Which Feed for Your Steed?

By Jessica Drexler, PAS, for Triple Crown Nutrition, the Official Feed Sponsor of USPC

There are a variety of horse feed types and textures you can choose for your horse. While some owners may have a favorite go-to feed they like to use, the right product for your horse comes down to taking a close look at their age, workload, caloric needs, health issues, and of course, their preferences. The last thing you want is to try to feed your horse something he won’t eat.

Let’s discuss the different feed textures and categories.

Pelleted Feeds

Disadvantages of pelleted feeds are:

• Pelleted feeds tend to create some “fines,” or dust, due to handling, which can be problematic for horses with respiratory issues.
• Pelleted feeds can be consumed faster than textured feeds, so use caution if you want to add this type of feed to the diet of a horse who tends to “bolt” his feed, as eating too fast can increase the risk of choking.
• Pelleted feeds do not always work well when you need to give your horse a supplement or medication that happens to be powdered because it can fall to the bottom of the feed pan. Adding a little water, mixing in a textured feed, or even adding applesauce may help.

Extruded Feeds

Differences to know about extruded feeds:

• Extruded feeds take up more space, so when you feed 5 pounds of this feed to your horse, it will seem like a lot more feed because the product is airier. This is a good reminder to always feed by the weight of the feed, not volume or feeding by the scoop. (Also be sure to follow product directions!)
• Due to the product size, it is worth noting that extruded feeds may come in smaller-sized bags at the store (40-pound versus 50-pound bags), even though they appear to be the same-sized bag, so be sure to check the packaging at time of purchase.
• Extruded feeds may not be a good choice for horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome, an endocrine disorder associated with inappropriate blood insulin levels and increased fat deposits. Although the starch in extruded feeds is pre-digested to keep it from reaching the large intestine, it is more easily absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine.

Textured Feeds

Disadvantages of textured feeds include:

• Horses can sift out ingredients they do not like.
• Textured feeds can take a bit longer to soften if adding water to make a mash.
• These feeds are more prone to mold development, and they also attract rodents, bugs, or flies to the barn. It’s important to be mindful of the shorter shelf life of textured feeds, increase pest control efforts, and to store these feeds properly.

Additional Feed Types Explained

Fiber-Based or Complete Feeds: Fiber-based feeds are often mistaken for a sweet feed based on their similar appearance, but they contain fiber-based ingredients like beet pulp and alfalfa meal.

These high-fiber complete feeds may contain little to no grains, making them a lower starch and lower sugar feed option. These feeds may have moderate- to high-fat guarantees and moderate to higher protein levels, making them ideal for performance horses, growing horses, and senior horses. They get the title of a “complete feed” if they have a guaranteed fiber content over 15%; this means the feed could be used to replace some or all forage in a horse’s diet. A senior horse with no teeth who can’t chew hay, hay cubes, or pasture could exclusively eat a senior complete feed and thrive.

Ration Balancer: A ration balancer is a nutrient-dense product that provides a horse with all his daily vitamin and mineral needs in a small amount of feed, typically 1 to 2 pounds daily for a 1,000-pound horse. Ration balancers can be used to supply missing nutrients for horses eating only pasture and/or hay diets, and to improve nutrition in diets when feeding below the recommended feeding rate of a particular feed and/or mixing with whole grains, such as corn, oats, or barley. Some ration balancers are low in starch and sugar, making them ideal for easy keepers and equines with metabolic diseases.

Making the Right Choice

All horse feed forms can be beneficial to horses, but it is important to read the product purpose statement and feeding directions to determine if the product is right for your horse.

Read feed labels carefully and follow product directions to ensure proper nutrition. Higher-quality feeds can be more cost-effective by reducing the need for additional supplements. Consult with an equine nutritionist or veterinarian, especially if managing specific health concerns.

Need more help with your horse’s nutrition? Contact a Triple Crown Feed expert at www.triplecrownfeed.com or call 800-451-9916 for personalized advice.

---

---

This article was originally published in the Winter 2024 issue of Discover USPC magazine. Read more content from that issue.