Does every horse need hard feed?

Hello! Good question. Many people assume horses have to be given hard feed, but that is not true. Build the ration around good, analysed forage, and use the analysis to decide whether anything needs adding and what. Protein is often what is missing, and several feedstuffs supply good protein you can add. One option is lucerne, which is both high in protein and counts as forage, so you give the horse as much chewing time and fibre as possible.

The nutritional content of forage varies a great deal, depending on factors such as cutting time, the plant mix in the sward and how it is stored. Horses in hard work, lactating mares and growing horses all need more nutrition, so it makes sense to choose a forage with a high nutritional content, since they will not risk becoming overweight even when eating large amounts.

Some ponies and easy keepers put on weight readily, so choosing a suitable forage matters: you want to feed enough (at least 1.5 kg DM per 100 kg bodyweight) without the horse becoming overweight and at risk of laminitis. Choose forage with care, and with the individual horse or horses in mind. Good luck!