Quality Horse Feed UK Tips Insights

What Exactly Is a Poor Doer Horse? A poor doer horse is one that has difficulty to maintain condition even when it has access to a reasonable diet and adequate management. These horses may have a very fast metabolism, poor digestibility , a demanding workload, or they may simply use energy quickly. Some are easy to spot because they look lean, lack muscle, or have a low body condition score . Others slowly lose condition over time, which can be missed until w

Why restricted grazing diets need a different feeding approach Restricted grazing diets require a very different strategy to horse feed because the horse cannot rely on constant access to forage and grass intake for the bulk of its nutritional needs. On a normal pasture-based routine, a horse may obtain much of its daily calories, bulk, and hydration from grass. When turnout is reduced, muzzle use is strict, or pasture quality is controlled, the ration has to ma

The ideal horse feed for show jumping horses is one that supports sustained energy, digestive health, stamina and muscle recovery without making the horse excitable, fizzy or uncomfortable. In practice, that generally means a forage-first diet built around good-quality forage, controlled starch levels, enough digestible fibre, and a targeted concentrate or balancer suited to workload, temperament and condition. There is not one ideal horse feed for every jumper. A horse

Selecting the right horse feed for pregnant mares is about adding extra calories. While pregnant, a mare’s nutritional requirements evolve over time as the foal develops, and the feeding plan should maintain healthy pregnancy without unnecessary overfeeding. The best approach is typically a balanced ration built around high-quality forage, then tweaked with a suitable complete horse feed or compound feed if the mare needs more fuel, nutrients, minerals and vitamins. The r

Why chewing gets harder for senior horses For senior horses , chewing can become more difficult for a number of reasons, and dental wear is one of the most common factors. As teeth age, the surfaces become less effective at grinding fibre, which makes hay, haylage, and hard feeds tougher to break down. Worn or uneven teeth can also make chewing uncomfortable, which may reduce appetite and lead to slower eating. Another issue is chewing difficulty linked to cha

Choosing the best horse feed for show horse condition is not so much about finding the “fattest” option and more about building a carefully formulated ration that supports topline, coat shine, muscle tone, and steady energy. A horse that looks great in the ring usually has been fed with a clear plan: enough forage, enough digestible nutrients, and careful feeding management that supports gut health while supporting safe weight gain. Show condition is not just body fat. I

Picking the right horse feed in summer is not just about adding energy and more about supporting hydration , digestive health , and a steady supply of usable nutrients. With more grazing , higher temperatures, and often a change in workload , summer horse feeding needs a practical approach. The best results usually come from a forage first plan, sensible use of hard feed , and close attention to body condition score . Summer feeding should help a hor

The right horse feed to serve alongside hay depends on what the horse is missing from forage, how much exercise it does, and whether its body condition is stable. In most cases, good hay plus a ration balancer or a limited amount of concentrates is enough. Horses that need more energy may do better with a higher-nutrient complete horse feed , while easy keepers often need little more than forage and targeted vitamins and minerals . The simple answer is