Understanding the Equine Feeding Pyramid

A horse's diet should be built from the ground up, much like a pyramid.

The Equine Feeding Pyramid provides a simple and effective guide to ensuring your horse receives the nutrition it needs for health, performance, and wellbeing.

STEP 1 The Foundation: Forage

At the base of the pyramid is forage, which includes grass, hay, and haylage. This is the most important part of a horse's diet, supporting digestive health and providing the fibre horses have naturally evolved to consume. As a general rule, horses should receive around 2% of their body weight in forage daily (dry matter), with adjustments made for overweight horses.

STEP 2 Filling the gaps: Feed Balancers

Even high-quality, ad-lib forage will leave nutritional gaps. A feed balancer helps provide essential vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that will be missing from a forage-only diet. This ensures horses receive balanced nutrition without unnecessary calories.

STEP 3 Additional fibre/calories for extra needs where appropriate

Some horses require more energy or help to maintain their condition. Additional fibre feeds can be introduced to provide extra calories in a slow-release, digestive-friendly form. Low-calorie fibre options are available for good doers, while conditioning fibres can support horses that struggle to maintain weight.

STEP 4 Supplements: used for a specific purpose in addition to a balanced diet

The pyramid places supplements above the core diet for a reason.

Supplements should only be considered once the horse's basic nutritional requirements are being met through forage, a balanced diet, and appropriate fibre sources. They can then be used to target specific needs such as joint support, digestive health, or hoof condition.

STEP 5 Treats: The smallest portion

At the top of the pyramid are treats, such as apples and carrots. While they can be useful for training, rewards, and bonding, treats should make up only a very small part of a horse's overall diet.

The Equine Feeding Pyramid reminds us that successful horse nutrition starts with the basics. Prioritising quality forage, balancing nutrients, and only then considering additional feeds, supplements, and treats creates a solid foundation for long-term health and performance. By following this simple hierarchy, horse owners can make more informed feeding decisions and support their horse's wellbeing every day.