Many horses thrive on forage alone, but some need the concentrated energy that grain provides. Understanding when and how to feed grain helps you meet your horse’s needs without overfeeding.
Does Your Horse Need Grain?
Contrary to popular belief, not every horse needs grain. Evaluate your horse’s actual requirements:
- Easy keepers maintaining weight on hay alone rarely need grain
- Hard keepers struggling to maintain weight may benefit from concentrates
- Performance horses with high energy demands often need supplemental calories
- Growing horses require additional protein and minerals for development
- Lactating mares need extra nutrition to support milk production
Types of Concentrates
Traditional Grains
Oats, barley, and corn are classic horse feeds. Oats are safest—their high fiber content makes overfeeding less risky. Corn is energy-dense but generates more heat during digestion. Barley falls between the two.
Commercial Feeds
Pelleted and textured feeds combine grains with vitamins and minerals for balanced nutrition. They’re convenient and consistent. Choose feeds formulated for your horse’s life stage and activity level.
Complete Feeds
These can replace hay for horses who can’t chew long-stem forage. They contain added fiber and can be soaked for horses with dental issues.
Ration Balancers
Low-calorie, nutrient-dense supplements that balance forage-only diets. Ideal for easy keepers who don’t need extra calories but may lack vitamins and minerals from hay alone.
Feeding Guidelines
Start Small
Introduce grain gradually—sudden changes upset digestive bacteria. Start with a handful and increase slowly over 7-14 days.
Multiple Small Meals
Horses’ digestive systems handle small, frequent meals better than large ones. Never feed more than 4-5 pounds of grain at once. Split larger amounts into multiple feedings.
Forage First
Always ensure adequate forage before adding grain. Horses should eat at least 1.5% of body weight in forage daily. Grain supplements forage—it doesn’t replace it.
Common Mistakes
- Overfeeding: More grain doesn’t mean better nutrition—it means obesity, metabolic issues, and digestive problems
- Feeding by volume: Weigh feed, don’t just use scoops—different feeds have different densities
- Ignoring forage quality: Excellent hay reduces grain needs
- One-size-fits-all: Each horse’s needs differ based on age, work, and metabolism
For a complete overview of equine nutrition including forage requirements, see our nutrition fundamentals guide.
Leave a Reply