10 feeding mistakes to avoid before you ride

With grazing becoming increasingly sparse across many parts of the UK, many horses are spending longer periods with less access to the fibre they naturally rely on.

While turnout is still hugely beneficial, a horse standing in a field does not always mean they have eaten enough. Short, dry grass can leave horses with less fibre in their digestive system than owners realise and this is especially important before exercise.

Horses produce stomach acid continuously, whether they are eating or not. Regular access to forage helps support saliva production, which provides a natural buffering effect and contributes to the protective mucus layer within the stomach.

Before you ride, small changes to your feeding routine can make a big difference.

Here are 10 common mistakes to avoid.

1. Riding on an empty stomach

   Horses produce stomach acid continuously, even when they're not eating. If there is very little forage in the stomach, acid is more likely to splash onto the sensitive upper part during exercise, especially when trotting, cantering and jumping.

   Offering forage before exercise encourages chewing and saliva production, helping support the horse’s natural digestive processes.

2. Assuming turnout means they've eaten enough

   Just because your horse has been in the field all day does not mean they have had enough fibre. During periods of poor grazing, horses may consume far less than expected and could be starting work with a relatively empty stomach.

3. Not offering hay before you ride

   One of the simplest things you can do is offer a small haynet around 20–30 minutes before exercise.

   For an average 500kg horse, around 1–2kg of hay can encourage chewing without becoming a full meal. Hay is particularly useful before exercise as long-stem fibre encourages more chewing and saliva production than hard feed.

4. Tacking up while they stand doing nothing

   Instead of tying your horse up with nothing to eat, allow them to nibble hay while you groom and tack up.

   More chewing means more saliva production, helping support the horse’s natural ability to buffer stomach acid.

5. Feeding cereals instead of fibre

   If choosing between forage or a cereal-based bucket feed immediately before exercise, fibre is the better option.

   Long-stem forage is much better suited to supporting digestive comfort before work because it encourages chewing and saliva production.
   
   

6. Forgetting snacks on long rides

   Heading out for several hours? Remember your horse’s digestive system is designed around regular fibre intake.

   If stopping for a break, allow grazing where it is safe or offer a little hay. A short fibre break helps maintain normal eating behaviour.

   
7. Travelling to a competition without enough forage

   Travelling often means horses go longer between eating.

   Keeping hay available before loading and during travel, where safe to do so, helps maintain normal chewing behaviour and supports digestive comfort before they arrive.
   
   

8. Thinking chopped fibre is always the same as hay

   Chopped fibre feeds can be useful, but they do not always provide the same chewing time as long-stem forage.

   If you have the choice before riding, hay or haylage is usually the better option for encouraging chewing and saliva production.

9. Saving all the forage until after you've ridden

   Many owners wait until they have finished riding before offering hay.

   However, horses are likely to benefit from having fibre available before exercise rather than waiting until afterwards.

10. Waiting until there's a problem

    Good stomach management is not just for horses with diagnosed issues.

    Supporting digestive health through consistent forage management and a fibre-first approach is sensible for all ridden horses, particularly when grazing is poor.