and ways to prevent it

Expert advice for feeding horses with or prone to laminitis – what owners need to know

How to calculate your horse’s body condition score – is he the right weight?

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Riders are often guilty of overlooking their own nutrition in favour of their horses’, but both are vital for peak performance. Andrea Oakes investigates in this article from the H&H archives...

While their horse’s diets may be planned with precision, how many riders could say the same about their own? Skipping breakfast and reaching for sugary snacks when energy levels drop might get you through the day, but neglecting your nutritional needs can negatively affect your performance and outlook in the longer term. According to British Equestrian nutrition consultant Dan Martin, a more organised dietary approach will pay dividends in any discipline.

“It’s easy to find excuses not to eat well,” says Dan, who acknowledges that the “equestrian lifestyle” – early starts, long hours and frequent trips away – can play havoc with eating habits. “But while the health benefits of good nutrition are well known, many riders underestimate how their diet can influence not just their own performance but that of their horse.”

One positive spin-off of eating well is riding at the optimum bodyweight for your shape and height.

“Showjumping can be described as an ‘anti-gravitational’ sport, in the same way as our own high jump or pole vault,” explains Dan. “It’s not rocket science to understand that the heavier an object, the more force is required to get it into the air. The aim is to be light enough to help the horse but with sufficient energy and strength to control him, which might mean losing or gaining weight.”

The good news is there’s no need for crash diets or complex meal plans. Healthy eating means nothing too faddy, says Dan, rather a sensible approach that fits into a busy lifestyle.

“Begin with just one good habit, building to two or three,” he advises. “The reward then comes from reaching landmarks and goals, whether that’s seeing your weight come down or your energy increase.

“Start each day with a decent breakfast that includes slow-release carbohydrates, such as porridge, with a source of protein like milk or Greek yoghurt and perhaps a few berries,” he says. “Lunch could be a meat-filled sandwich, combining protein and carbs.

“If there’s no time to stop for lunch, have something small every 1.5 to two hours, instead,” he adds. “Riding is not technically an endurance sport, but some of the same principles apply such as the ‘little and often’ approach to refuelling. Suitable healthy snacks include malt loaf, hard-boiled eggs, half a bagel with peanut butter or jam and protein-based yoghurt drinks.

“Base your evening meal around protein, for muscle repair, with two to three portions of vegetables,” he continues. “This is your least active time, so dinner should be less heavy on the carbs. But if you didn’t eat adequately during the day, you’ll need carbs to refuel.

“Fluid intake is also important, especially if you’re working hard and sweating all day,” says Dan, who explains that sweat tests can determine fluid and electrolyte losses during exercise. “Hydrating – or rehydrating – is key. Don’t drink your calories in the form of sugary drinks, and limit caffeine – especially coffee – to the morning, to avoid sleep disturbance.”

The best intentions can soon unravel during long lorry journeys or at stay-away shows.

“If you’re underprepared, calorie-dense food may be the only option available,” says Dan. “Plan carefully to suit your needs and goals, so there’s less chance of a relapse. While I wouldn’t usually recommend a high-carb meal in the evening, this will set good foundations if you’ll be up early the next morning and won’t have the time or appetite to eat.

“Topping up your carbs and addressing immediate energy needs with flapjack or Jelly Babies just before entering the ring will do no harm for a day,” he adds. “And it’s OK to eat food at weird times – rice or pasta for breakfast, for example – if it works for you. The important thing is that you’re properly fuelled and feel comfortable to perform.

“Your first main meal after the event should balance protein, carbs and micronutrients [vitamins and minerals]. The emphasis is then on repair, so aim for fewer carbs and higher protein. Foods that reduce inflammation – dark green and dark red vegetables, and dark berries – are ideal.”

If you’ve let healthy habits slide over the Christmas period, can you get back to being at the top of your game before you head out competing again?

“Now is the time to eat with winning in mind,” says Dan. “Work towards your optimum weight: try to consume 500kcals less per day than you’re burning to lose weight, or 300kcals more to gain it. Wearable technology such as Fitbit and Garmin watches can help estimate this.

“Clean out the lorry and restock the cabin and living area with healthy, non-perishable goods. Then make a plan for your competition energy needs and practise it now, not on the day that it really matters.”

“Eventing is particularly demanding,” he adds. “We know from racing that every extra pound carried over a mile equals a deficit of one horse length at the finish, so, if you’re a few pounds over the optimum, time-penalties can really add up around a four-mile cross-country course. Over the three days, any excess weight negates the horse’s speed and increases fatigue.

“Carrying weight is also an issue in dressage, especially at higher levels,” says Dan. “Anything we can do to lighten the load is a bonus, causing the horse less undue stress and reducing long-term wear and tear.”

Another key factor for success is the ability to make rational decisions and keep problems in perspective. Could dodgy dietary habits be undermining our motivation?

“Foods that are high in sugar give us an instant feel-good hit, but we become dependent on this and develop cravings,” explains Dan. “A downward spiral follows, where we feel bad about these choices and our mood becomes low.

“We can break the cycle by establishing good habits,” he says. “Yet some riders struggle to address dietary issues because they don’t see themselves as athletes. If you make a living out of riding, you are a professional athlete – and you stand to benefit if you start treating yourself that way.”

Five-star eventer Matt Heath

“I never used to eat breakfast,” says Matt, who rides as many as 16 horses a day. “I grew up on a racing yard, as my dad was a jockey and then a head lad, and jockeys dieted differently then. But now I’ll have scrambled eggs on toast.

“The start of the year is tough as we’re bringing the horses up to a level of fitness, ready to compete,” he adds. “I don’t stop for lunch but I often make a snack when I get home late afternoon – maybe a sandwich, or some leftover pasta. I like tea and coffee at the yard, but I also keep hydrated with water or weak squash.

“I have a substantial evening meal such as roast chicken or Thai green chicken curry, with potatoes, rice or pasta and vegetables,” says Matt. “We still eat well when we’re away eventing, cooking in the lorry or lighting the barbecue and making a big salad.”

Dan says: “Eggs on toast is a superb breakfast, providing energy, protein and fibre, which helps us feel fuller for longer. If you struggle to eat in the day, consuming energy and protein in drink form may suit you. Try warm milk, or a homemade smoothie with oats, protein powder and berries.”

International dressage rider Amy Woodhead

A bowl of porridge sets Amy up for her first ride at 7.30am. With up to 14 horses to school, however, there’s no time for lunch.

“I don’t ride on a full stomach because I get stitches,” she explains. “I’m more of a ‘light grazer’. I like a cup of tea, followed quickly by coffee, but I limit caffeine; at the moment, I’m drinking hot water and lemon.

“It is important to eat well,” she adds. “I might treat myself when I buy pastries for the team, or have some chocolate biscuits to dunk in my tea, but I don’t overload with sugar or fast food. It’s only fair to the horses to have some kind of balance.

“I have a good evening meal, such as chicken or fish with vegetables,” adds Amy, who often cooks with meal kits from Hello Fresh. “When we’re away at a show I’m the designated chef; we like chicken fajitas, or spaghetti and meatballs. And I made us all bagels with avocado and egg each morning.”

Dan says: “Top marks for cooking when you’re away. With that workload I’d consider some better high-energy snacks, as biscuits and pastries provide only refined sugar and fat. Good homemade options include peanut butter brownies or banana bread; load them with extra vitamins and minerals to get more bang for your buck.”

International showjumper Georgia Tame

Georgia’s aim is to have strength and energy, whether she’s at her home base or jumping in the UK or overseas.

“At home I start with eggs or cereal for breakfast,” she says. “I stop for lunch if I can, usually soup or a sandwich with some protein in it, but during a busy day I just grab an energy-giving snack.

“My main meal is in the evening,” Georgia adds. “I love food, so each night is different, but I particularly enjoy a Mexican meal or a good steak. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, but I am a bit of a chocoholic.”

Georgia keeps well hydrated in hot weather, but finds it harder to drink water when it’s cold. She admits that healthy eating habits are harder to maintain while travelling or away competing.

“Luckily, my nerves don’t affect my appetite on show days,” she says. “Not many venues give you a healthy option, though – it’s normally burgers and chips. I do snack while driving long distances, to keep myself awake, but finding something suitable can be difficult.”

Dan says: “It’s always good to see a varied diet, as this means there’s less chance of a deficiency in certain nutrients. Optimal nutrition while travelling is all in the preparation, so buy your driving snacks ahead of time, not when you’re on the road and hungry. By planning your venue meals, you can steer clear of the burger van.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Convenience and a healthy diet — how to manage it as a busy rider

How to eat well without compromising taste and time

How does diet affect your riding ability?

How you fuel your body can mean the difference between success and failure. Personal trainer Matt Luxton’s nutritional plan is

6 obstacles riders think stop them from improving their fitness and nutrition

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Older horses will often feel life’s challenges, such as decreased grazing quality and restricted movement, the most so it’s important to make sure they’re getting everything they need. While you can get supplements to support specific areas of your horse’s wellbeing, such as gut balancers or joint supplements for older horses, many companies also make supplements for older horses that are formulated to support their all-round health.

These veteran supplements often contain ingredients that are known to support the joints and digestive system, to help keep them working as efficiently and comfortably as possible. Maintaining a healthy digestive system is particularly important as it will help your horse be able to absorb and make the most of any other feed or supplements he’s getting. Some supplements for older horses also include ingredients that aim to help maintain the hormonal balance. There are such a wide range of veteran-specific supplements that it’s important to consider what you’re looking to gain from one before you make a purchasing decision.

If you compete with your older horse then it is important you make sure any supplements you use do not contain any prohibited substances.

Supplements for older horses: what are your options?

Here is a selection of the best supplements for older horses that are currently available, including the manufacturers’ descriptions of their products…

NB: Cost per day has been calculated using the maintenance measure for a 500kg horse in light work (where there was variation) and the RRP of the smallest available tub. Some products require you to feed more in certain situations, which will increase the cost per daily measure, while buying a larger tub will likely decrease it – these costs per day are a guide only.

NAF In The Pink Senior

Form: Powder

Sizes: 900g, 1.8kg, 3.6kg

RRP: £26.99 for 900g

Daily measure: 30g

Cost per day: £0.90

This supplement provides the older horse with the support he needs to stay active and feeling young. It helps balance the diet and the digestive system, which enables the horse to maximise the value of his feed intake. It also supplies antioxidant ingredients to flush excess free radicals and provides nutrients to support joint health.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, equus.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or naylors.com

Science Supplements WellHorse Veteran

Form: Powder

Sizes: 1.6kg

RRP: £44.99

Daily measure: 54g

Cost per day: £1.35

This supplement contains every important nutrient your veteran horse requires and meets the NRC (National Research Council) and BASF (Animal Nutrition) recommendations for vitamins, microminerals and macrominerals to keep your older horse as active as ever. It also supports joint, respiratory and digestive health, muscle function, the immune system and coat and skin condition.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk 

Blue Chip Super Concentrated Senior Balancer

Form: Pellets

Sizes: 3kg

RRP: £28.90 for 3kg

Daily measure: 100g

Cost per day: £0.96

This feed balancer includes CushinCombo, which is a combination of chaste tree berry, antioxidants and omega oils, as well as a complete joint supplement, containing glucosamine and rosa canina.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Global Herbs Veteran Plus

Form: Powder

Sizes: 1kg

RRP: £32

Daily measure: 10g

Cost per day: £0.32

This supplement is designed to help support older horses when they lose the spark of youth. The key herbs, such as winter cherry, help to support digestion and immune function. It helps to maintain peak body condition, mobility and energy levels.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or oakfield-direct.co.uk

Dodson & Horrell Mobility

Form: Powder

Sizes: 1kg, 2.5kg

RRP: £19.19 for 1kg

Daily measure: 51g

Cost per day: £0.98

This dried blend of herbs will support your horses muscles and joints. It includes comfrey leaf, dandelion and nettle, which work to help support normal cell renewal and general joint and bone health. Celery seed, burdock root and devil’s claw root are also added for ease of movement.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

EquiNutritive Golden Oldies

Form: Powder

Sizes: 1kg, 2kg, 6kg

RRP: £41.99 for 1kg

Daily measure: 30g

Cost per day: £1.26

This natural herbal supplement for older horses provides extra support to maintain healthy mobility, liver function, dental strength, a shiny coat and healthy skin.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk

Equine America Everyday Vitamin & Mineral Supplement

Sizes: 1.5kg, 5kg

RRP: £29.50

Daily feeding rate: 50g

Cost per day: £0.98

Providing more than 25 key vitamins, minerals and trace elements, together with probiotics and prebiotics, this is a great option for horses on forage-based diets or low intakes of concentrate feed.

In the UK? View now at equine-america.co.uk, amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Hilton Herbs Senior Horse

Form: Powder

Sizes: 1kg

RRP: £28.41 for 1kg

Daily measure: 34g

Cost per day: £0.97

This herbal supplement helps to support all aspects of ageing. It includes ingredients such as milk thistle, burdock, meadowsweet and hawthorn to maintain liver and kidney health, the circulatory system, joints and muscles and good digestive health.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Horse First KeepMeSound

Form: Powder

Sizes: 1.5kg, 5kg

RRP: £31.70 for 1.5kg

Daily measure: 60g

Cost per day: £1.27

This all-in-one supplement compliments a well-balanced diet by providing an adequate intake of essential nutrients. It nurtures and cares for joints, hooves, coat, skin and assists the digestive system, giving all round help and support.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

You might also like:

Feeds formulated for the older horse to keep them feeling young

8 joint supplements formulated for your veteran horse

Keeping a veteran active for longer

Exercise or joint supplements — which is better for older horses?

Do supplements help equine OAPs or is movement a better medicine? Peter Green MRCVS finds out

16 gut balancers on the market – and how to choose the best for your horse

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Adding one of the best oils for horses to your horse’s diet has a wide range of benefits, from providing slow-release non-heating energy to improving coat condition, while they can also be added to the best feeds to aid weight gain. There are a great range of oils that you can feed your horse – while they will all deliver the same amount of energy, each will contain differing amounts of omega fatty acids.

