The best horse feed depends on workload: a ration balancer pairs with good forage for light-work horses, while a higher-calorie performance feed suits horses in heavy training. Senior and growth formulas exist for older horses and foals with specific needs.
Feed selection should always start with forage quality — feed is a supplement, not a replacement, for hay or pasture. Once forage is dialed in, here’s how to think about matching a feed type to your horse.
| Feed Type | Best For | Key Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Ration balancer | Easy keepers, light work, good pasture | Low-calorie, nutrient-dense |
| Performance/senior feed | Heavy work, hard keepers, older horses | Higher calorie and fat content |
| Growth/foal feed | Weanlings and young growing horses | Balanced for controlled, steady growth |
| Low-starch/metabolic feed | Horses with insulin resistance or laminitis history | Reduced sugar and starch |
Ration Balancer Pellets
A concentrated, low-volume feed that fills nutritional gaps without adding unnecessary calories — ideal for horses maintaining weight easily on forage alone.
Performance Textured Feed
Higher in calories and fat, built for horses in regular training or competition that burn through forage-only calories too fast to maintain condition.
Senior Complete Feed
Designed to be fed with reduced or no hay for horses with dental issues, since it’s higher in fiber and can be soaked into a mash.
What to Check on the Bag
Look at guaranteed protein, fat, and fiber percentages, and check the ingredient list for whole grains or beet pulp rather than heavy filler. For metabolic-sensitive horses, non-structural carbohydrate (sugar + starch) percentage matters more than any other number on the label.
FAQ
No — many horses in light work do fine on quality forage plus a vitamin/mineral balancer, with grain reserved for horses that need extra calories.
A concentrated, low-calorie feed that fills nutritional gaps (vitamins, minerals, protein) without adding excess calories — useful for easy keepers on good pasture.
Mix the old and new feed together over 7–10 days, gradually increasing the new feed's ratio, to avoid digestive upset.
