Fueling for Every Stage: When and Why to Adjust Your Horse’s Nutrition

Feeding horses can feel like both a science and an art. On one hand, nutrition is grounded in measurable needs — calories, protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. On the other, every horse is an individual with quirks, preferences, and changing requirements over time. Knowing when it’s time to adjust or change a horse’s feed is essential for their long-term health, performance, and well-being.

Below, we’ll explore the major factors that influence whether a diet change is needed — from age and workload to medical conditions and body condition.

1. Performance and Workload

One of the most common reasons to re-evaluate a horse’s feed is a change in workload. A horse in light work, such as trail riding a few times a week, has vastly different nutritional needs than a horse in heavy work, like an eventer, racehorse, or endurance competitor.

• Light Work (pleasure riding, low-level dressage): Many horses in light work thrive on forage alone (pasture and hay), sometimes with a small amount of balancer or concentrate to meet vitamin and mineral needs. If they start gaining weight too easily, it may be worth switching to a low-calorie ration balancer rather than a calorie-dense feed.

• Moderate Work (show jumping, mid-level dressage, pony club): These horses often need additional calories, protein, and electrolytes to sustain muscle development and recovery. If your horse feels sluggish, loses topline, or struggles to keep condition despite good hay, it may be time to increase energy density — perhaps moving from a low-calorie balancer to a performance mix or adding fat sources such as rice bran or oil.

• Heavy Work (eventing, endurance, racing): These horses burn through calories and glycogen rapidly. High-energy concentrates, quality protein, and electrolyte supplementation are often essential. A feed change may be warranted if you notice weight loss, a decline in stamina, or longer recovery times after exertion.

Key takeaway: Match the feed to the workload. If the work changes, the feed should too.

2. Age and Life Stage

Just like people, horses have different nutritional needs as they move through life stages.

• Foals and Growing Horses: Young horses require higher levels of protein, calcium, and phosphorus for bone and muscle development. If they are not gaining steadily or show developmental issues (like uneven growth), adjusting their feed to a growth-appropriate formula is critical.

• Adult Horses: From about 4 to 15 years old, many horses thrive on a consistent diet, provided it matches their workload. However, shifts in exercise level, breeding status, or environment can still trigger the need for dietary changes.

• Senior Horses (15+ years): Aging often brings challenges like dental wear, reduced digestive efficiency, and difficulty maintaining weight. Horses may need senior feeds that are softer, more digestible, and often higher in fat and fibre. If your older horse drops condition despite good hay, it may be time to move to a complete feed designed for seniors.

Key takeaway: Age brings natural changes in digestion and metabolism. Feed should evolve accordingly.

3. Body Condition and Weight

Monitoring body condition score (BCS) is one of the most practical tools for deciding if a horse’s feed is working. On the standard 1–9 scale, a healthy performance horse usually sits around 4–6.

• If your horse is underweight: You may need to add calorie-dense feeds like beet pulp, lucerne, or fat supplements such as linseed oil or full fat soya bean.

• If your horse is overweight: Consider switching to a low-calorie ration balancer or restricting concentrates while ensuring forage intake remains adequate.

• If weight fluctuates seasonally: Some horses drop condition in winter or gain rapidly in spring pasture. Adjusting feed at these times is a proactive way to maintain balance.

Key takeaway: Weight trends are a clear signal. Feed should stabilize condition, not fight against it.

4. Health and Veterinary Factors

Sometimes the trigger for a feed change is medical.

• Metabolic Disorders (EMS, Cushing’s/PPID): Horses with insulin resistance or metabolic issues need low-sugar, low-starch diets. Switching to a specialised feed can prevent laminitis and manage insulin spikes.

• Laminitis History: Horses prone to laminitis should avoid high-starch grains and lush pastures. Soaked hay, low-NSC feeds, and careful management become essential.

• Ulcers or Digestive Issues: Feeds higher in fiber and fat (and lower in starch) can ease gastric irritation. Some horses benefit from small, frequent meals or specific supplements.

• Allergies or Sensitivities: A change in feed ingredients may be required if a horse develops skin reactions, digestive upset, or respiratory sensitivities linked to certain grains or additives.

Key takeaway: Health conditions often demand specific nutritional strategies. Feed choices can be therapeutic as well as supportive.

5. Coat, Hooves, and Energy Levels

A horse’s outward appearance can reflect nutritional balance.

• Coat: A dull or rough coat may indicate insufficient protein, fat, or micronutrients.

• Hooves: Cracks or poor hoof growth can signal a lack of biotin, zinc, or balanced minerals.

• Energy: Too much or too little “spark” often comes down to mismatched calories and workload.

If your horse’s coat loses shine, hooves deteriorate, or their energy doesn’t align with expectations, a feed review is in order.

6. Seasonal and Environmental Changes

• Winter: Horses often need extra calories in cold weather to maintain body heat, especially if forage quality drops.

• Summer: Electrolytes may need boosting in hot climates. Horses prone to weight gain may need reduced concentrates when pasture is abundant.

• Travel/Competition Season: Horses that travel or compete regularly often need extra digestive support, hydration strategies, and energy sources to cope with stress.

Key takeaway: Nutrition should flex with the seasons, just as nature does.

7. Practical and Management Considerations

Sometimes the reason to change feed isn’t about the horse at all — it’s about logistics. Availability, cost, and storage all influence feed decisions. While consistency is valuable, if a feed becomes unavailable, choosing a close alternative (with the help of a nutritionist) is better than clinging to something unsustainable.

Transitioning Safely

When you do change a horse’s feed, transition gradually over 7–14 days. Start with 25% new feed mixed into 75% of the old ration, then slowly increase the proportion. Sudden changes can upset the hindgut microbiome, leading to colic or diarrhea.

Final Thoughts

Deciding when to change a horse’s feed is about observation, responsiveness, and balance. Performance, age, body condition, and health status all provide clues. A shiny coat, steady energy, and consistent weight are signs that the diet is working. If these slip, it may be time to reconsider what’s in the feed bin.

Every horse is unique — and what works for one may not work for another. When in doubt, consult with an equine nutritionist or veterinarian. The right feed at the right time can make all the difference in keeping your horse happy, healthy, and performing at their best.