Omega-3 is naturally anti-inflammatory, while omega-6 is pro-inflammatory. A pro-inflammatory isn’t always a bad thing as it can trigger immune responses to help speed up wound healing, for example. However, you definitely want an oil with more omega-3 than -6.

Here’s a round up of the best oils for horses, which includes the cost of each product per day as recommended for a 500kg horse in light work. Cost has been calculated using the RRP of the smallest volume – if you opt for a larger volume, the daily cost will likely decrease.

Best oils for horses

NAF Linseed Oil

Sizes: 1l, 2.5l, 5l, 25l

Feeding rate: 15–45ml

RRP: £12.50 for 1l

Cost per day: From 19p (when buying 1l)

This pure, cold-pressed linseed oil supports general health and helps to maintain a rich, natural shine to the coat. It’s also an ideal form of slow-release energy.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or naylors.com

In the US? View now at amazon.com

Horse First Omega D Oil

Sizes: 2l, 4l

Feeding rate: 30ml

RRP: £23.75 for 2l

Cost per day: 36p

Described as “liquid sunshine for horses”, this oil contains cold-pressed flaxseed with the correct balance of omegas 3, 6 and 9, which cannot be naturally produced by your horse. It also contains added vitamin D, and supports your horse’s immune system, bone development and strength.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Keyflow Key-3 Oil

Sizes: 1l, 5l, 20l

Feeding rate: 30ml

RRP: £16.50 for 1l

Cost per day: 50p

This oil is a blend of cold-pressed British linseed, rapeseed and Scottish salmon oil with garlic. It is scientifically balanced for horses, providing a rich natural source of the long chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in addition to a balanced ratio of omegas 6, 7 and 9.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Science Supplements Pure Linseed Oil

Sizes: 5l

Feeding rate: 180ml

RRP: £34.99

Cost per day: £1.25

This oil is high in omega 3 and has added vitamin E. It can help your horse gain weight, while improving coat and skin condition.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk 

Global Herbs Flax Oil

Sizes: 1l, 5l

Feeding rate: 30–50ml

RRP: £15 for 1l

Cost per day: From 45p

Flax oil helps horses maintain strong hooves, glossy coats and good condition. This cold-pressed oil is also a slow-release non-heating energy source, easy to digest and a rich source of omega-3 and -6. It can also help to aid absorption of other supplements.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, globalherbs.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or naylors.com 

Dodson & Horrell Soya Oil

Sizes: 5l

Feeding rate: 75ml

RRP: £28.52 for 5l

Cost per day: 43p

This calorie-dense conditioning oil will promote coat shine and weight gain. It can be added to existing feed without adding extra carbohydrate or protein. Feeding 75ml per day will improve coat condition, while you can feed 300ml per day for weight gain.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Lincoln Omega Gold Rapeseed Oil

Sizes: 1l, 4l

Feeding rate: 50ml

RRP: £10.50 for 1l

Cost per day: 53p

This 100% pure cold-pressed rapeseed oil, provides a balanced source of omega 3 and 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. It maintains and improves body condition and is a good source of non-heating energy.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Synovium Pure Linseed Oil

Sizes: 5l

Feeding rate: 60ml

RRP: £51

Cost per day: 61p

This cold-pressed linseed oil is 100% pure and taken from the first pressing. It contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to support healthy skin, coat and digestive, respiratory and joint health.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk

You might also like:

What’s the best type of oil to feed to horses?

15 feeds to help your horse gain weight and condition

If your horse is underweight this expert advice for feeding poor-doers will set you safely on the right path

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Most horse owners like to treat their horse once in a while, and whether the treats are used as a rewarding training tool, added to a boredom busting stable toy or just given as a loving gesture, we want to make sure we’ve got the best horse treats that are safe and nutritious. Luckily for us, the market has plenty of low-sugar options to choose from, which makes them safer for horses prone to problems that are affected by sugar, such as laminitis. Some treats also offer nutritional benefits and contain valuable minerals, such as biotin.

Some treats come in tubs, which is great for storage, while others come in recyclable refill pouches, which means less waste. There are so many fruity and herby flavours to choose from – most horses aren’t fussy when it comes to treats, but you can tell others choose a favourite. And at Christmas, there are always plenty of limited edition festive-themed treats available, too, which are perfect if you’re looking to get a Christmas gift for your horse.

• Looking for licks? We’ve rounded up the best horse licks on the market, too

Best horse treats

Spillers Treats

RRP: From £5.35 |

These tasty bite-sized pellets from Spillers can be kept safely in pockets without crumbling. There are three different flavours and some have added health benefits, too.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Dodson & Horrell Encouragemints

RRP: £7.50 for 4kg |

This low calorie, low starch and low sugar minty treat can be fed from the hand, in a bowl or from a treat ball.

In the UK? View now at viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or ebay.co.uk

NAF Blueberry & Banana Treats

RRP: £4.20 for 1kg |

The combination of blueberry and banana is sure to be popular.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Lincoln Thelwell Ponio Treats

RRP: £15.99 for 1.7kg |

These Thelwell-themed “carrot-chip cookies” are low in sugar and suitable for all Thelwell lovers.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or ebay.co.uk

Silvermoor Brilliant Beetroot Treatsies

RRP: From £4.20 |

Charged with the superfood beetroot these treats are packed full of antioxidants which are known for having a positive effect on blood flow encouraging muscle efficiency.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Likit Carousel

RRP: £12.99 |

This Likit treat tin is filled with 500g of yummy Rainbow Likit Snaks as well as a limited edition Rainbow Likit (650g).

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or ebay.co.uk

Leoveties Treats

RRP: £17.95 for 2.25kg |

Available in three flavours, these treats are mixed at low temperatures to ensure optimum health benefits and taste for your horse. They come in a fully compostable bag.

In the UK? View now at viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Dodson & Horrell Equi-Bites

RRP: From £12.05 for 2.8kg |

This low-calorie vitamin and mineral treat from Dodson & Horrell can be fed from the hand or sprinkled on top of an existing feed.

In the UK? View now at viovet.co.uk, amazon.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Baileys Tasty Treats

RRP: From £2.50 for 1kg |

Tasty Treats are high in fibre, low in starch and sugar and contain irresistible flavours of essential oils. They are now available in “stocking-filler-sized” 1kg paper bags or 5kg recyclable refill bags as well as 5kg tubs.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or ebay.co.uk

Silvermoor Magical Minty Unicorn Grassabix

RRP: From £3.96 |

This compressed dried grass block is great to tempt fussy eaters. It’s mint flavoured and can be used to prevent boredom. Also available in Linseed to TurmerAid flavours.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Equilibrium Crunchits

RRP: £4.99 for 750g |

These low-sugar, molasses-free treats are full of natural flavours.

In the UK? View now at equilibriumproducts.com, gsequestrian.co.uk or amazon.co.uk

Likit Selection Box

RRP: £7.49 |

This contains three tasty Likit treat bars and two packs of heart-shaped Likit Snaks and two fun games.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk

Hilton Herbs Herballs

RRP: From £2.24 for 250g |

This all natural horse treat comes in a limited edition Christmas tub. They are free from molasses, added sugars and artificial flavourings.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or ebay.co.uk

Stud Muffins Christmas Pudding Flavour

RRP: £4.59 for 400g |

These Stud Muffins have been flavoured with festive Christmas pudding.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk

Global Herbs Mince Pie Flavour Herbal Treats

RRP: £14.95 for 4kg |

These tasty Christmas treats are free from molasses, making them suitable for all horses and ponies and a perfect gift for your stablemates. Available in resealable bags with handles for easy storage.

In the UK? View now at globalherbs.co.uk

Lincoln Christmas Stocking

RRP: £4.50 |

This fun Christmas stocking contains three 150g packs of Lincoln Christmas Horse Bix treats.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk

Saracen Christmas Munchies

RRP: £9.75 for 1.8kg |

These limited edition cinnamon flavour herbal treats are made from wholesome ingredients and are produced to a low sugar formulation. Come in a fully recyclable pouch.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk

Stud Muffins Advent Calendar

RRP: £8.99 |

Count down to Christmas with your horse and the Stud Muffins Advent calendar that contains 24 miniature Christmas pudding flavoured Stud Muffins.

In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

In the US? View now at amazon.com

You might also be interested in:

17 licks worth their salt

Top treats to keep your dog happy, healthy – and hopefully more obedient

19 Advent calendars for horses (and horsey ones for humans) to start the Christmas countdown

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The best feeds for older horses are designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of an ageing horse and deliver it in an easily digestible form. A good veteran feed will ensure your horse is receiving enough fibre, provide increased levels of protein to help maintain muscle mass, and deliver the nutrition required to support their vital organs and promote mobility.

Feeds designed for older horses are available in a variety of forms, and many are softer or soakable, which makes them easier to chew. This is important as chewing is the first stage of digestion, but a horse’s teeth wear down throughout his life and poor dentition is common in older horses. This is why many of the best hay replacers, which are often beneficial to veterans, are shorter stem or soakable.

No matter a horse’s age, he should be fed as an individual according to his condition. While weight loss is common in older horses, many horses that have been good-doers throughout their lives will remain so and, therefore, should receive an age appropriate low-calorie feed to prevent unwanted weight gain.

At what age does a horse need a veteran feed?

A horse is generally consider a veteran at the age of 15 – this is not to say they’re old, as many are still living active lives at this age, and with good management and veterinary care many go one to live into their thirties.

Like people, horses age at different rates – some require a veteran feed sooner than others, while many continue to thrive on their usual feed much longer. For example, if your horse is under the age of 15 but requires a joint supplement, it would be worth discussing with a nutritionist as to whether a veteran feed designed for older horses would cover the requirements.

What veteran feed is best for my horse?

Feeds come in different types, each with its own set of benefits. We’ve included all types within this guide and you can use the links to jump to the section you think most suits your horse below.

• Mixes are fairly traditional compound feeds and you can see the elements within them
• Cubes or pellets typically give the same nutrition as their equivalent mix, but can be soaked, which makes them easier to chew
• Mashes and soaked feeds are really easy to chew – some are optionally soakable, while others must be soaked to be safe to eat
• Chopped fibres are frequently used to bulk out feeds and deliver additional fibre, but they are also useful for carrying supplements for older horses and powder-form balancers
• Balancers provide everything your horse needs in a low-volume, low-energy way, which makes them particularly suited to good-doers

Best mixes for older horses

Spillers Senior Complete Care Mix

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £18.25 | Daily feeding rate: 3kg | Cost per day: £2.74 |

This mix is designed to provide complete nutritional care. It includes glucosamine and MSM to support joint health, as well as pre- and probiotics to help support gut health, together with an appetising herbal blend to encourage fussy eaters to tuck in.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Baileys No15 Senior Mix

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £17 | Daily feeding rate: 2½kg | Cost per day: £2.13 |

This mix is formulated to provide easy-to-digest, non-heating calories that will provide a little more condition than a high-fibre, low-energy feed, while also delivering the extra nutrients he needs to stay looking and feeling good.

With protein from alfalfa and soya, Baileys Senior Mix helps promote good muscle tone, while yeast culture and Digest Plus prebiotic support gut efficiency. It contains a full profile of vitamins and minerals that are important for maintaining health and wellbeing in the older horse.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Equerry Veteran Mix

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £18.25 | Daily feeding rate: 2½–3kg | Cost per day: £2.28 |

This mix is designed for elderly horses that need to gain weight and condition. It is formulated with high levels of protein to promote muscle tone and topline, oil and linseed to improve condition and ensure a shiny coat, and yeast for a healthy digestive system. The cereals are highly digestible so your horse gets maximum benefit and it includes raised levels of vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Rowen Barbary Senior Support

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £18.60 | Daily Daily feeding rate: 2kg | Cost per day: £1.86 |

Senior Support is ideal for the older horse who would benefit from the added glucosamine, MSM and turmeric, which are added to help maintain healthy joints. It has high levels of oils, as well as digestive enhancers, vitamins and minerals, which all help to ensure excellent condition is maintained all year round.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Spillers Senior Conditioning Mix

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £19.25 | Daily feeding rate: 3kg | Cost per day: £2.89 |

This mix is designed for active older horses who have trouble keeping weight on. It contains a blend of steam flaked cereals and oil for condition, while the small-sized particles make for easier chewing. It includes glucosamine to help support joint health, live yeast to support digestive health, minerals to aid absorption and antioxidants to support the immune system.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Pure Veteran Mix

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £19.25 | Daily feeding rate: 2kg | Cost per day: £2.57 |

Pure Veteran Mix contains elevated levels of vitamins and minerals, with a soft chop for easy chewing. It also includes quality protein and extra slow-release calories to help senior horses who are still in regular work or require extra assistance maintaining condition.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Saracen Veteran Mix

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £20 | Daily feeding rate: 2kg | Cost per day: £2 |

This highly digestible mix is designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of the older horse. Formulated with “super-fibre” sources and oil, the daily ration provides slow-release energy, which helps to avoid the fizz that can be associated with cereal-based diets. Veteran Mix is fully balanced with essential vitamins and minerals, as well as quality protein sources to support and maintain muscle tone and development, plus has the added benefit of live yeast to support gut health and fibre utilisation.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Baileys No8 Meadow Sweet with Turmeric

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £16 | Daily feeding rate: 2½kg | Cost per day: £2.67 |

This low-starch, high-fibre mix is formulated to help maintain condition, while encouraging a calm temperament. It’s the first fully balanced feed to include TurmerAid complete turmeric supplement, which contains ingredients to support healthy joints and the immune system, making it particularly suited to the older horse. The mix is molasses-free and contains no whole cereals, so with a starch level of just 7.5% it is ideal for older horses who have moderate energy requirements but need to control their starch intake.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Best soakable pellets and mashes for older horses

Keyflow Golden Oldies

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £47.50 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.58 |

