A Simple Guide to Horse Feeding and Nutrition for UK Owners

by Penny September 1, 2026

Feeding a horse well does not always mean using a complicated ration. For most horses, good nutrition starts with clean forage, fresh water, a suitable workload and regular monitoring.

Every horse is different. Age, breed, body condition, health, grazing, workload and the quality of available forage all affect what they need. This guide explains the basic principles of horse feeding in the UK and how to build a practical everyday routine.

Important: This guide is for general information. Speak to your vet or an appropriately qualified equine nutritionist before making significant diet changes, particularly if your horse is overweight, underweight, prone to laminitis, elderly, pregnant or affected by a health condition.

Start with a forage-first diet

Forage should form the main part of a horse’s diet. This includes:

Grass
Hay
Haylage
Chaff
Fibre-based feeds
Suitable forage replacements

Horses naturally spend much of the day grazing and chewing. A forage-first diet supports normal digestive function and provides the fibre needed by the hindgut.

As a general guide, a horse may eat around 2–2.5% of its bodyweight in food over 24 hours. At least 1.5% of bodyweight should usually come from forage, although the correct amount depends on the individual and the type of forage being fed.

For example, a 500 kg horse might need approximately 10 kg of total feed per day when fed at 2% of bodyweight. This is only a starting point. Hay, haylage and grass have different moisture levels, so feed should be weighed and adjusted carefully.

For horses that need to lose weight, the aim is to reduce calories without creating long periods with no forage. Smaller-holed haynets, soaked hay and suitable low-calorie forage can help slow intake. Do not restrict forage below safe levels without professional advice.

Grass, hay and haylage

Grass

Good pasture can provide much of the nutrition needed by a horse in light work. However, grass quality changes throughout the year. Spring and autumn grass can be particularly rich, while winter grazing may provide less energy and protein.

Some horses and ponies are very efficient at using calories. Native breeds and good-doers may gain weight quickly on unrestricted pasture. Weight management may require:

Controlled turnout
Strip grazing
A track system
A grazing muzzle, used correctly
Additional low-calorie forage
Regular body condition scoring

Pastures should also be checked for plants that are harmful to horses, including ragwort and yew. The RSPCA’s horse diet guidance provides further information about pasture safety and unsuitable foods.

Hay

Hay is dried grass and is often the main forage used during winter or when turnout is limited. Choose hay that is:

Clean and dry
Free from mould
Free from a musty smell
As dust-free as possible
Stored in a dry, well-ventilated place

Poor-quality or dusty hay can affect both respiratory and digestive health. If you are unsure about its nutritional value, a forage analysis can help identify its energy, protein, sugar and mineral content.

Haylage

Haylage is partially dried grass preserved in sealed plastic. It often has more moisture and can be more digestible than hay. Once opened, it must be used within the recommended time and checked regularly for spoilage.

Because haylage can be higher in energy and protein, it may not suit every horse. An overweight horse or one prone to laminitis may need carefully selected or soaked hay instead. Your vet or nutritionist can help assess the best option.

Horse eating clean hay from a small-hole hay net in a tidy stable

When is hard feed needed?

Hard feed, also called bucket feed or concentrates, is useful when forage alone does not meet a horse’s needs. It may be appropriate for:

Horses struggling to maintain weight
Horses in moderate or hard work
Growing youngstock
Pregnant or lactating mares
Older horses that cannot use forage efficiently
Horses with specific nutritional requirements

Many leisure horses can maintain a healthy weight from good-quality forage, with a suitable vitamin and mineral supplement or balancer. Adding hard feed simply because a horse is being ridden lightly can provide unnecessary calories.

When hard feed is needed, a fibre-based feed is often a sensible place to start. Higher-energy feeds may be suitable for competition horses or poor-doers, but they should be selected according to the horse’s workload and condition.

Feed hard feed:

By weight rather than by scoop
In small, regular meals
According to the manufacturer’s instructions
As part of the total daily ration
With forage remaining the main part of the diet

Avoid large cereal-based meals. As a general safety principle, concentrated feed should not be fed in quantities greater than around 0.5% of bodyweight in one meal. For a 500 kg horse, this is approximately 2.5 kg, although smaller meals are usually preferable.

Do not exercise a horse heavily immediately after a cereal-based meal. The British Horse Society recommends avoiding exercise for around one hour after cereal-based feeds. Providing some fibre before exercise can help support normal stomach function.

Vitamins, minerals and salt

Grass and forage provide fibre, energy and protein, but they do not always provide every vitamin and mineral in the correct balance. Levels can vary between fields, seasons and batches of hay.

