General Feeding
What is the maximum amount of feed I can give in one meal?
Horses are trickle feeders with stomachs roughly the size of a rugby ball, designed to empty when reaching capacity. Feeding large meals can result in feed leaving the stomach faster, which risks digestive upset and means the horse is not effectively digesting the feed.
The general rule is to feed no more than 400g per 100kg bodyweight per meal; for example, a 500kg horse should not receive more than 2kg of feed per meal. This includes concentrate, chaff, and additional fibres such as beet pulp or linseed.
How soon before exercise can I feed?
When a horse exercises, blood is diverted to the muscles and lungs, reducing flow to ‘non-essential’ systems, such as the digestive system. This slows down gut motility, so feeding a large meal before exercise can lead to digestive disturbance. Cereal-based meals should not be given to a horse or pony within three hours of intense exercise, and we recommend feeding a high-fibre mash at least an hour before exercise.
The horse's stomach constantly produces acid; however, they only produce saliva (which aids in buffering the stomach acid) when they chew. Research has shown that providing a horse with fibre before exercise can reduce acid splashing up to the sensitive areas of the stomach. Offering hay whilst you are grooming and tacking up, or a Stubbs scoop of chaff at least 30 minutes prior to exercise will create a ‘mat’ that sits on top of the stomach contents and absorbs some of the stomach acid, reducing the risk of injury to the sensitive upper region of the stomach.
How soon after exercise can I feed my horse?
You can offer your horse forage (hay or haylage) immediately after exercise whilst you are untacking, brushing, and getting yourself sorted. As they chew, they will produce saliva, which will aid in buffering stomach acid produced during exercise, while the forage soaks up acid.
Bucket feed, especially cereal based feeds, should not be fed until your horse or pony has thoroughly cooled down and their respiration rate has returned to normal. We generally recommend waiting at least an hour to feed, which allows blood flow to return to the digestive system and your horse or pony to be recovered post-exercise.
Allen & Page mash feeds are fantastic post-exercise as they provide optimum nutrition and increase water intake to support rehydration.
My horse can be fussy. Do you have any tips to get them to eat their feed?
Loss of appetite can be frustrating for any horse owner. Some horses are pickier with their feed, while others go off it for no reason. If there is a marked change in behaviour, we recommend consulting your vet before trying the tips below.
How long should I expect to see a change in my horse or pony’s condition following a diet change?
Equines have a microbiome in their gut that is specifically adapted to the feeds (including grass, hay and haylage) they intake regularly. When changing a feed, this population must adapt, which can take 4-6 weeks, meaning they cannot fully utilise the new feed during this time. For this reason, we recommend waiting at least 6-8 weeks before determining if the dietary change is working for your horse or pony but do keep an eye on their body condition score and take photos every week, as it can be challenging to notice minor changes when we see them daily.