Golden Oldies is a balancer that is formulated to be soaked into a soft palatable mash for older horses, offering an all-in-one solution. It’s designed with the specific needs of older horses in mind, and is molasses and cereal free. It has exceptionally low levels of sugar and starch and is considered suitable for horses with concerns of PPID (Cushing’s) or laminitis, as well as those with gastric ulcers. Prebiotics and probiotics are included to support gut health and efficiency, as well as omega-3, which supports joint health, skin, coat and hooves, and turmeric.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Spillers Senior Super-Mash

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £16.90 | Daily feeding rate: 3kg | Cost per day: £2.56 |

Targetting condition and gut health, this mash is ideal for older horses with dental issues – it soaks in less than two minutes. It’s high in fibre and molasses free, plus also contains live yeast alongside prebiotics to support digestive health. It can be added to existing feed or fed at 3kg/day if used as a replacement for compound feed.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Pure Veteran Pellets

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £19.25 | Daily feeding rate: 2kg | Cost per day: £2.57 |

Pure Veteran Pellets is a complete feed that is designed for older horses who require a mash due to poor dentition. It contains elevated levels of vitamins and minerals, slow-release calories and good quality proteins, which all help older horses who require extra assistance maintaining condition or are still in regular work.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Saracen Horse Feeds Veteran Cubes

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £20 | Daily feeding rate: 2kg | Cost per day: £2 |

These highly digestible mint-flavoured cubes are made to be softer than other traditional cubes, which ensures they can be easily soaked into a soft palatable mash for horses with poor dentition. The cubes are rich in essential antioxidants, such as vitamin E, to support and maintain muscle function, while the live yeast supports optimum digestion and fibre utilisation. They offer a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote good coat condition, joint health, and mobility.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Dengie Alfa-Beet

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £15.95 | Daily feeding rate: 1½–2½kg | Cost per day: From £1.27 |

This soaked, high-fibre, low-sugar and -starch feed is ideal for older horses who struggle to chew. The combination of nutrient-rich alfalfa and unmolassed sugar beet pulp help to promote weight gain and condition in the form of highly digestible fibre. It is free from molasses and contains just 2% starch and 5% naturally occurring sugar, and soaks in 15 mins (hot water or two hours cold water) to help aid hydration.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Pure Meadow Mash

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £15.25 | Daily feeding rate: Up to 5kg | Cost per day: Up to £5.08 |

Pure Meadow Mash is a high-fibre, low-sugar and low-starch hay replacer. The quick-soaking pellets form an easy to chew mash, which is perfect for older horses and those with poor dentition. It contains seven different herbs for improved palatability to help tempt even the fussiest of eaters.

Best chopped fibres for older horses

Dengie Hi-Fi Senior

Bag weight: 20kg | RRP: £16.89 | Daily feeding rate: 1½–2½kg | Cost per day: From £1.27 |

This highly digestible fibre feed blends soft grass and nutrient-rich alfalfa with a light molasses and rapeseed oil coating. It is ideal for veterans and those with poor dentition because the soft, short chop makes it easier to chew, while the alfalfa supplies good quality protein to help maintain condition and topline. Hi-Fi Senior can be used as part of the bucket feed or as a total or partial hay replacer.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Dengie Meadow Grass With Herbs And Oil

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £15.95 | Daily feeding rate: 1½–2½kg | Cost per day: From £1.59 |

This 100% natural, British-grown blend of chopped and pelleted grasses is rich in highly digestible fibre, naturally sweet, soft and easy to chew making it ideal for veterans or those with poor teeth. It has a rapeseed oil coating that promotes condition and coat shine, while the blend of herbs – liquorice root, fennel, mint, chamomile and aniseed – help tempt fussy feeders. It is free from molasses, artificial flavours, preservatives and straw.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Dengie Pure Grass

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £17.95 |

This is a natural blend of British-grown grasses that are soft and easy to chew, making it ideal for veterans. Naturally sweet and rich in highly digestible fibre, Pure Grass can supply additional calories for poor doers; it can be included in the bucket feed, used as a forage replacer or supplementing limited grazing. It is free from molasses, artificial flavours, preservatives and straw. We’ve not calculated a cost per day for this feed as it can be fed in any quantity from a handful to hold a supplement to ad-lib as a complete hay replacement.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Best balancers for older horses

TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £44.95 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.50 |

TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer is designed to help maintain muscle development, topline and condition, which often starts to decline with age. It combines the benefits of a feed balancer and a joint supplement, in a highly cost-effective way. It is made without cereal grains and is low in sugar and starch.

When this balancer is mixed with TopSpec FibrePlus Cubes it makes a complete feed, which can be used to replace all forage if necessary due to poor dentition. It includes the scientifically recommended rate of glucosamine to help maintain mobility (when fed at the recommended rate). It is a palatable “non-heating” feed that contains several supplements that provide the necessary levels of micronutrients and digestive aids, so there is no need to add further supplements.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Blue Chip Senior Super Concentrated Feed Balancer

Sizes: 3kg | RRP: £26.45 | Daily feeding rate: 100g | Cost per day: 88p |

Formulated for horses over the age of 14, this balancer contains the correct levels of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the diet, along with additional supplements to ease the ageing process. It includes a combination of chaste tree berry, antioxidants and omega oils, a complete joint supplement and is completely molasses free. Available in a rodent-proof and waterproof recyclable tub.

View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Keyflow Golden Oldies

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £47.50 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.58 |

Also featuring in the mash section of this guide, Golden Oldies is a balancer that is formulated to be soaked into a soft palatable mash for older horses, offering an all-in-one solution. It’s designed with the specific needs of older horses in mind, and is molasses and cereal free. It has exceptionally low levels of sugar and starch and is considered suitable for horses with concerns of PPID (Cushing’s) or laminitis, as well as those with gastric ulcers. Prebiotics and probiotics are included to support gut health and efficiency, as well as omega-3, which supports joint health, skin, coat and hooves, and turmeric.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Dodson & Horrell Senior Support balancer

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £33.43 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.11 |

Designed for older horses who are actively competing or in light work, this balancer provides quality protein and all the vitamins and minerals a veteran requires in a low-volume, low-calorie way, which is ideal for horses that hold their weight well and don’t need a lot of compound feed.

View now at amazon.co.uk

NAF In The Pink Senior

Sizes: 900g, 1.8kg, 3.6kg | RRP: £26.25 for 900g | Daily feeding rate: 30g | Cost per day: £0.87 |

Formulated to meet all the nutritional requirements of the older horse and give him all the support he needs to stay active and feeling young, this balancer supports the digestive system, which helps your horse maximise the value of his feed intake.

View now at viovet.co.uk, amazon.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Science Supplements WellHorse Veteran

Bag weight 1.6kg | RRP: £39.99 | Daily feeding rate: 54g | Cost per day: £1.35 |

Formulated to meet the demands of the older horse, this balancer contains every important nutrient your veteran requires and meets the NRC (National Research Council) and BASF (Animal Nutrition) recommendations for vitamins, microminerals and macrominerals. It also supports joint, hoof and gut health as well as the immune system.

View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk

Spillers Supple & Senior Balancer

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £37.29 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.24 |

This balancer is designed for older horses that maintain condition well on forage alone. It contains glucosamine, MSM and omega-3 for joint support, quality protein to support muscle and topline, and pre- and probiotics to support digestive health. It provides a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals and is high in antioxidants to support immune health. With a low starch and sugar content, it is suitable for those prone to laminitis.

View now at amazon.co.uk

TopSpec Senior Lite feed balancer

Bag weight: 15kg | RRP: £44.95 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.50 |

Designed for elderly horses that are prone to weight gain, this balancer combines the benefits of a low-calorie feed balancer and a joint supplement in a cost-effective way. It’s formulated without cereal grains and provides only low levels of sugar and starch, which helps to maintain healthy hindgut function and avoid loose droppings.

View at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

You might also be interested in:

21 full and partial hay replacers to help add more fibre to the diet

Veteran supplements: what’s on the market?

Best feed balancers for all horses: what’s on the market?

Supplements to help joints keep working at their best: what’s on the market?

15 feeds to help your horse gain weight and condition

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Eventer Imogen Murray believes low blood sugar may have been a factor in a cross-country fall in which she suffered concussion. H&H speaks to Imogen and a nutrition expert to find out how we should be fuelling ourselves for competition

A FIVE-STAR eventer who suffered concussion in an innocuous fall is encouraging riders to treat themselves as athletes and take nutrition seriously.

Imogen Murray, who has top-10 finishes at Badminton and Burghley, strongly suspects a lack of rider fuel was a “contributing factor” to her fall from Strandhill Boy in a novice section at Little Downham X (22 May).

She has since taken a serious look at her nutrition and has shared her story to show others how important this is for performance – and the safety risks associated with not taking it seriously.

“The horse didn’t do anything hugely wrong, he caught a knee and twisted a bit in the air, but it was nothing drastic,” Imogen told H&H.

She added that she has watched the video and it wasn’t something that would normally result in her falling, but her reactions did not look as sharp as normal.

“I didn’t appear to make much effort to stay on,” she said.

She added that she wondered whether this was blood sugar-related, given how much she had done that day and whether she had eaten enough and the right foods to support that.

“I’d ridden five horses that day, he was my fourth cross-country round and all the [15] phases were within about four hours, which is a lot to do in a not very long period of time,” she said, adding that she had had breakfast, but it was perhaps not enough.

“We are classed as athletes and when you look at athletes in other sports, their diet and nutrition to prepare for games and matches is a big part of that.

“I would like to say I can ride my first horse around the cross-country and be just as on top of my game for my fourth or fifth horse and not be letting them down. We put a lot of time, effort and money into this sport, to then do something silly like fall off because you haven’t eaten enough.”

She has since passed the concussion assessment required by British Eventing and has been signed back on to compete, and has also taken a hard look at when and what she eats both at home and on competition days.

While Imogen was speaking from the perspective of a professional with multiple rides in a short timeframe, the message of being properly fuelled applies to all.

Performance nutritionist Daniel Martin, a chartered sport and exercise scientist and director at Combine Performance Limited who works across multiple sports including equestrianism, told H&H it is great to hear a rider raising awareness.

“Riders pay a lot of attention to treating our horses like athletes, but it is a partnership at the end of the day, and the horse is only going to be as good as you are performing. And if you are not fuelled, you are going to be letting your horse down,” he said.

He added that although falls can have many variables, there is scientific evidence on the links between performance and what people are putting into their bodies.

Dr Martin said studies from Liverpool John Moores University, where he is a postdoctoral researcher, involving jockeys showed that by being just 2% dehydrated can lead to a measurable decrease in performance, as can not being properly fuelled, all of which have been shown to affect strength, reaction times and decision-making.

“We can borrow a lot of practices from other sports – in most other sports, athletes do most of the fuelling the day before and equestrian athletes can learn a lot from those. My advice would be, whether you’re an amateur or a five-star eventer, is to do your fuelling the day before with a carb-rich diet. A general rule of thumb is between 6–8g of carbohydrates for every kilogram you weigh.

“On competition day itself, it is just about topping up the energy from what you did yesterday. Comfort is king on competition days, so not necessarily vast quantities but instead a carb-rich breakfast followed by small intakes of foods that you enjoy, are familiar with and are going to feel comfortable in your stomach around your rides.”

He added that it is easy for people to be persuaded by so-called “quick fixes”, but for those looking for professional, evidence-based advice, he would recommend consulting a professional registered with the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register.

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It is helpful to know exactly how much your horse weighs so you can monitor and notice any significant fluctuations in their weight. This knowledge can also prove beneficial when working out how much to feed your horse, wormer or medication dosages, or even how much weight your horsebox is carrying.

While guidelines for a horse’s weight in relation to his height are available, it should always be remembered that how much a horse weighs is individual and will depend on a number of factors including breed, bone density and muscle development.

A 13.2hh pony typically weighs between 300-350kg, but a fine show pony will weigh considerably less than a Welsh section C of the same height. Similarly, a 16.2hh horse is estimated to weigh between 580-650kg – a thoroughbred of that height would be at the lower part of that scale while a 16.2hh Irish draught would be at the top end.

Body condition scoring

“It’s not really practical to give an ‘ideal’ bodyweight to aim for. Body condition scoring, using visual and hands-on assessment, is preferable when evaluating whether a horse is overweight, underweight or just right,” explains Katie Grimwood, equine nutritionist at Baileys Horse Feeds.

Body condition scoring involves dividing the horse into three areas – the neck and shoulders, the body and the hindquarters and then looking at and feeling those areas and grading them on a scale of 0-5 depending on how much fat they are carrying. A score of zero would indicate that the horse is emaciated while a mark of five would suggest they are overweight. A healthy fat covering score is 2.5-3.

“Body condition scoring should become an essential part of any feeding programme and is often more use than knowing what a horse’s actual weight is, as it specifically looks at body fat coverage,” says Lizzie Drury, senior nutritionist at Saracen Horse Feeds.

“BCS gives us an indication of energy intake and expenditure and people should feel confident to ask for help and learn how to do it properly, as it is as equally important to help prevent obesity but also for optimum performance and recovery in performance horses.”

Weighing horses

Body condition scoring and weighing your horse should be done weekly, at the same time and by the same person to ensure consistency. The results should then be recorded so the figures can be monitored. Some equine nutritionists and vet surgeries can provide mobile weighbridges to allow owners to weigh their horses at home.

“Finding out the weight of your horse can be done in two main ways, using an equine weighbridge or a weigh tape. A weighbridge is the most accurate method; however they are expensive and most horse owners will not have access to one. Using a weigh tape is easier and is quicker to perform,” says Clare Barfoot, marketing and research development director at Spillers.

If using a weigh tape you should use the same one each time and ensure the horse is stood on a flat surface when the measurement is taken. The weigh tape should be measured around where a surcingle would lie.

