Imagine your horse, full of energy, coat shining, and ready for any adventure. What fuels that amazing picture? It’s the food they eat! But choosing the right horse feed can feel like navigating a maze. So many bags, so many ingredients, and so many promises! It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder if you’re truly giving your horse the best nutrition.
Feeding your horse is one of the most important jobs a horse owner has. The wrong feed can lead to a dull coat, low energy, or even health problems. On the flip side, the perfect feed unlocks your horse’s full potential, supporting their health and performance. This post cuts through the confusion and helps you understand what really matters.
By the end of this guide, you’ll feel confident picking out a feed that perfectly suits your horse’s needs. We’ll break down the basics and show you how to make smart choices. Get ready to discover the secrets to a happy and healthy equine diet!
Top Horse Feeds Recommendations
- EFFECTIVE - Contains active ingredient Novaluron, which is an Insect Growth Regulator. This new generation technology is 99.9% effective at breaking the fly life cycle to help eliminate the fly population in your barn.
- SAFE - Unlike other brands, our active ingredient is not an organophosphate, and is completely safe for horses.
- PALATABLE - Administer one serving of our alfalfa and wheat midd-based pellets to your horses daily with their feed.
- AFFORDABLE - MultiFly is just as effective as other brands, at a lower daily cost to you.
- MADE IN THE USA - All of our products are manufactured in our facility in Colorado, since 1946.
- EFFECTIVE - Contains active ingredient Novaluron, which is an Insect Growth Regulator. This new generation technology is 99.9% effective at breaking the fly life cycle to help eliminate the fly population in your barn.
- SAFE - Unlike other brands, our active ingredient is not an organophosphate, and is completely safe for horses.
- PALATABLE - Administer one serving of our alfalfa and wheat midd-based pellets to your horses daily with their feed.
- AFFORDABLE - MultiFly is just as effective as other brands, at a lower daily cost to you.
- MADE IN THE USA - All of our products are manufactured in our facility in Colorado, since 1946.
- Feed-Through Fly Control for Horses: SimpliFly breaks and prevents the fly life cycle in manure, helping reduce stable fly populations and providing reliable fly control for horses in barns, stalls, and pastures
- Stops Flies Where they Breed: The active ingredient diflubenzuron passes through the horse unabsorbed and works directly in manure to prevent fly larvae from developing into adult flies
- Safe for Daily Use in All Horse Breeds: Add palatable alfalfa-based pellets to your horse's daily feed for consistent fly control in stalls, pastures, paddocks and dry lots
- Season-Long Fly Population Reduction: Begin feeding in early spring before flies appear and continue through summer and fall to support ongoing barn fly control and stable fly prevention
- Feed Thru Fly Control Supplement: SimpliFly works best alongside topical fly sprays and physical barriers like fly masks for integrated, whole-barn pest management
- HIGH FAT AND CALORIE LEVELS: Manna Pro Senior Weight Accelerator is specially formulated with high fat and calorie content to help senior horses gain and maintain a healthy body condition, supporting energy needs and overall vitality in older horses.
- OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS FOR SKIN & COAT: Senior Horse Supplement contains flaxseed-derived Omega-3s to support skin hydration, reduce dryness, and promote a glossy coat. Helps aging horses maintain healthy skin, improved coat condition, and vitality.
- FORMULATED FOR SENIOR HORSES: Tailored nutrition for aging horses with probiotics for digestion, biotin for hoof strength, & controlled starch levels to support metabolic health—delivering balanced energy, immunity, & joint mobility in one great formula.
- ESSENTIAL VITAMINS & ANTIOXIDANTS: Packed with vital vitamins, antioxidants that support a healthy immune system & help protect senior horses from oxidative stress, promoting overall wellness, vitality & resilience to keep them feeling their best.
- HIGHLY PALATABLE & EASY TO FEED: Specially designed for senior horses, this soft, easy-to-chew pellet ensures consistent intake. Fortified with amino acids and antioxidants to support aging joints, muscle maintenance, and overall vitality in older horses.
