6 Horse Feeds For Beginner Horse Owners That Prevent Common Issues
New to horse ownership? Choosing the right feed is vital. Explore 6 options that prevent common issues like colic and support balanced nutrition.
Walking into a feed store for the first time can be overwhelming. The rows of colorful bags all promise the same thing: a healthy, happy horse. But the right feed isn’t just about calories; it’s about preventing common problems before they ever start.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Understanding Forage-First Horse Nutrition
Before you even think about what’s in a feed bag, you need to look at what’s in the hay net. A horse’s digestive system is designed to process high-fiber forage almost constantly. This means good quality hay or pasture should make up the vast majority of their diet.
Think of bagged feed as a supplement, not the main course. Its job is to fill in the nutritional gaps left by your forage. Is your hay low in certain vitamins? Does your horse need more calories than the pasture provides? That’s what a concentrate is for.
Never sacrifice hay quality for a fancier grain. A horse with unlimited access to excellent hay and a basic vitamin supplement is often healthier than one on poor forage and an expensive, complex feed. Forage is the foundation of everything.
Nutrena Empower Topline Balance for Vitamins
You’ve got that easy keeper, the horse that seems to get fat just by looking at grass. You can’t feed them scoops of grain to get their vitamins and minerals without adding unwanted weight. This is where a ration balancer shines.
Empower Topline Balance is a concentrated feed. You feed a small amount—usually just a pound or two a day—to deliver essential protein, vitamins, and minerals without a flood of calories. It’s the perfect solution for horses on a forage-only diet or for those in light work who maintain their weight easily.
The tradeoff is that a ration balancer won’t put weight on a horse. Its purpose is purely nutritional balance. It ensures your horse gets everything it needs to build muscle and maintain health without the calories that cause obesity.
Triple Crown Safe Starch for Metabolic Health
Some horses are genetically predisposed to metabolic issues, and a high-sugar, high-starch diet can be like throwing gasoline on a fire. Breeds like Morgans, ponies, and mustangs can be particularly sensitive. A feed high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) can increase the risk of serious conditions like laminitis.
Triple Crown Safe Starch is formulated with this in mind. It provides calories from fat and fiber sources instead of relying on corn or molasses. This keeps the NSC level very low, which helps maintain stable blood sugar levels and supports overall metabolic health.
This isn’t just for horses with existing problems; it’s an excellent preventative choice. If you have an easy keeper or a horse from a high-risk breed, starting with a low-starch feed is one of the smartest decisions you can make. It provides safe energy for light to moderate work without overloading their system with sugar.
Purina Equine Senior for Aging Horse Needs
As horses age, their bodies change. Their teeth wear down, making it difficult to chew coarse hay, and their digestive systems become less efficient at absorbing nutrients. You might notice your old friend starting to drop weight, even with plenty of food available.
Purina Equine Senior is designed to address these exact problems. It’s a "complete feed," meaning it contains enough fiber that it can replace hay entirely if necessary. The pellets are soft and easy to chew, and it can be soaked into a mash for horses with severe dental issues.
This feed is also formulated with highly digestible ingredients and added nutrients that older horses need, like probiotics for gut health. It takes the guesswork out of feeding a senior, providing everything they need in one easy-to-manage bag. It’s a lifeline for keeping weight and condition on an aging companion.
Tribute Kalm N’ EZ for Safe Weight Gain
On the other end of the spectrum is the "hard keeper"—the horse that’s always a little ribby, no matter how much hay you put in front of them. The old-school solution was to just add more corn or sweet feed, but this can lead to "hot" behavior and digestive upset.
Tribute Kalm N’ EZ provides calories for weight gain from safer sources. It’s a high-fat, high-fiber feed, which delivers "cool" or non-excitable energy. This approach supports steady weight gain without making your horse hyper or increasing the risk of colic associated with high-starch diets.
This feed is also great for performance horses that need sustained energy without the sugar rush. By using fat and fiber, you’re fueling the horse in a way that more closely mimics their natural digestive process, leading to better body condition and a calmer mind.
Standlee Forage Pellets to Supplement Hay
Sometimes the issue isn’t the grain, it’s the hay. You might have a poor hay year, or you might need a consistent source of fiber for travel. That’s where forage pellets or cubes come in.
Standlee makes a wide variety of compressed forage products, from alfalfa to timothy grass. These are not grain; they are simply chopped and compressed hay. They are a fantastic way to stretch your hay supply, guarantee a certain nutritional profile, or provide an easy-to-chew fiber source for senior horses.
You can soak them in water to create a mash, which is a great way to increase your horse’s water intake. Using forage pellets reinforces the "forage-first" principle. You’re supplementing their main fiber source with more high-quality fiber, which is always a win for their digestive health.
Purina Outlast for Equine Gastric Support
Gastric discomfort is incredibly common in horses, especially those in training, traveling, or under any kind of stress. An unhappy stomach can lead to poor attitude, weight loss, and resistance to work. It’s a problem that’s much easier to prevent than to treat.
Purina Outlast is a supplement, not a full feed, designed to buffer stomach acid and support gastric health. It can be fed as a top-dress on their regular grain. The unique seaweed-derived calcium formula helps maintain a proper stomach pH, which is crucial for preventing the formation of ulcers.
Giving a serving of Outlast before a ride or a trailer trip is a simple, proactive way to protect your horse’s stomach. It’s an easy addition to any feeding program that provides a significant benefit for your horse’s comfort and long-term digestive wellness.
How to Safely Transition to a New Horse Feed
A horse’s gut is a delicate ecosystem of microbes that adapt to a specific diet. Changing feed too quickly can disrupt this balance, leading to colic or other digestive upsets. Never switch feeds cold turkey.
The golden rule is to make the transition over 7 to 10 days. This gives the gut bacteria time to adjust to the new ingredients. A slow and steady approach is always the safest.
Here’s a simple schedule to follow:
- Days 1-3: 75% old feed, 25% new feed.
- Days 4-6: 50% old feed, 50% new feed.
- Days 7-9: 25% old feed, 75% new feed.
- Day 10: 100% new feed.
Throughout this process, keep a close eye on your horse. Watch for any changes in manure consistency, appetite, or behavior. If you notice anything concerning, slow the transition down even more.
Choosing the right feed is a powerful tool in your horsemanship toolbox. By matching the feed to your horse’s specific needs, you’re not just filling a bucket—you’re investing in their long-term health and preventing problems down the road. Start with forage, supplement wisely, and always watch your horse for the final say.