“As equine professionals, we need to be working closely with horse owners to use bodyweight and body condition scoring to become part of their regular management routines. This will help owners to begin to understand the real health implications of optimum feed management,” concludes Lizzie.

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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While ideally all horses would sustain a healthy bodyweight year-round, this is often not the case, so we have asked the experts; how quickly will a horse gain weight if they are “poor doers”?

Poor doers will typically lose weight over winter as they struggle to maintain condition but a lean horse in February or March isn’t always a negative thing, particularly if it’s a native breed, who will quickly regain weight when the spring grass comes through.

“For those ‘good doers’, who are prone to gaining too much weight over the spring and summer months when the grass is plentiful, the winter is a great time to encourage weight loss. While you should feed sufficient supplementary forage, the poorer grass quality over the colder months helps to avoid them coming into the following spring already overweight,” says Katie Grimwood, equine nutritionist at Baileys Horse Feeds.

The rate at which a horse gains weight is hugely individual and will depend on how underweight he was and why. Weekly weight gain is very variable so in very underweight or emaciated horses it can take up to 3-10 months when helping a horse to gain weight return to their ideal.

“If a horse has been chronically starved you can’t just pile food into them to help them back to a healthy weight as you risk overwhelming their digestive and metabolic systems which can prove fatal,” explains Clare Barfoot, marketing and research and development director at Spillers.

Any dietary changes need to be made slowly and this includes re-introducing a severely malnourished horse to food. Once this has happened, a horse should have ad lib access to grass turnout wherever possible and/or good-quality forage and receive a balanced diet which is high in digestive fibre, oil and good quality protein with restricted starch. Pre and probiotics can also be a beneficial addition.

“Prebiotics encourage the proliferation of existing useful bacteria and can help support the microbial population during changes in feed and management,” says Lizzie Drury, senior nutritionist at Saracen Horse Feeds.

“While probiotics are generally suggested for shorter term use, prebiotics can be fed for longer periods of time and are commonly recommended during stressful events or periods that may impact the gut.”

If your horse is receiving a balanced diet with the appropriate amount of hard feed for their condition and workload and the recommended level of vitamins, minerals and quality protein but not maintaining weight, you need to look at their general health status. Find out whether they are suffering from any issues like gastric ulcers, kidney disease or absorption problems.

“It’s also important to ensure they are on a suitable worm control program and had their teeth checked. Are they appropriately rugged and warm enough? You want what you are feeding them to be going on as weight and not being used as an energy source to stay warm,” adds Clare.

Do you know how much forage your horse is consuming? Even if you are feeding forage ad lib monitor their intake and check any hay or haylage that is being offered is actually being eaten and not just trodden into their bed. It is also worth checking your horse’s stress levels. Is he being bullied in the field by other horses and not eating enough hay or is he intimidated by his neighbour in the next-door stable and reluctant to eat?

“Look at the quality of the forage you are feeding and ideally choose a forage which has been cut early and is softer and leafier. Very coarse forages may provide fewer calories, meaning that more needs to be consumed, or be less palatable. A horse needs a minimum of 1.5% in dry matter of its bodyweight in forage per day, but this can be elevated up to 2.5% if weight gain is required,” says Katie.

Finally, don’t forget the old adage of feeding little and often. Offering frequent meals throughout the day is preferable to big feeds once or twice a day. The horse has a relatively small stomach and larger meals tend to be effectively pushed through the digestive system faster so may be less efficiently digested.

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Convenience goes hand-in-hand with the lack of time we discussed in my last article — when you’re so stuck for time and as busy as you riders are, both at home and at shows, finding the opportunity to have a workout isn’t the only issue. In fact, that was probably low down on your priority list until we discussed it last week.

When you don’t sit down or stop all day, meal times become an afterthought where you just smash and grab whatever is on offer (unless you have a personal chef, in which case let me talk to you about my five-star one-to-one coaching services!). This means meals tend to get skipped, or they are often easy to eat zero-preparation foods like sandwiches, crisps, chocolate, pop – and if you’re feeling ‘good’, a piece of fruit.

I’m not going to tell you that you need to prepare your meals, be organised, or completely remove any of the things you normally have, mainly because YOU DON’T NEED TO, but also because that’s not going to help you with this obstacle of convenience — it does the opposite, meaning you only end up failing.

What I want to tell you is that sandwiches, fruit, even the occasional bit of so-called junk food, has its place in a healthy diet. But there are some other options too — you just need to re-think your approach.

Article continues below…

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Here are some easy-to-prepare or grab-and-go breakfast and lunch options that could help you feel energised, healthier, can aid in losing weight and just make life easier, both at home and on the road — which ultimately is the goal behind a lot of the content in the showjumping blueprint.

For more similar articles and tips on how to overcome your fitness and nutrition obstacles as a rider, keep an eye out for our upcoming articles in Horse & Hound and follow Integrum Nutrition and #ShowJumpingBluePrint on social media.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In the second part of a new series, Connor Clennan (pictured below), a qualified nutritionist and a strength and conditioning coach to professional sportspeople and private clients explains why time is our biggest enemy

Time — our biggest enemy. This can certainly seem the case in terms of nutrition and fitness. When putting together the ShowJumping Blueprint we spoke to a lot of riders and they all say one thing — they don’t have the time.

Truthfully, this isn’t exclusive to riders; the world we live in is so fast-paced and demanding that time is precious and at a premium. We are always chasing the next goal, the next target, the next job and often, before we get there, another is thrown our way.

This is definitely true for anybody who owns even one horse, let alone if you own/care for multiple horses. You start your days ridiculously early, mucking out and turning out and often that pretty much starts a day of mucking out, riding, bathing, feeding, bringing in from the field etc. Not to mention if you’ve got a day job/school to squeeze in among all of that!

Exercise?! Healthy eating?! Where on earth are you supposed to find time for that?

I totally empathise, and a lot of people believe that you need lots of spare time to train and stay fit. If you had to get changed, travel to a gym, be there for an hour and travel back for example, there just wouldn’t be enough time in the day with everything else, and as a rider and lover of animals, it’s understandable that your horses are made a priority over yourself.

I’m here to tell you that this isn’t necessary! You can have a great workout in four minutes, from your horsebox, yard, stable or even your feed room.

Here’s a four-minute workout you can do anywhere which will help improve your fitness, your performance riding and in the long-term get you into great shape too when combined with the right nutrition habits, which we promote in the blueprint:

• 20 seconds of squat jumps
• 10 seconds of rest
• 20 seconds of lunges
• 10 seconds of rest
• 20 seconds of mountain climbers
• 10 seconds of rest
• 20 seconds of squat hold
• 10 seconds of rest

Repeat from the beginning twice through.

Article continues below…

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6 obstacles riders think stop them from improving their fitness and nutrition

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Please note:

• The 20-second work stations must be done to the maximum of your ability for this to be effective — remember it is only 20 seconds at a time and less than three minutes of exercises in total — you can do it!
• Do not perform these exercises if you have any health issues or injuries which make it unsafe.

For more similar workouts and tips on how to overcome your obstacles keep an eye out for our upcoming articles in the Horse & Hound and follow Integrum Nutrition and #ShowJumpingBluePrint on social media.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In the first of a new series, Connor Clennan (pictured below), a qualified nutritionist and a strength and conditioning coach to professional sportspeople and private clients maps out what he believes prevents riders from treating themselves as athletes

I am a qualified nutritionist and a strength and conditioning coach to professional sportspeople and private clients all over the world working with people who just want to lose fat and be healthy to those who want to take their careers and performance to the very highest level, all of which are huge and sometimes difficult achievements.

I’m no rider myself, but I am married to one and over the past year I have been working closely with Guy Williams, Kirstie Leightley and Lily Attwood at Team Williams to create the “Showjumping BluePrint” — a complete nutrition and fitness solution for showjumpers and riders who want to improve their performance, get fitter, stronger, healthier or just look better in their breeches.

This time, working with elite riders has allowed me to gain a complete understanding of the physical and nutritional demands of the sport and we have also recognised some key factors which make life much harder for riders than other athletes and sportspeople.

We have termed these “obstacles” and the key obstacles fall into the following categories:

• Lack of time
• Lack of energy
• Life on the road
• Only having convenience and fast food available
• Alcohol consumption and the social side of the sport
• A lack of understanding or importance on the riders’ health and fitness

You would be forgiven for thinking that you are really up against it and I’d even forgive you for wondering if it’s even possible to make a big difference with all these obstacles. The reason you have been led to believe this previously is because of some of the toxic myths in the health and fitness industry. Once we start to learn the truth and bust some of these myths, then we can start to overcome all these obstacles and take not only your performance, but also your body to exactly where you want it to be.

Article continues below…

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For instance, life on the road could seem a massive problem if you thought that you need lots of fancy workout equipment and space to build strength, flexibility, core stability and power. Also, if you were told that you need lots of time to prepare healthy meals and follow a strict diet every single day even when travelling and living out of your horsebox at shows, then you would never stand a chance — I honestly believe that this is why showjumping hasn’t adopted a more serious and professional approach to rider fitness and nutrition like almost every other sport.

However, luckily, neither of those things are true!

You CAN build strength, eat healthy, manage your weight, improve your fitness; all from the comfort of your horsebox.

Follow the #ShowJumpingBluePrint on social media to find out more about how you can optimise both your performance and your well-being and stay tuned to the Horse & Hound website for more information on rider fitness and nutritional advice from Connor

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Navigating feeding terminology can be hard to digest at times. Andrea Oakes sifts through the latest offerings on the market to find the true meaning behind those feed company phrases.

• Antioxidant
• Balancer
• Broad-spectrum supplement
• Electrolyte
• Energy-dense formula
• Extruded pellets
• Full-fat soya
• Macro and microminerals
• Mash
• Muscle builders
• Mycotoxin binders
• Nucleotides
• Pre-digested feed
• Probiotics and prebiotics
• Superfibres
• WSC

Antioxidants

These immune system boosters can prevent cell damage, but do all horses need them?

According to Saracen Horse Feeds senior nutritionist Lizzie Drury, the rate of a natural bodily process called oxidation increases if horses have a heavy workload or are used for breeding. “This ‘oxidative stress’ results in an increase in free radicals — damaged cells that go on a rampage to damage other, healthy cells,” she says. “This can lead to decreased immune function, illness or increased muscle soreness.

“Antioxidants are substances such as vitamins, minerals and plant extracts that help to slow down and prevent free radical damage. They’re most abundant in fresh green pasture, but some horses may not have access to plenty of this. Provision of antioxidants through concentrate feed or with additional supplements is very important for horses considered to be under extra stress.”

Balancers

Feed balancers are the modern way to provide key nutrients that may be lacking in a largely forage- or pasture-based diet.

“They contain a balance of nutrients — including protein, carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals — to meet a horse or pony’s daily requirements,” says Spillers nutritionist Clare Barfoot.

“They’re designed to be fed alongside forage and deliver a negligible amount of energy, or calories, making them ideal for good-doers.”

Broad-spectrum supplement

This term refers to the wide range of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, trace elements and yeasts) within the vitamin and mineral supplement, rather than indicating that it is aimed at a wide range of horses.

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are salts, which are essential to bodily functions and lost through heavy sweating.

“Most horses on a balanced diet, comprising quality feed and forage, and in light to moderate work will receive sufficient electrolytes to meet daily requirements,” says Briony Mitchell of Baileys Horse Feeds.

“Any potential shortfall can be made up by adding one to two tablespoons (25-50g) of table salt daily, or providing free access to rock salt.

“Requirements can be dramatically increased, however, for horses exercising over longer periods, or working intensely — especially in hot weather. We recommend that horses who sweat regularly should receive an electrolyte supplement to replenish lost salts and aid recovery.”

Energy-dense formula

“Sometimes it is necessary to pack a lot of calories into a small space, which is what ‘energy dense’ means,” says TopSpec nutrition director Nicola Tyler. Feeds for weight gain tend to be energy dense.

“These products are most often used when a horse is working hard and needs a lot of calories, but is close to his ‘meal size limit’ — the amount of food that will comfortably fit in his stomach.”

Extruded pellets

Extruded feed is pressure-cooked with steam before being pushed through a die and cut into shapes, such as pellets.

“Wet-steam extrusion is a highly controlled process allows the right temperature to be reached with minimal nutrient degradation,” says Louise Scott of Keyflow Feeds, adding that dry-steam extrusion can degrade or destroy certain nutrients. “The digestibility of the feed is raised by up to 90%.”

Full-fat soya

Soya beans (sometimes called soybeans) are frequently listed among feed ingredients. The “full-fat” version, found in some of the Chestnut Horse Feeds range, for example, describes the use of the whole bean, without any oil extraction. The beans are extruded to produce a high-quality meal that is rich in protein and oil but low in starch.

Macro and microminerals

Essential minerals can be divided into two groups.

“Macrominerals, such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, are needed for body structure, maintaining fluid balance, nerve conduction and muscle contraction,” explains Briony Mitchell.

“Microminerals (sometimes called trace minerals) include copper, zinc and selenium. They’re required in smaller amounts but are no less important, playing a vital role in the control of a large number of biological reactions.”

Mash

You’ll find various mashes on the market — such as Keyflow Pink Mash — which differ from the more traditional hot bran meal.

Modern, quick-soaking mashes can be mixed with cold or lukewarm (never hot) water to create a palatable feed for fussy eaters or veterans who struggle to chew. It’s easier to stir powders or supplements into these soakable feeds, plus they can also aid rehydration.

Muscle builders

To develop muscle, a horse needs amino acids — which are the building blocks of protein. So the “muscle builders” referred to in some Connolly’s Red Mills balancers refer to a mixture of amino acids.

“While a healthy horse can make ‘non-essential’ amino acids, the ‘essential’ ones must be provided in his diet,” says Louise Jones, a senior nutritionist for Connolly’s Red Mills. “If you feed a quality protein, from a source such as soya, you’ll be providing a good blend of both.”

Mycotoxin binders

These feed additives are designed to eliminate any mould toxins that could be in the horse’s diet, either in the hard feed or forage.