- HOOF HEALTH: These biotin vitamins promote healthy, sound hoof growth, strengthens hoof walls, and supports overall hoof condition for horses of all ages, including growing horses, performance horses, and pregnant mares
- KEY INGREDIENT: Contains biotin for horses, essential for protein metabolism, keratin formation, connective tissue development, and maintaining strong, flexible, and healthy hooves, skin, hair, and tendons
- IDEAL FOR ALL HORSES: Horse supplements formulated for growing horses, pregnant mares, or any horse needing extra support to prevent hoof cracks, vertical cracks, splitting, chipping, and to maintain optimal hoof integrity
- PALATABLE & EASY TO FEED: Larger crumble format reduces sorting and waste, making it simple to hoof supplements for horses mix into your horse’s daily ration and horse feed while ensuring consistent intake and maximum nutrient absorption
- COMPLETE HOOF SUPPORT: Works as a hoof strengthener, hardener, repair aid, and conditioner; helps prevent cracks, splits, and chipping while supporting overall hoof wall quality, tendon and ligament health, and equine wellness
- MULTI-SPECIES PERFORMANCE FORMULA: Manna Pro Calf-Manna is designed to support a wide range of animals including cattle, goats, swine, poultry, rabbits, horses, and deer with essential nutrients and energy.
- SUPPORTS GROWTH & WEIGHT GAIN: High-quality protein, vitamins, and energy-dense ingredients help improve animal development, appetite, and performance in both young and mature animals.
- IDEAL FOR LIVESTOCK & BACKYARD ANIMALS: Whether feeding beef cattle, dairy cows, chickens, goats, rabbits, or swine, Calf-Manna boosts nutritional intake and encourages steady growth.
- ENHANCES FEED EFFICIENCY & DIGESTION: Improves how well animals utilize their regular feed, making it a smart choice for boosting recovery and maintaining health during stress or transition.
- HIGHLY PALATABLE & EASY TO FEED: Calf-Manna’s delicious formula keeps animals coming back for more—perfect for chickens, goats, cattle, and other multi-species livestock.
- High Quality: Made of 600D Waterproof Oxford fabric with comfortable nose pads, adjustable straps and breathable mesh for maximum airflow while feeding, keeping food fresh and dry. And strong double stitched sides ensures super wear resistance and long term durability.
- Let the Horse Eat Merrily: No one likes to fight over food, and neither does horses. The Feed Bag ensures all your horses get their ration of grain and makes sure every horse is consuming the expected amount of food, no more being constantly on the lookout for others to steal his food.
- Reducing Food Waste: The bag has a no-waste lip that catches the grain and prevents food from falling out when the horse lifts or shakes his head. If your horse is a picky eater or a mess eater and needs to be fed individually, this bag can greatly avoid mess eating.
- Comfortable Design: Equipped with adjustable strap makes it fit more into the mouth and head of most sports horses, and provide optimal comfort while feeding. And woven netting allows horses to breathe while feeding and allows water to flow through to prevent horses from suffocating or drowning in water trapped inside.
- Application: The bag measures 9.5" diameter and 9" height, features large feeding room, fits adult horses, as Draft, Warmblood and similar sizes large horse. Suitable for long rides, overnight trips, weekend camping, or at home for individual feeding.
- Ideal for feeding medium animals and as an oats measure
- Crack and crush resistant
- Flexible to low temperatures
- Immediately bounces back to shape
- Capacity markings
Choosing the Best Horse Feed: A Guide for Happy Horses
Feeding your horse the right food is super important for their health and happiness. It’s like choosing the perfect meal for yourself – you want it to be good for you and taste great! This guide will help you pick the best horse feed.
1. Key Features to Look For
When you shop for horse feed, keep these things in mind:
- Nutrient Balance: Good feed has the right mix of protein, vitamins, and minerals. This helps your horse grow strong, have a shiny coat, and feel energetic.
