February 11, 2026

How to Choose the Right Feed for Your Horse

At Gladiator Equine, we understand that your horse is more than just an animal; they are an athlete and a partner. Whether you are competing at a high level or enjoying trail rides on the weekends, the health and longevity of your equine companion are likely your top priorities. While we often focus on training regimens and recovery tools, the foundation of any healthy horse begins in the feed bucket.

Nutrition is the fuel that powers performance, supports growth, and maintains overall well-being. However, walking down the aisle of a feed store can be overwhelming. With countless bags promising shinier coats, better hooves, and cooler energy, how do you know which one is actually right for your horse? Selecting the correct horse feed isn’t a guessing game — it is a science based on physiology, age, and workload.

The Importance of Precision Nutrition

Feeding horses is not a “one size fits all” approach. A diet that works wonders for a high-performance show jumper could be disastrous for a semi-retired pony prone to metabolic issues.

Proper nutrition does more than keep a horse at a healthy weight. It supports immune function, muscle repair, and digestive health. Conversely, incorrect feeding can lead to serious complications such as colic, ulcers, obesity, or developmental orthopedic diseases in young horses. By understanding your animal’s specific requirements, you can prevent these issues before they start.

Understanding Your Horse’s Nutritional Needs

Before you even look at a bag of commercial grain, you must evaluate what your horse actually needs. This assessment generally falls into four categories: forage requirements, life stage, body condition, and health status.

Forage First

The digestive tract of the horse is designed to process fiber continuously. No matter what else you feed, forage — such as pasture or hay — should be the foundation of the diet. Veterinary nutritionists and experts agree that a horse should consume between 1.5% and 2% of their body weight in forage every day.

For a 1,000-pound horse, this means 15 to 20 pounds of hay daily. If your forage quality is excellent, some horses may not need commercial grain at all. However, if hay is scarce or of lower quality, you may need to supplement with specific feed products to fill nutritional gaps.

Evaluate Life Stage and Activity

A horse’s caloric demands change drastically throughout their life.

Maintenance: These are your “easy keepers.” They aren’t in heavy work and maintain their weight easily. They often need vitamins and minerals, but do not require the high calories found in performance feeds.
Performance: Hard keepers and athletes burn significant calories. They require higher energy density, often from fat and fiber sources, to maintain weight and fuel their muscles.
Growing or Pregnant: Foals, weanlings, and broodmares have elevated protein and mineral requirements to support skeletal growth and fetal development.

Assess Body Condition

Be honest about your horse’s weight. Using a Body Condition Score (BCS) chart ranging from 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese) is the best way to track progress. You should also use a weight tape regularly. If your horse is a 7 or 8, you need to reduce calories, regardless of how much you want to “love” them with food. If they are a 3 or 4, you need a calorie-dense feed to help them gain.

Health Status

Does your horse have a history of laminitis, Cushing’s disease (PPID), or Equine Metabolic Syndrome? If so, you must choose a diet low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) — specifically starch and sugar.

Navigating Different Types of Horse Feed

Once you have assessed your horse’s needs, you can select the appropriate product. Commercial feeds generally fall into a few specific categories. Understanding these different types of horse feed will help you decipher the feed tag.

How to Transition Feeds Safely

The equine digestive system is sensitive. The gut microbiome consists of bacteria specifically adapted to digest the food the horse is currently eating. If you switch feeds abruptly, these bacteria can die off rapidly, releasing toxins that may cause colic or laminitis.

Whenever you change your horse feed, do so slowly over a period of 7 to 10 days.

Days 1–3: Feed 25% new feed and 75% old feed.
Days 4–6: Feed 50% new feed and 50% old feed.
Days 7–9: Feed 75% new feed and 25% old feed.
Day 10: 100% new feed.

Watch your horse closely during this time for any signs of discomfort or refusal to eat.

Beyond the Bucket: Enhancing Recovery

Choosing the right feed builds the foundation for a healthy horse, but nutrition is just one piece of the puzzle. For equine athletes or horses recovering from injury, feed provides the building blocks for repair, but sometimes the body needs extra help to utilize those resources effectively.

At Gladiator Equine, we specialize in advanced recovery technology. Our far infrared devices are designed to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. Better circulation means that the nutrients you are carefully providing through their diet can be delivered more efficiently to the muscles and tissues that need them most.

Whether you are managing a chronic condition or looking for a competitive edge, combining a scientifically balanced diet with our therapeutic devices ensures your horse feels their best from the inside out.

Ready to take your horse’s health to the next level? Check out the equine products we have available.