“They’re useful for high-performance athletes, to help eliminate any natural toxins that could be limiting performance even slightly,” explains Gain nutritionist Chris Miller.

Nucleotides

They may sound like something from science fiction, yet feeding these molecules as part of a balancer can aid metabolic processes and improve overall recovery rates.

“Nucleotides act as precursors to the proteins that repair damaged tissue and muscle,” says Emma Nicholls of Blue Chip. “They help to increase the length of the intestinal villi [the tiny, finger-shaped projections lining the intestine] to improve nutrient absorption. They also boost red blood cell turnover, so that more oxygen can be transported around the body.”

Pre-digested feed

Put simply, pre-digested feed has been cooked.

“Cooking untangles the nutrients and effectively begins the digestive process,” says Louise Scott. “This allows easier digestion and maximum absorption in the small intestine — the process by which nutrients pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.”

Probiotics and prebiotics

Confused about which is which? Louise Jones explains: “Probiotics contain live bacteria, essential for a healthy gut, while prebiotics basically provide food for these ‘good bacteria’.”

Where digestive health is a concern, Louise suggests choosing a feed that contains a blend of yeast and prebiotics. Probiotics may be necessary for animals that are young, old, sick or stressed.

Super fibres

These highly digestible fibres include sugar beet pulp and soya bean hulls.

“They can be used as good, safe energy sources for horses,” says Chris Miller. “This distinguishes them from poorly digestible fibres, such as cereal fibres, that yield relatively little energy.”

WSC

You’ll find water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) in hay — it’s basically the sugar content of your forage.Depending upon your horse’s health and his susceptibility to conditions such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome and laminitis, you may be keen to cut down the amount of sugar he receives.

“Soaking hay does decrease WSC levels, but it is not a consistent process,” says Becky James of Haygain. “Losses can range from 9-54% after a 16-hour soak, plus soaking can cause a two- to five-fold increase in bacterial content. Steaming hay also causes a variable drop in sugar content, but it does kill bacteria and moulds.

“If you need to limit sugar intake from hay, the best option is to find high-fibre hay, steam it and send a sample to a laboratory for WSC analysis.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Nutritional consultant Sally Tobin has launched the Healthy Horse Company to help improve equine diets.

“Horse owners tend to buy hay or haylage without knowing the nutritional or mineral content,” she said.

The company uses accredited labs in the UK and abroad to give a nutritional and mineral profile of hay, haylage and grass.

Samples of 100gms of hay are tested to identify the digestible energy, protein, sugars and range of macro-minerals.

This type of analysis has been used for many years by farmers to help create diets for cattle.

It is now becoming more common in the horse world, believes Tobin, for all types of horses from youngsters to eventers.

The levels of sugars shown are “particularly important for those managing laminitic ponies or horses,” she said.

Owners are advised on any mineral deficiencies in their equine’s forage and how to balance them with additional supplements.

“There’s no point buying supplements until you know what’s in your hay,” maintains Ms Tobin.

The company can provide bespoke feeding plans depending on a horse’s age and work.

Prices for the hay and haylage nutritional analysis start at £25, the bespoke feeding plan is £65.

More information on the Healthy Horse Company

There are three new additions to the Equilibrium Products range.

Made from tough TPU with a soft neoprene lining, the new Stretch & Flex Bell Boot gives horses protection from knocks, scrapes and overreach injuries.

The boot has a patent pending streamlined fastening to give a secure fit and can be used for schooling and hacking.

It comes in black and white, sizes small to extra large, and costs £29.95.

The other addition to the Equilibrium range is Hoofmunch (£3.95), a low calorie, low sugar, high fibre, cereal-free snack.

The product made from Timothy grass, is enriched with biotin, methionine, and zinc to help hoof nutrition.

The company’s Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boot has been restyled for 2014 to offer a tough, durable boot for cross country, racing, hunting, driving and polo.

Lightweight, flexible and breathable, the boot uses a four-layered protection system that moulds around the horse’s leg.

It costs £59.95 for the front legs and £69.95 for the hind legs.

All the products should be in equestrian retailers by the end of September.

More information on Equilibrium Products

A free five-week course in equine nutrition is being offered by the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh.

This online course starts on 28 January and more than 10,000 students have already signed up to participate.

Edinburgh is the first UK university to join the Coursera consortium, an organisation set up by senior academics at Stanford University in California to provide free online undergraduate-level courses.

The equine nutrition course will be led by Dr Jo-Anne Murray and will cover the anatomy and physiology of the equine digestive tract and the dietary management of different kinds of horses and ponies, particularly those with nutrition-related disorders.

• To sign up for this course or for further information please visit:
  www.coursera.org/#course/equinenutrition

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

TopSpec Equine has been named the Haygain nutritional helpline of the year for the sixth year in a row.

The Thirsk-based equine feed company picked up the award last week (19 February) at the annual BETA industry awards ceremony.

“With an increasing amount of feeds and supplements on the market, giving the trade and consumer more choice than ever, BETA wished to highlight the importance of reliable and accessible nutritional advice,” said a BETA spokesman.

“Nominations were invited from retailers and consumers, and the final judging was based on these and mystery callers posing questions designed to challenge each helpline. TopSpec won for the sixth time.”

An incognito judge added: “The diet recommended was explained step by step, they also went through all the ingredients and I was given a time-frame for improvements.”

The runner-up was Norfolk-based Allen & Page.

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A feed company is inviting yards to book a free session with its horse weighbridge, to help owners ensure their horse is a healthy weight.

The Pure Feed Company is offering to visit yards where more than 10 horses are to be weighed on the bridge. Appointments are available in England, Scotland, Wales and can be booked via holly@thepurefeedcompany.com or tel: 07557 971608

Pure Feed business development manager Holly Reeve will accompany the weighbridge to offer advice regarding each horse’s nutritional needs.

And following the weigh-in each horse will be provided with a customized diet plan drawn up by Pure Feed’s nutritionist Anna Pyrah.

Repeat appointments are available to Pure Feed customers only.

Using the weighbridge will allow owners to keep an accurate record of their horse’s weight.

The company says fluctuations of more than 15-20kg from a horses optimum weight range — which is calculated according to size, type and work level — can lead to lower performance and indicate underlying health conditions.

Ms Reeve said: “Keeping horses at their optimum weight can be very tricky, especially if you do not have the facility to measure weight fluctuations on a regular basis.

“We hope that our Pure Weigh service will help horse owners to understand the nutritional needs of their horses better so that they can feed exactly what the horse needs for better health, and a lower feed bill!”

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Read more about horse nutrition

Q: For the past two years, at around this time of year, my horse has dug field holes and eaten mud. Could a deficiency have developed into a habit? The other horses are now copying. I plan to test the soil.

SW, Wiltshire

Your problem sounds multi-factorial, but soil analysis is a good start. Independent agricultural companies with soil analysis laboratories can test and report on nutrient status, usually for less than £50. Contact environmental consultancy ADAS for advice.

Independent equine nutritionist Christine Smy says the horse may be digging where a salt block was previously placed.

“The salt could have leeched into the soil and a horse with a salt requirement may dig there,” she said. “Alternatively, the horse may have pulled up desirable grasses and eaten part of the root. The digging may become habitual and, with an inadequate supply of hay or grass in the field, boredom may contribute.

“In addition to hay, you could place mineral blocks and see if they’re used.”

Due to sand colic risk, the horse should be discouraged from eating soil.

“Try filling and reseeding the digging area, or correctly fit a grazing muzzle for a few hours a day until the grass is abundant,” Christine added.

According to Emma Kurrels, founder of community website Voices for Horses and manager of Lluest Horse and Pony Trust, even if your horse was seeking nutrients, it can take a while for habitual digging behaviour to diminish.

“Location may be relevant — for example, frustrated behaviour at the gate could be caused by boredom, hunger, incompatible companions, etc. If there is a time-related pattern, check the horse’s routine,” she advises.

Does it cause stress?

“Horses do not ‘copy’ behaviour. If other horses do the same thing, they have either the same problem — eg nutritional deficiency — or, if your horse is anxious or stressed, they can pick this up.”

This is an extract from Ask H&H, first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (27 January, 2011)

Learn more about horse nutrition

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Leading scientists and nutritionists will be gathering at the Royal Agricultural College in, Cirencester, Gloucestershire next week to discuss the latest research and developments in equine nutrition.

The European Workshop on Equine Nutrition — 20-21 September — will focus on nutrition in relation to health and welfare and involves leading researchers, academics, advisors, policy makers and commercial personnel.

The workshop is designed to bring those working in nutrition together with people who work directly in the feeding and management of horses, to share ideas.

The main topics covered by the conference include:

• What is all the fuss about: metabolic syndrome and laminitis

• Nutrition, colic and gastric ulcers: cause or cure

• Role of nutrition in weight management and abnormal behaviour

• Do nutritional supplements have a role to play in the horse’s diet?

Admission costs £45. To reserve a place email Bridget Hilton on bsas@sac.ac.uk. Or see www.ewen.vet.ed.ac.uk for more information.

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The impact of nutrition on equine health and welfare will be explored in a three-day workshop at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester (21-23 September).

The fifth European Workshop on Equine Nutrition is open to everyone involved in the care of horses and will include research from some of the most eminent European scientists in the field.

“To maintain good health and optimum performance the horse requires much more than just the correct levels of nutrients,” said a spokesman for the event.

“The packaging and form in which the horse receives these nutrients plays an important role for both the horse’s body and mind.”

For more information, go to www.ewen.vet.ed.ac.uk

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Spillers has introduced an equine nutrition qualification exclusively for British Grooms Association (BGA) members.

The new Spillers BGA certificate of competence in equine nutrition gives BGA members the chance to improve their knowledge and understanding of the key aspects of feeding.

And is expressly designed to provide grooms with added confidence when it comes to nutrition management.

Lucy Katan, executive director of the BGA said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our members to learn more about equine nutrition direct from the experts and benefit from a certificate of competence free of charge.”

The home-study syllabus, which can be downloaded from the BGA website free of charge, is split into three sections.

It covers the digestive system, dietary components, basic feeding and common health problems and includes sections to enable readers to test their knowledge along the way.

The end of each section contains a series of revision questions to help prepare for the Certificate exam.

The manual has the added benefit of being a handy reference tool for the future, if knowledge has become a little rusty or if some reassurance is needed!

To find out more about the Spillers BGA certificate of competence in equine nutrition visit www.britishgrooms.org.uk.

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More advice on feeding different types of horses

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Q: My two horses are very different types with different feeding requirements, but they are turned out in a field together and therefore have to be fed together.

This means that they end up eating each other’s feed.

One is a 16-year-old cob, who gets fat easily, while the other is an energetic arab who struggles to keep weight on.

Is there any one feed I can use which will suit both of their dietary needs?

Your two horses have different feed requirements from a calorie point of view, although they both have the same requirement for bulk.

If you really cannot feed them differently for their different needs, then we need to think how you can manage them, so that one horse uses up more calories and the other uses less.

Here are some of my thoughts:

On your horses’ field

• While they both have to be in the same field, would it be possible to use electric fencing to divide the field into unequal sizes, so the ‘fatter’ cob has access to less grass and your arab to more?

• Alternatively, can you muzzle your cob for some of the time, to restrict his grass intake?

• Can you rug up the arab at night? Horses use about 80% of their feed energy staying warm, so if they are cold they ‘burn’ off the fat; if they are warm and rugged then the feed energy will be converted to fat

On your horses’ shape

• When we see our own horses every day, we don’t always notice changes that occur over a period of time, so I would advise fat scoring and weighing your horses fortnightly

• Your arab, as you know, will always have a leaner outline, whereas your cob will always look bigger due to his bigger skeleton. Despite this difference in outline, they may still have the same fat score

On your horses’ workload

• Your cob will burn off more fat if you work him in a steady but active walk — fast work makes a horse fit, but doesn’t burn off fat so effectively

• A lighter exercise regime for your arab would use up less calories, meaning excess energy can be stored as fat

On feeding your horses

• You need to feed your cob less calories, so I would catch him and hold him until your arab finishes eating, ensuring that one gets the feed required and the other does not get excess

• The only thing your cob needs on top of forage is vitamins and minerals — you can provide these by hand feeding him Equi-Bites, to avoid the temptation to give him anything in the bucket

• Your arab needs calories from slow energy releasing ingredients. If she is working and competing consider Staypower Cubes; if she is in light work, then high fibre nuts

• While we are not aiming to change the characters of your horses, your Arab might react well to Placid or Take Control supplements if the weight loss is stress-related

I appreciate that we haven’t actually recommended the same feed…. you could theoretically use pasture mix for both horses, as it is a great allround feed, but my advice would be to feed the arab as above and stick to hand fed Equi-Bites for the cob.

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Q: Our 12hh Welsh Section B pony is looking a bit scrawny in front. Is there anything I can feed to build the muscle up on his front end? He currently gets pasture mix.

The fully matured conformation and basic skeletal structure of your pony will determine the overall appearance of balance from front to back end and the width across the chest.

However, the development of muscle tone in specific areas can also have a significant impact.

Developing muscle tone relies on the correct type and amount of ridden work and schooling, supported by a diet balanced in protein, vitamins and minerals.

Pasture mix contains the correct nutrients to do this if it is fed in the right quantities.

Sometimes the recommended quantity is higher than the pony needs to maintain the correct bodyweight and maintaining the correct bodyweight is very important.

If, for example, your pony’s ideal bodyweight is 230kg then he requires 1.38kg of pasture mix per day to give him a balanced diet (calculated on the basis of 600g per 100kg bodyweight).

If the appropriate amount to maintain the correct weight is less than this, you should ‘top up’ the important nutrients by adding a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement, such as Dodson & Horrell Daily Vits & Mins.

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More advice on feeding horses

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Q: I cannot seem to get my horse’s feeding regime correct. He is a 16.2hh warmblood with a tendency towards being stubborn and lazy.