A horse on a mainly forage-based diet may benefit from:

A broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement
A low-calorie balancer
Access to plain salt
Additional support where a known deficiency has been identified

A balancer can be useful when a horse needs vitamins and minerals but does not need the extra calories found in a full bucket feed. Always follow the feeding rate. Feeding less than the recommended amount may not provide the stated nutritional coverage.

Salt is an important source of sodium. A salt lick can provide free access, although some horses may not consume enough from a lick alone. A measured amount of salt in the feed may be appropriate, depending on the horse’s diet and professional advice.

Supplements should not be used to disguise an unbalanced ration. If you are concerned about your forage, consider having it analysed before adding several products.

Fresh water is essential

Water is the most important nutrient in a horse’s diet. Horses should have continuous access to clean, fresh water.

Check water supplies every day, including:

Automatic drinkers
Troughs
Buckets
Water containers in the stable
Temporary paddock supplies

Clean and refill containers regularly. In cold weather, check that water has not frozen. After exercise or sweating, a horse may need more water and may benefit from electrolytes. Plain water must still be available at all times.

Reduced water intake can affect how feed moves through the digestive system and may increase the risk of impaction colic. A sudden change in drinking habits should be taken seriously.

Feed according to workload and life stage

A suitable feeding plan changes as a horse’s circumstances change.

Good-doers and horses in light work

These horses may need:

Controlled grass intake
Lower-calorie hay or soaked hay
A small fibre feed to carry supplements
A vitamin and mineral balancer
Regular weight and condition checks

Avoid feeding high-energy products to a horse that is already maintaining weight.

Horses in moderate or hard work

These horses may need additional energy, especially if they are training, competing or struggling to maintain condition. Increase calories gradually and monitor:

Body condition
Energy levels
Recovery after work
Droppings
Behaviour
Appetite

Forage should still remain the foundation of the ration.

Youngstock

Growing horses need a carefully balanced supply of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Rapid growth caused by excessive calories is not the aim. A suitable youngstock feed and good-quality forage can help support steady development.

Pregnant and lactating mares

Nutritional needs increase during late pregnancy and lactation. The ration may need more energy, quality protein and carefully balanced minerals. A stud feed or a professional ration review may be appropriate.

Older horses

Dental problems can make long-stem forage difficult to chew. An older horse may need soaked fibre feeds, a hay replacer or a senior conditioning feed. Regular dental checks are essential, particularly if the horse is losing weight or dropping partially chewed forage.

Horse owner weighing fibre feed beside a clean feed room

Common horse feeding mistakes

Small changes in daily management can make a significant difference. Common mistakes include:

Feeding by scoop rather than weight , scoops vary in size and different feeds have different densities.
Making sudden changes , introduce new feed or forage gradually, ideally over 10–14 days.
Providing too little fibre , long gaps without forage can affect digestive health and behaviour.
Feeding too much hard feed , excess calories may contribute to weight gain and unwanted excitability.
Ignoring grass intake , pasture can provide a large amount of the day’s calories.
Using mouldy or dusty forage , discard forage that smells musty or shows signs of mould.
Giving unsuitable foods , never feed lawn clippings, and avoid large quantities of sugary or fermentable treats.
Overlooking water , check drinkers and troughs daily.
Adding several supplements without checking the ration , this may create unnecessary duplication or mineral imbalance.
Failing to monitor condition , use regular weigh-tape readings and body condition scoring.

The British Horse Society’s feeding guidance includes useful information on forage, hard feed, hydration and feeding routines.

A simple daily horse feeding checklist

For a practical starting point:

Check your horse’s weight and body condition.
Make forage the main part of the ration.
Weigh hay and bucket feed where possible.
Select hard feed according to workload and condition.
Provide a suitable vitamin and mineral source.
Keep fresh water available at all times.
Offer salt and consider electrolytes after heavy sweating.
Make diet changes gradually.
Store feed in a clean, dry, secure place.
Contact a vet if appetite, drinking, droppings, weight or behaviour changes unexpectedly.

Horse feed from Riker’s Pet Food

At Riker’s Pet Food, we support owners across the New Forest and surrounding areas with selected horse feed and equine supplies. We are an independent, family-run business, and our approach is simple: provide practical products, straightforward service and help where we can.

Our horse feed range includes selected products from established brands, including:

Availability can vary, so customers can contact us if they need a particular product or want to check what can be ordered. We also offer local delivery in our service area. Please note that the standard free 48-hour delivery on orders over £54.99 across England and Wales excludes horse and farm feeds. Delivery arrangements for equine orders can be confirmed with the Riker’s team.

A well-planned horse diet does not need to be complicated. Start with forage, provide water consistently, match calories to the individual and make changes carefully. Regular monitoring and professional advice will help keep the ration suitable as your horse’s needs change.

Chestnut horse drinking from a clean water trough in a green UK paddock