- Digestibility: Horses have sensitive tummies. The feed should be easy for them to digest so they get all the good stuff without tummy troubles.
- Palatability: Your horse needs to like the food! If it tastes good, they’ll eat it all, making sure they get their nutrients.
- Form: Feed comes in different forms like pellets, sweet feed (grains mixed with molasses), and textured feed (mixes of grains, pellets, and other goodies). Think about what your horse prefers and what’s easiest for them to eat.
2. Important Materials
Horse feed is made from different ingredients. Here are some common ones:
- Grains: Corn, oats, and barley are often used for energy.
- Forages: Hay and alfalfa are the base of a horse’s diet. Some feeds include these dried ingredients.
- Protein Sources: Soybean meal and alfalfa meal provide protein for muscle building.
- Vitamins and Minerals: These are added to make sure your horse gets everything they need, like calcium for strong bones.
- Fats: Oils can be added for extra energy and a healthy coat.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes feed great or not-so-great?
- Freshness: Always check the “best by” date. Fresh feed has more nutrients and tastes better. Old feed can lose its goodness.
- Storage: How the feed is stored matters. If it’s kept in a cool, dry place away from pests, it stays high quality. If it gets wet or moldy, it’s no good.
- Ingredient Quality: High-quality ingredients, like whole grains and good protein sources, make for better feed. Cheaper fillers can reduce the nutritional value.
- Manufacturing Process: How the feed is made can affect its quality. Good manufacturing ensures nutrients are well-mixed and easy to digest.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
People choose different feeds for different horses and needs.
- For Growing Foals: Young horses need extra protein and calcium for strong bones and muscles. Special foal feeds are made for this.
- For Adult Horses: Most adult horses do well on a balanced feed. The amount you feed depends on their size, age, and how much they work.
- For Senior Horses: Older horses might have trouble chewing or digesting. Senior feeds are often softer and easier to digest.
- For Performance Horses: Horses that are ridden a lot, like for racing or jumping, need more energy. Feeds with higher fat and energy content help them perform their best.
- For Horses with Special Needs: Some horses have allergies or health issues. There are special “therapeutic” feeds designed for them.
Choosing the right feed makes a big difference. Take your time, read the labels, and think about your horse’s specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Horse Feeds
Q: What is the most important thing to look for in horse feed?
A: The most important thing is a balanced mix of nutrients that meet your horse’s specific needs. This includes protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Q: Can I feed my horse the same feed as another horse?
A: Not always. Different horses have different needs based on their age, activity level, and health. A growing foal needs different food than a senior horse.
Q: What does “digestible” mean for horse feed?
A: Digestible means that a horse’s body can easily break down the food and use the nutrients from it. This helps prevent tummy aches.
Q: How can I tell if horse feed is fresh?
A: Check the “best by” date on the bag. Also, good feed should smell fresh and not dusty or moldy.
Q: What is “sweet feed” and is it good?
A: Sweet feed is a mix of grains with molasses. It can be tasty for horses, but some owners worry about the sugar content. It’s good for horses that need extra energy and like the taste.
Q: Should I add supplements to my horse’s feed?
A: Sometimes. If your horse’s feed is already balanced and they don’t have special needs, they might not need extra supplements. It’s best to ask your vet or an equine nutritionist.
Q: How much should I feed my horse?
A: This depends on your horse’s weight, age, how much they work, and the type of feed. Always follow the feeding guidelines on the feed bag, and ask your vet for advice.
Q: What are “pellets” in horse feed?
A: Pellets are small, compressed pieces of feed. They are easy for horses to eat and ensure they get a balanced mix of nutrients in every bite.
Q: Can too much grain be bad for my horse?
A: Yes, too much grain can cause digestive problems and other health issues. It’s important to feed the right amount of grains as part of a balanced diet.
Q: Where should I store my horse feed?
A: Store horse feed in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and pests. Using airtight containers helps keep it fresh and prevents spoilage.