However, when I try to increase his energy levels through feeding, he becomes too excitable. Either way, he ends up a challenge to ride.

He is currently fed on a diet of economy mix, chaff and sugarbeet, with garlic, oil and magnesium. Can you help improve upon this?

You don’t say how old your horse is, but I wonder if he is young and just trying his boundaries.

I often find that when you have such a conundrum with behaviour, it is most beneficial to get some help from the ground and maybe find a trainer who has a reputation for helping with complex characters.

I can help you with his diet, but won’t be able to provide a magic solution to his behaviour. Firstly, to distinguish between what diet can and cannot help with, I am going to substitute the word ‘calories‘ for ‘energy’, as they are actually the same thing.

You can certainly provide him with more calories, either by increasing the amount of food you are giving or by moving up a calorie level. Obviously, feeding too many calories (energy) will make him fat and feeding less calories (energy) than he is using will mean he loses weight.

You can feed to minimise the effect of diet on his behaviour, but NO nutritionist can change your horse’s behaviour through feeding. Horses that react to fast energy releasing ingredients need their calories to come from slow releasing ingredients, such as high fibre nuts or leisure mix.

Do make sure he is getting enough fibre (at least 1/2 bale of hay and/or adequate grass) in order to keep both his gut and brain healthy.

Finally, if you feel that he is stressed and this may be why he behaves as he does, then some people have found our dietetic product, Take Control, which has been formulated for horses in stressful situations, very effective. This contains B vitamins, magnesium, oil and omega 3 fatty acids, as well as a full vitamin and mineral supplement.

Rather than adding Take Control on top of his current diet, you should replace 600g of his feed with the supplement, which will also enable you to cut out his oil and magnesium supplements.

Alternatively, if you prefer herbal solutions, then Placid maybe worth a try.

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More advice on feeding horses

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Q: My horse is five years old and unbroken, but I am struggling to keep weight on him with his current diet of alfalfa, economy mix and sugarbeet.

I don’t want him to become overexcited, so what can I feed for extra condition?

This is a difficult one to answer and if I could talk to you on the phone, I’d want to just check which parts of his body that you feel he is weak in. My initial thoughts are that he is probably looking weak around his hips and possibly over his neck and to be honest at this stage of his career I wouldn’t worry too much.

Remember he is young and isn’t broken in, so he is at his ‘teenage’ stage. Compare him to a young teenage boy who is all scrawny and lanky — simply because his biology isn’t ready for him to muscle up.

Until your horse is ridden it will be difficult to strengthen his outline and develop his muscles because he’s not using them to maximum capacity. Thus if we try and make him look stronger at the moment through food alone, this will just be ‘fattening’ him up and I really wouldn’t advise that.

It is possible that he’s not getting enough protein, but access to plenty of grass will help that.

My first priority would be to make sure that he is getting enough fibre — if he’s kept in the stable overnight, then he needs to be offered at least 1/2 bale of hay each night.

We then need to balance his protein and the alfalfa chaff you are feeding is an excellent way of doing this, as it is slow releasing energy but contains the same amount of calories as oats.

Finally, I would pick a feed for horses in light work such as Leisure Mix. This will provide him with enough calories while he is being broken in and is fortified with 28 vitamins and minerals, QLC and Fibre+.

Remember the vitamins and minerals are as important as the calories and protein, because without them he cannot use the rest of his diet.

I suggest you fat score him before you send him away to be broken and again when he comes back, then continue to do so fortnightly together with weighing him with a weightape.

If he falls below fat score 2.5, then either increase his hay and Leisure Mix (feed small meals), or maybe add some Build Up Cubes.

But please don’t worry about a young horse looking lean. As long as his coat is gleaming, his feet are good and he has some muscle, then you’ve got it right — fat horses aren’t fit!

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More advice on feeding veterans

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Q: My horse is 19 years old, but still behaves like a two-year-old. When do I need to switch to a veteran feed?

Horses, like people, age at different rates – we all know of a 20-year-old who acts as though they are four and a 70-year-old who doesn’t look a day over 50.

When deciding what to feed, you need to meet the requirements of the horse in front of you and sometimes his biological age is younger than his chronological age, as seems to be the case with your horse.

So if we assume that he is looking like a youngster, as well as behaving like one, then continue to feed for what he is doing.

If he is in light work, then give Leisure Mix or High Fibre Nuts, if he is competing then feed Staypower Cubes – they provide slow release energy, so will not exaggerate his behaviour.

All D&H horse feeds are formulated to maximise your horse’s health, but if you want to add a little to his feed ‘just in case’, then think about Ultimate Balancer (100g/100kgBW).

He will only need a very small amount and the balancer contains omega 3 fatty acids, pro and prebiotics, high levels of B vitamins including biotin, MSM, mobility herbs and bioplex minerals.

You’ll know when to swap over to a 16+ feed, as he will start to show signs of aging – a little stiffness, loss of fat and muscle, a slightly duller coat and beginning to slow down. Sometimes not being able to chew hay as easily is the first warning sign.

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Q: I have a 13-year-old warmblood-thoroughbred gelding whom I show jump and event. He has a tense attitude to work, can be very strong and “works” his weight off quickly. A low-sugar diet helps him, but I then struggle to keep his weight on.

He is coming back into work from a three-month rest after injury. I have struggled to keep him up to scratch during this period and have been going through at least six bales of hay a week.

Now he is out grazing he has put on some weight, but I worry that this will disappear when he’s back in work. He is quirky and finds change stressful.

He is on Happy Hoof for the starch levels and Speedibeet. He is turned out seven hours a day and gets a full haynet at night. Can I keep him in top condition without hitting the danger levels?

Lisa Wray, Herts

As part of the H&H/Dodson & Horrell Feed to Win campaign, we asked D&H nutritionist Teresa Hollands to offer Lisa some advice.

“Keeping a competition horse in top condition requires a balance of calories, protein and nutrients,” said Teresa. “If your horse is struggling to keep weight on — low fat score — then you need to feed him more calories, which come from everything we feed our horses including hay, grass and hard feed.

“Until recently you have been feeding low-calorie feeds, however grass is higher in calories than both hay and Happy Hoof and this is why he’s increased in weight recently. But, as you rightly point out, even grass doesn’t give him enough calories as you increase his work.

“A fit eventer will have a lean, muscular outline with little or no fat, making them look leaner than when they were carrying more fat and less muscle,” she explained. “A leisure horse with little or no fat will look weak as they have proportionally less muscle.”

Teresa said that eating six bales of hay a week is a useful indicator of your horse’s appetite.

“Assuming a bale weighs 25kg and he weighs 600kg then he has been eating 3.5 per cent of his bodyweight compared with the 2.5 per cent quoted in books,” said Teresa. “But don’t worry. Recent research we undertook with [charity] World Horse Welfare showed that horses can eat seven per cent of their bodyweight in grass. As he doesn’t keep weight on well, it is important he can eat enough calories.

“Horses eat 16-18hrs out of 24, so seven hours at grass represents 38-43 per cent of his eating time. He could be eating 7-9kg of grass [1.1-1.5 per cent of his bodyweight] in this time, providing him with between 1kg [150g sugar x 7kg grass] and 1.8kg of sugar [200g sugar x 9kg grass].

“I suggest you give him a minimum of 10kg of hay at night [nearly half a bale] and, as his workload increases and his calorie requirement goes up, introduce Staypower Cubes. This is a competition feed formulated to provide controlled energy from slow-release ingredients which are high in fibre and oil. If he is picky and you prefer a mix, try Staypower Muesli. A leisure feed that is high in fibre won’t contain enough calories.

“There is some anecdotal evidence that horses who are ‘tense’ have additional requirements for magnesium and B vitamins,” said Teresa. “Many riders have found that adding Take Control to feed two to four weeks before competitions can be helpful. Take Control is designed to replace a proportion of his current feed and therefore is not an add-on cost. He will need 600g per day, so decrease his Staypower by the same amount.”

Information

Dodson & Horrell, tel: 08453 452627 www.dodsonandhorrell.com

This Q&A was first published in Horse & Hound (28 May, ’09)

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Q: I have to restrict my horse’s grazing over the summer but how can I make sure that I am still providing the essential vitamins and minerals and the right ratio of forage?

Are there any signs I should be looking out for that would reveal he is lacking in something?

LM, South Devon

As part of the H&H/Dodson & Horrell Feed to Win campaign (30 April), we asked D&H’s nutritionist, Teresa Hollands, for her advice.

“It is a sobering thought that the majority of horses in light work will get excess calories from ‘fresh air’ [average grazing] if they are turned out 24hrs a day,” she said.

“It is therefore quite a challenge for us to keep our horses healthy, physically and mentally. The more exercise you can do, the longer he can stay out at grass. Slow, but active exercise burns fat.

“Remember that horses evolved to eat for 60 per cent of their time; they are trickle-feeders and have a physiological and psychological need to eat almost continuously. Dogs, on the other hand, are meal-eaters and spend 80 per cent of their time asleep!”

Teresa explains the importance of not restricting bulk or nutrients when you are calorie-counting.

“If you are restricting the calories and bulk that he is getting from grass you have to replace it with low-calorie, bulky food to keep his gut working,” said Teresa. “Research shows that reduced forage — grass, hay and haylage — increases the risk of gastric ulcers, stereotypic behaviour, dental problems and colic.

“Try to maximise the amount of low-calorie fibre your horse eats — hay soaked for 12hrs, oat or barley straw — to replace the higher calorie grass; this will keep his gut and mind healthy by providing fewer calories and more bulk.

“You then need to balance his other nutrients. Research has shown that spring and summer grazing are deficient in minerals and soaking hay leaches vitamins and minerals. Protein is also needed for muscle development and cell renewal.

“If he is lacking calories [energy], then he will lose weight, which you will see, but use a weightape to monitor changes,” explained Teresa.

“You won’t see the effect of the other nutrients for a long time, but the signs could be poor foot condition, dull coat, increased susceptibility to illness and poor muscle development.”

Teresa suggests balancing his diet by:

• Feeding Equi-bites by hand if you think you might be tempted to increase the amount in his bucket

• Feeding a balancer such as Ultimate Balancer — find a coffee cup, for example, that holds the correct amount to help prevent overfeeding

Information

Dodson & Horrell nutritional advice line, tel: 08453 452627 www.dodsonandhorrell.com

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (21 May, ’09)

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In this week’s edition of H&H’s winter training series “The Winning Edge” fitness and nutrition take centre stage. Accredited sports dietician Liz Purcell works with the BEF World Class Programme, Bristol University elite athletes and premiership rugby teams. Here are her top 10 tips on what rider should eat and when.

Nutrition for competition riders

1. Being well hydrated is crucial. Keep drinking throughout the day – at least 2 litres.

2. Have an isotonic sports drink during training if it is high intensity, goes on for longer than 45-60min, or is undertaken in hot weather.

3. Carbohydrates are an integral part of your diet and should be eaten at each meal.

4. Opt for low glycaemic index (GI) carbs at meals, to provide a gradual, sustained release of energy eg wholegrain breads, pasta/noodles, sweet potato.

5. Ensure you have good-quality protein at each meal eg lean meat, chicken, fish, low-fat dairy products, pulses, nuts/seeds.

6. Avoid excess fat. Keep pastries, pies, deep- fried foods and oily dressing to a minimum.

7. Choose a monounsaturated fat, like olive oil, for cooking and use sparingly.

8. Don’t go for long periods without food. Aim for small, frequent meals and snacks.

9. Recovery after training will have a big impact on your performance, so ensure you rehydrate and refuel as soon as possible. Good recovery snacks include isotonic sports drinks, maltloaf, cereal bars, dried fruit and nut mix, bagels or crumpets with low fat

cream cheese, toast with peanut butter.

10. Aim for at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to help meet your quota of micronutrients.

• For more information on GI foods visit: www.the-gi-diet.org
• For more information on nutrition contact lizpsport@yahoo.co.uk

For more advice on rider fitness and nutrition, don’t miss today’s Horse & Hound (13 December, ’07)

Bio-availability

This refers to the ease with which nutrients can be absorbed from the digestive tract and utilised by the body.

Bioflavinoids

These are brightly coloured chemical compounds found in various fruits and other plant foods, which may act as antioxidants.

Chelation

A process by which minerals are “bonded” to short-chain proteins (amino acids) or carbohydrates, in order to improve absorption from the gut. Chelates occur naturally in the diet and are also known as organic proteinates or bioplex minerals.

Chondroprotective agents

These may help slow the degenerative processes of arthritis and encourage the regeneration of the synovial fluid and the cartilage matrix. They include glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate.

Cobalamin

Known as cyanocobalamin or vitamin B12, Cobalmin is necessary for carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.

Digestible energy (DE)

This is the estimated amount of calories contained in a feed or forage that can

be absorbed by the horse. These calories can be used for maintenance, growth or work. Any not used for will be turned into extra fat.

Digestive enhancers

These help improve and maintain a good bacterial population in the gut for efficient digestion. They are particularly useful for horses with compromised gut function such as those under stress — when travelling or competing, for example — or those with long-term worm damage or after a course of antibiotics. The term is generally used to refer to probiotics, prebiotics and yeast.

Energy-dense

A concentrated source of energy in a reduced volume of feed.

ERS (exertional rhabdomyolisis syndrome)

This is a type of tying-up, the expression is used to describe horses which suffer from the condition due to a genetic problem in the way they handle calcium at muscle level.

Essential fatty acids

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are necessary for the formation of healthy cell membranes, the proper development and functioning of the brain and nervous system and for the production of hormone-like substances. They cannot be synthesised by the body from other fatty acids and must be obtained from food. There are two closely related families of EFAs: omega-3 and omega-6. Grass has a high omega 3:6 ratio, cereals do not; therefore if grazing is restricted it is important to ensure that the food is correctly supplemented.

Extrusion

In this form of cooking, the feed materials are ground into a flour and injected with very hot steam. The flour passes through holes, which can be of different shapes. The drop in pressure as the wet flour passes through causes the material to expand.

Gelatinisation#

This occurs when cereals are cooked. The heat ruptures the starch molecules, altering the structure and increasing the digestibility of the starch.

Glycaemic response

Foods containing carbohydrates are released as glucose into the bloodstream and stimulate the production of insulin and this is known as glycaemic response. Those high in starch, such as cereals, produce a greater glycaemic response than high-fibre feeds.

Glycogen

This is the main form of carbohydrate storage. Animals store surplus glucose as glycogen in muscles and the liver for use as energy when demand increases.

Hydroponic forage

Germinating barley seeds in lighted trays in a controlled humid environment produces barley grass, which is then harvested and fed, and this is known as hydroponic forage. It has a similar feed value to spring grass.

Immunomodulators

These are substances capable of modifying or influencing the functions of the

immune system.

Lysine

Proteins are the basic unit of animal tissues and are made up of 20 smaller units called amino acids. Some amino acids are essential and others are non-essential. Essential amino acids cannot be made by the horse’s tissues and must be supplied in the diet — lysine is one such essential amino acid.

Macro minerals

Nutrients needed for body structure, maintaining fluid balance, nerve conduction and muscle contraction, these are required in larger quantities (ie grammes per day).

Micro minerals

These are needed as components of “metalloenzymes” (enzymes that need a metal ion in their structure in order to work), which are involved in controlling many biological reactions. They are required in smaller quantities than macro minerals are (ie mg per day or less).

Malabsorption

The inability to absorb nutrients adequately from the intestinal tract. This may be a result of a previous worm infestation.

Multiple forage feeding

Research has shown that by offering horses a variety of different types of forage or fibre in their stable, they are able to spend more time foraging and eating, which are considered natural behaviours. This is thought to be beneficial for enriching the stabled horse’s environment and is particularly recommended for horses stabled for long periods.

Mycotoxin

The toxic chemical products formed by a few fungal species that can colonise crops and forages in the field or after a harvest and thus pose a potential threat to horses. Each mycotoxin is produced by one or more very specific fungal species. The absence of any visible mould does not guarantee freedom from toxins, as the mould may have died out while leaving the toxin intact.

Niacin

One of the B vitamins, niacin is especially important for digestion and appetite, as well as tissue and nerve cells.

Nutraceutical

A nutraceutical is a food or part of a food that provides medicinal or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Legislation does not allow medicinal or health claims to be associated with feed. If manufacturers are describing a feed or feed component as medicinal they are breaking the law and increasing the likelihood that the ingredients will be banned from use.

However manufacturers can use the term ‘functional food’, which is food that provides health benefits beyond energy and essential nutrients (e.g. yogurt, which promotes beneficial microflora in the gut).

Panthothenic acid

Part of the B vitamin family, also known as vitamin B5, this is an antioxidant, water-soluble vitamin needed to break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

PSSM (polysaccharide storage myopathy)

A genetic form of tying-up, whereby horses have a glycogen storage problem in their muscles. These horses should not be fed starch nor sugar and 20-30% of their energy should come from fat. The rest of their diet should be fibre-based.

Pyridoxine

This is a B vitamin that assists in the function of specific enzymes within the body. These enzymes are involved in energy production and also the alteration of some of the building blocks of proteins (amino acids) to form specific compounds such as nerve transmitting substances.

Quality protein

This is a type of protein that contains a high proportion of essential amino acids and is therefore very digestible.

Threonine

An essential amino acid, Threonine is thought to be the second most essential (or vital), behind lysine.

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs)

Bacteria ferment the fibre in the horse’s hindgut and use it as a nutrient source

to grow and replicate. As they ferment the fibre, they produce substances known as VFAs. These are absorbed from the gut into the blood and taken to cells, where they are used at biochemical level to produce energy. This is time consuming and one of the reasons why the energy our horses obtain from fibre is considered slow-releasing.

• This feature formed part of Horse & Hound’s feed special (12 October, ’06)

A is for . . .

Ad Lib: Constant access to feed – for example, hay made available at all times.

Alfalfa: A nutritious legume (pod) plant, also called lucerne. It is farmed in the same way as hay, but in the UK it is dried at high temperatures.

Amino acids: Required for growth, repair and maintenance of body tissue. They are building blocks of protein containing nitrogen. There are more than 20 different amino acids – nine are essential, with lysine, methionine and threonine being the most important.

Antioxidants: Compounds that fight free-radical damage in the body and play a vital part in protecting all cell membranes. They are found naturally in grass and fresh foods, as well as in compound feeds and supplements.

As fed: Weight of the feed including water – the opposite of “dry matter”.

B is for . . .

Balanced ration: A balance of forage and concentrates supplying the correct proportions of all required elements (water, protein, energy, vitamins and minerals) for the individual horse.

Balancers: Concentrated formulations of nutrients carefully prepared to balance the nutritional input of feed.

Bioflavonoids: Water-soluble substances boasting various health benefits and found in plants. They are particularly useful in maintaining the function of small blood vessels.

Biotin: Biotin belongs to the B vitamin group, and is synthesised naturally by micro-organisms in the horse’s hindgut – it is necessary for the metabolism of protein, fat and carbohydrate.

C is for . . .

Calcium: A mineral essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth.

Carbohydrates: Compounds containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Simple carbohydrates (sugars) are derived from molasses and grass. Complex carbohydrates (cellulose and starch) are derived from fibre sources and cereals.

Most simple carbohydrates dissolve easily in warm or cold water, whereas complex carbohydrates must be broken down by enzymes in the gut.

Cellulose: A complex carbohydrate that is the main constituent of plant cells.

Cereals: The edible grains of varieties of plants, such as barley, oats, maize and wheat.

Chelation: The manufacturing process of bonding a mineral to an amino acid in feed to make it easier for the horse to digest.

Choline: Part of the B vitamin group, which is vital for maintaining a healthy liver.

Chondroprotective agents: Compounds that are reputed to regenerate cartilage and promote joint function. They include glucosamine, which aids the production of synovial joint fluid, and chondroitin sulphate, which prevents cartilage degradation. Chondroprotective supplements can be fed both as a preventative measure and to ease existing joint problems.

Cobalamin: Otherwise known as vitamin B12, it is vital for enzyme function. Often used for the treatment of anaemic conditions.

Cobalt: Trace element – essential for cobalamin (vitamin B12) synthesis.

Compound feeds: Manufactured feeds, such as cubes, pellets and mixes, containing energy sources, fibre, proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Copper: Trace element – essential for muscle function and haemoglobin, keratin and cartilage formation.

D is for . . .

Digestibility: The extent to which feed is converted into useful substances for absorption and use within the body.

Digestible energy: The quantity of energy – measured in megajoules (MJ) – absorbed by the horse after eating.

Dry matter: The quantity of feed after the removal of water, as opposed to “as fed”. Dry feeds contain around 90 per cent dry matter.

E is for . . .

Electrolytes: Minerals and mineral salts found in body fluids, sometimes given as an additive to replace minerals lost in sweat.

Enzymes: Proteins produced within the digestive system that help to dissolve food.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs): Fatty acids needed for bodily functions, including tissue repair – they must be obtained from the diet. Found in oils such as soya, corn, wheatgerm and cod liver oil.

F is for . . .

Fibre: Essential dietary component. Some fibre sources are more indigestible than others for horses – for example, straw is less digestible than grass. Hay, grasses and chaff are high in digestible fibre. Fibre sources are broken down by micro-organisms in the hindgut.

Folic Acid (folate): Formerly known as vitamin Bc, folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 to produce red blood cells and haemoglobin.

Forage (fibre): Bulk food such as hay, haylage and hay replacers – provides energy and promotes efficient digestion.

Formula: Ingredients and their levels within a ration, just like a cooking recipe.

Free radicals: Damaging molecules produced in the body’s cells as part of metabolism. Stress increases their production.

Fructans: Compounds of fructose (complex or ‘storage’ carbohydrates) found in grass – an excess of which is linked with laminitis.

G is for . . .

Glucosamine: An amino derivative of glucose involved in the regulation of cartilage growth and repair. The horse’s body can make glucosamine from glucose and amino acids, but it can also be sourced directly from the circulatory system.

Glucose: Sugar molecule found in the tissues of most plants and animals.

Glycogen: The main form of carbohydrate storage, which occurs primarily in the liver and muscle tissue of mammals (the plant equivalent is starch). Glycogen is readily converted into energy-producing glucose.

H is for . . .

Haemoglobin: A conjugated (coupled or one of a pair) protein that transports oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues.

Haylage: Bagged, preserved grass, baled when the grass wilts. Haylage contains 30-40 per cent moisture.

Heating: Usually applied to the effect of a feed on the horse – refers to the horse being hot-headed rather than the digestion process of fibre, which produces heat.

Herbs: Wide variety of plants with medicinal or healing properties.

Hydroponic forage: Fresh shoots of germinated barley, fed in conjunction with other forages.

I is for . . .

Inositol: Part of the B vitamin group, vital for maintaining a healthy liver.

Iron: Trace element essential in the formation of haemoglobin.

Immunomodulators: Substances that suppress or strengthen the horse’s immune system. Echinacea is a widely used herbal immunomodulator.

Inorganic nutrient: Mineral mined from the earth.

Inter-relationships: Relating to the dependency of nutrients on one another within a feed ration.

Iodine: Trace element essential in healthy thyroid growth and function.

L is for . . .

Lactic acid: Organic water-soluble liquid produced in the muscles, required for the body to function. A synthetic form is used as a preservative and also in pharmaceuticals. Large amounts of lactic acid are usually produced during strenuous exercise.

Lysine: Essential amino acid required for an animal’s optimum growth.

M is for . . .

Magnesium: Mineral required for bone and tooth growth.

Malabsorption: The inability to digest nutrients.

Manganese: Trace element with antioxidant properties – essential for normal growth.

Measurements: Feeding measurements include pounds (lb), percentages (%), milligrams (mg), grams (g) and parts per million (ppm).

Metabolism: The process of digesting feed to utilise the nutrients contained within it.

Methionine: Essential amino acid containing sulphur, obtained from proteins.

Micronutrients: Nutrients required in very small quantities.

Micronised: Cereals cooked to increase the digestibility of starch.

Minerals: Inorganic nutrients (macro minerals or major minerals) are included in feed in relatively large amounts, while minor minerals or trace minerals are added in small amounts.

MSM: Methyl sulphonyl methane – a sulphur compound which supports joint formation.

Mycotoxins: Toxic compounds produced sporadically from moulds on feed. (Most feed companies test for mycotoxins, but they can also be present on hay).

N is for . . .

Niacin: Vitamin B3, for healthy skin and digestion.

Nutraceutical: Nutritional components credited with pharmaceutical properties. Not drugs.

Nutrients: Essential compounds such as protein, oil, fibre, starch, vitamins and minerals.

O is for . . .

Oil: Nutrient useful for adding coat shine and also fed as an energy source. Variations include soya and linseed oils, vegetable oils and fish oils.

Organic nutrient: Nutrient source of vegetable origin, as opposed to being mined from the earth.

P is for . . .

Pantothenic acid/pantothenate: Vitamin B5, required for the production of antibodies for immunity.

pH: Value given to acidity/alkalinity levels – 1 is very acidic, 14 is very alkaline.

Phosphorous: Mineral important for bone formation – must be in correct ratio with calcium.

Potassium: Metallic element found in forages – required for muscle metabolism.

Prebiotics: Complex sugars which stimulate microbial growth in the digestive system. MOS (mannan-oligosaccharides) are thought to remove bacteria by binding to them in the small intestine. FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides) are fermentable food sources which increase acidity in the hindgut. Prebiotics can be given as additives in feed.

Probiotics: Live bacterial cultures thought to balance microflora in the foregut. They can be given as additives.

Prohibited substance: A substance (drugs, certain feed sources and some herbs) which can enhance a horse’s performance. Governed by The Jockey Club and the FEI, which have a pre-defined list. Among the most commonly known examples are testosterone, caffeine and valerian.

Proteins: Linked amino acids needed for body tissue formation and repair (see amino acids). Good sources of protein for the horse are linseed, soya and alfalfa. Nutritionists measure the crude protein content of feed by measuring nitrogen levels.

Pyridoxine: Otherwise known as vitamin B6, it is essential for energy production.

Q is for . . .

Quidding: The term used when a horse drops partially-chewed food from its mouth.

R is for . . .

Riboflavin: Vitamin B2, vital for the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.

S is for . . .

Selenium: Selenium is a trace element with antioxidant activity. It is purported to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Silage: Grass cut when wet (‘pickled’ grass). It is a livestock feed, not suited to the horse’s digestive system.

Statutory statement: A legally required statement found on feed labels, indicating the purpose of the feed and stating its contents.

Starch: Complex carbohydrate which is digested to become glucose. Found in cereals.

Stomach: The horse’s stomach accounts for 10% of the digestive capacity and holds around 14 pints of liquid. It produces acid continuously.

Straights: Non-mixed hard feed – in other words, a feedstuff purchased on its own rather than in a compound mix.

Succulents: Fruit, vegetables and sugar beet – usually fed as a treat, to add variety to a meal or to increase water intake.

Sulphur: Non-metallic element required for the formation of amino acids.

Supplements: Nutrients and additives given as regular additions to the horse’s diet. Broad-spectrum supplements include a wide range of micronutrients, while specific supplements are designed for a particular purpose or function.

T is for . . .

Thiamin: Otherwise know as vitamin B1, thiamin is required for metabolising fat and carbohydrate efficiently, and normal neural activity. Thiamin is found in yeast and the outer layer of cereal grain.

Threonine: Amino acid obtained from protein – an essential nutritional component.

Trace elements: Minerals essential to the horse’s diet – the following trace elements need to be included in the diet in small amounts: copper, cobalt, zinc, iodine, iron, manganese and selenium.

U is for . . .

Utilisation : The body’s ability to use nutrients efficiently and to good effect.

V if for . . .

Valerian: Prohibited herb with sedatory effects.

Vitamins: Organic substances essential for healthy bodily function. There are two types of vitamins:

• fat-soluble, which can be stored – these are vitamins A, D, E and K
• water-soluble, which are required daily – these are vitamin C and the B complex group of vitamins.

The horse’s system is able to produce some water- and fat-soluble vitamins.

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs): These are the end product of fibre breakdown, and are utilised as an energy source.

W is for . . .

Water: The most essential nutrient, because it carries other nutrients around the body. The body tissues of young horses contain approximately 70-80% water, compared with 60% in veterans. Water has no energy value and is found in most feeds at some level.

Weight conversions: A useful method of converting metric weights (kilograms and grams) to imperial weights (pounds and ounces):

1,000 micrograms (mcg) = 1 milligram (mg)

1,000 milligrams = 1 gram (gm)

1,000 grams = 1 kilogram (kg) = 2 pounds (lb) 3.2 ounces (oz)

28.35 grams = 1 ounce

453.6 grams = 1 pound

Y is for . . .

Yeast: Fungi that stimulate microbial fermentation in the horse’s hindgut.

Z is for . . .

Zinc: Trace element essential for promoting healthy tissue growth.

This feature was first published in the February issue of HORSE magazine. Don’t miss the March issue of Horse, which is on sale on 5 February.

If your horse appears to be losing weight during the winter months, you need to devise a plan for weight gain based on his workload, breed and individual circumstances, says independent nutritionist Pamela Kinslow.

Pamela advises that owners estimate their horse’s ideal weight and gradually increase the dietary energy intake by 10-20% up to his goal weight. For most horses, this would equate to an additional 1-2 scoops of hard feed (spread over several meals), or 2-3 sections of hay a day.

It is important to bear in mind that the horse is a natural trickle-feeder, rather than a meal-feeder, and mimicking this pattern will protect his digestive integrity.

“For any horse, the amount of feed, including concentrates and fibre, should not exceed about 2-3kg (4.5-6.5lb, or about 2-3 feed scoops) per meal,” Pamela explains.

“The volume of the meal can be increased through the addition of a chop or chaff, which will slow consumption and avoid the small stomach being overloaded with concentrate feeds. Most horses will eat to appetite, but it is still preferable to split feeds and forage into as many meals as is practical, so that a fairly constant supply of food is available.”

Choosing the right feed

Forages

The process of digesting fibre creates heat – therefore, high-fibre forages such as hay, haylage and fibre chops are excellent winter choices. These feeds are digested by the microflora in the hindgut through a process of fermentation, and the heat that is released as a result actually warms the horse from the inside.

High-fibre calories

High-fibre sources of calories include sugar beet pulp, alfalfa chop or pellets, and dehydrated grass chop or pellets. Although high in energy, these feeds are generally less heating than the majority of cereals and compound feeds.

Oil

Oil is the most fattening feed available, giving three times the energy of cereals, but with the advantage of being non-heating. If split between feeds, up to a pint of soya or corn oil can be fed per day, but this should be introduced gradually. Bear in mind that feeding oil will increase the need for the antioxidant vitamin E to replace muscle cells, which can be damaged by high-fat diets.

Haylage

Haylage is generally more fattening than dried hay, as in spite of its higher water content (30-40 per cent), it is conserved grass, which is usually cut when it is more energy-dense. To provide adequate fibre, therefore, haylage needs to be fed in greater quantities than dried hay, particularly if it makes up a small proportion of the diet, in conjunction with concentrates.

Cereals and compound feeds

Naked oats provide high energy in a concentrated form and are also highly digestible. Cereals that have been cooked or micronised, such as flaked maize or extruded barley, are also more digestible than unprocessed cereals, and therefore more conditioning. Coarse mixes are usually higher in sugar and energy than cubes.

Boiled barley and boiled linseed

These cooked seeds are a useful addition to the winter diet. According to Pamela, feeding boiled grains is somewhat “out of fashion”, but she says barley and linseed are excellent conditioning feeds.

Once the horse has reached its desired weight, gradually return to a maintenance programme and continue to monitor its weight throughout the year.

Weight gain plan

• Condition-score and physically check the horse’s coverage with your hands
• Maintain worming and dentistry programmes to ensure a good quality of life
• Rug your horse adequately to maintain warmth
• Choose fattening feed types
• Work out a weight gain diet
• Encourage correct utilisation of feed
• Ensure long-term dietary health, with the use of a maintenance diet

The requirement for nutrients such as the vitamins and minerals is the subject of research and debate in both human and equine nutrition alike.

While human and equine health depends upon many factors, the diet plays a central role in maintaining health. Nutrients play a crucial role within this and in times of stress the need for certain nutrients may increase.

Some people buy a specialised supplement because they know that the nutrient supports a specific organ, tissue or system within the body.

Vitamin C is a common example for humans. Many people take between 500- 1000mg a day as a nutritional support for the immune system, considerably in excess of the 20mg required per day for optimal wound healing.

Taking vitamin C at levels far exceeding the human body’s minimum requirements is recognised as “optimum nutrition”.

Some of the areas that have recently been highlighted as important in optimum nutrition for humans, have also been shown to be important for your horse.

Anti oxidants

During the past 18 months the human press has been full of the benefits offered by anti oxidants to improve our health and longevity. In humans anti oxidants have been found to have positive health benefits as they help prevent tissue damage caused by free radicals.

Free radicals are a normal part of cell metabolism and are part of the body’s way of destroying invading microorganisms through the immune system.

Under normal conditions, 3-5% of the body’s oxygen forms free radicals. However, exercise, stress, inflammation, UV light and certain drugs can all increase the amount of free radicals found in the body.

An excess of free radicals can lead to cell death, a quickening of the aging process and a reduction in resistance to disease and stress. An increase in free radicals means that the body needs more anti oxidants to minimise cell damage.

Humans get anti-oxidants by eating vegetables and fruits, while horses in the wild eat a lot of vegetable matter as grass, which is high in anti oxidants.

However, many of us feed hay either through the winter or all year round and this is low in anti oxidants. In addition, many paddocks have a limited variety of grasses, which restricts the variety of anti oxidants available. This may lead to the horse receiving a reduced level of anti oxidants, which will require supplementation to achieve “optimum nutrition”.

Why feed anti oxidants?

• Reducing arthritis: Inflammation of the joints is often the first sign that a person maybe developing atherosclerosis (arthritis). It has been shown that inflammation is one of the factors that make atherosclerosis worse. Anti oxidants reduce the inflammatory process.
• Aging: The damage done by free radicals is thought to be one of the causes of aging. People who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables have better health and suffer less from the diseases associated with aging.

Essential Fatty Acids

We are being encouraged to eat oily fish at least once a week because it is one of the richest sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. Research has shown that essential fatty acids (EFAs) — called essential fatty acids, because the body cannot make them — have anti-inflammatory effects and are valuable super nutrients that should be fed on a long term basis.

Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids are involved in the manufacture of cell membranes and every cell in our horses’ bodies is dependent upon the diet providing enough essential fatty acids for normal functioning.

Fatty acids are natural blood thinners; they can prevent blood clots, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Essential fatty acids contain natural anti-inflammatory compounds that can relive the symptoms of arthritis and autoimmune diseases.

A diet low in essential fatty acids could result in skin problems, such as dandruff, eczema, splitting nails and dull brittle hair. More importantly, numerous studies have shown that compounds found in essential fatty acids can block tumour formation.

Body builders claim that Omega-3 fatty acids can increase their stamina and help them recover more quickly from workouts. This is thought to be because oil contains a natural antioxidant, which could explain why it helps tired muscles recover more quickly.

In horses a source of dietary oil will reduce the amount of carbohydrates fed and high oil diets are routinely recommended for horses who suffer azoturia. In addition, its anti- inflammatory effect may also help reduce muscle soreness.

So if you or your horse feels stiff and lethargic in the morning maybe you should look at tweaking your diets and if either of you are under stress, then nutritional support must be considered to ensure that you and your horse is receiving “optimum nutrition”.

Q: Please can you advise me as I am unsure how to go about weighing and measuring my horse’s feed

Independent nutritionist Christine Smy replies: Few owners know exactly what weight of feed their horses eat on a daily basis.

The traditional scoop is the most common way of determining feeding rations, but sizes and shapes do vary. Although many scoops look as if they hold the same weight of feed, appearances can be deceptive.

On top of this, different types of feed – mixes, cubes and straights, for example – are all differentweights when measured by volume in a particular scoop.

Fibre cubes often weigh less than condition cubes because of the variation of ingredients that are incorporated.

It may not seem overly important that some owners feed a level scoop and others a rounded or heaped scoop, yet the difference between the two can be as much as 50 per cent. This quickly adds up.

Fortunately, weighing your horse’s feed isn’t too hard. The best option is to buy a spring balance from a hardware store or your feed merchant. Look for one that measures in both metric and imperial, as it is useful to know both. If possible, buy a large spring balance that shows the figures clearly and takes a minimum of 10kg so you can weigh haynets, too.

First, tip a level scoop of feed into a carrier bag, then hook the handles onto the spring balance and weigh. Record the amount and empty the bag before moving on to the next feed. Once you know how much each scoop of feed weighs, you can add up the amounts and determine feeding levels per feed and per day.

Many owners find they are feeding over the recommended 2kg of concentrates per feed. If this proves the case, I suggest that you add an extra feed to ensure your horse gains maximum nutritional benefit.

If you feed sugar beet shreds, it is best to weigh these before soaking, as water is heavy and you will not get an accurate measurement.

Another option is to buy a haynet scale from your tack shop and then use ordinary kitchen scales to weigh each type of concentrate.You only need to weigh your feed about once a month, or when you introduce a new concentrate to your store room.

1. How can I put weight on my horse?

Choosea suitable conditioning feed and add a supplement that will help the horse to digest properly. A pre-biotic supplement to improve the bacterial population of the horse’ stomach is a sensible choice. Simply feeding the horse more of its usual diet doesn’t usually work.

2. What can I feed my overweight pony?

Ponies need a balanced diet to keep them healthy, but if your pony is overweight it is important to choose a low calorie feed which will provides all the necessary nutrients while being fed in small amounts. A general vitamin and mineral supplement can be added to the feed.

3. What should I feed my fizzy pony?

First check you aren’t overfeeding it and it is getting sufficient time out in the field.Cubes are generally better that a mix as they tend to be lower in starch and so less likely to cause fizz.

4. I have a lazy, overweight cob. Any suggestions?

This is a difficult one. To increase energy you will need to increase calories, but you also need to reduce the horse’s weight. A low calorie feed balancer should be used initally combined with slow regular work. Over a period of time, add oats to the balancer for extra energy when it is needed. When the horse has a quieter work period, drop the oat content back down again.

5. My horse is running out of steam towards the end of cross-country sessions. What can I feed him to improve his stamina?

Supplements with high oil content are useful because the horse can use the oil as a source of energy when working at low intensities, such as in dressage. Once the horse moves up a gear on the cross-country he relies on stores of glycogen that come from cereals. If he has had oil to use at low intensities he will still have a full tank of glycogen stores to draw upon for longer bouts of exercise such as the cross-country.

6. My pony has had laminitis. What should I feed?

Keep grass and cereals to a minimum, while providingan alternative source of fibre to maintain gut function. Whatever your do don’t starve the poor thing! It will need a good source of vitamins, nutrients and minerals to repair damaged tissue and to maintain condition – low calorie balancers would be good for this. Pre-biotics will be useful to help re-establish a healthy bacterial population in the gut.

7. My horse is now 24 and is starting to drop a bit of weight and condition. What should I do?

There are feeds designed specifically for older horses, but if an older horse drops a lot of weight then a conditioning feed would be better as it contains more calories then a veteran feed.

8. I have bought a yearling New Forest pony that is looking very well. Ihave been feeding it pasture mix. Is this OK?

Pasture mix is designed for adult horses and so does not contain the correct nutrients to support the growth and development of youngstock. For breeds such as Natives, Warmbloods and Cobs, there are low calorie stud feeds that provide essential nutrients for growth without the calories that cause weight gain or rapid growth.

9. My old horse is losing his teeth and is finding it really hard to chew. Is there anything I can do?

Choose a feed that can be made into a mash or gruel as this is much easier for the horse to eat. I would also suggest that you use a short chop to replace hay so that your horse gets enough fibre.

10. I’ve been told that I need to give my horse electrolytes in the summer, but I don’t know why. Can you help?

Electrolytes are lost in sweat. They are needed for neuro-muscular function and are vital for optimum performance. Electrolytes are needed most during the summer because of the heat, but a horse that is working hard in the winter will still be losing electrolytes – so a supplement would be beneficial.

When considering changing your horse’s diet, you should bear in mind the following:

• Problem: Changing from low energy to high energy feedSolution: Make sure the workload increases first.
• Problem: Changing from high energy to low energy feedSolution: Start the change several days before the workload decreases so once you are at a new level of work, the feeding regime is already in place.
• Problem: Changing from straights to a balanced concentrate or vice versaSolution: As you are totally changing the feeding regime, the gut needs adequate time to become adjusted. Ensure you allow plenty of time to make the change.
• Problem: Increasing the concentrateSolution: Make sure you do not feed more than 50% of the ration as concentrates as you may overload the digestive system with starch, interfering with the efficiency of fibre utilisation.
• Problem: Increasing the fibreSolution: Not a problem if the fibre is clean and dust free. However, it will take a few days for the fibre-digesting bacteria to adjust.
• Problem: Changing from hay to haylageSolution: Hay contains around 15% water whereas haylage can contain between 35% and 50% water. When changing over, blend the two products, increasing the haylage daily for a week. You should be feeding around 20% extra weight of haylage to allow for the high water content.
• Problem: Changing from haylage to haySolution: Change over a few days and ensure your hay supply is clean, sweet smelling and free of mould or dust.