Expert Mare Feed Insights

Reasons Horses Turn Thin An underweight horse is not always a simple case of not getting enough horse feed. Weight loss can happen for many reasons, and the first step in any feeding program is figuring out why the horse is thin in the first place. If you only add more calories without addressing the cause, the horse may still struggle to gain weight or may lose condition again later. Typical causes include parasites, dental problems, stress, poor forage quality, illn

What Is an Easy-keeper Horse? An easy keeper is a horse that holds body condition score with ease, often on smaller amounts of feed than you might expect. These horses usually do well on limited calories because their metabolism is effective and they gain weight quickly when feed is too rich. Some easy keepers do well on plain forage alone, while others need a well-managed ration to stay healthy without becoming overweight. Understanding an easy keeper

What Sets Apart Horse Feed Different for Geldings? Picking the proper horse feed for a gelding starts with realizing that not every horse needs the same ration. A gelding’s gelding metabolism can change a lot based on age, workload, turnout, temperament, and whether he tends to be an easy keeper or a hard keeper . That means the best feed is not simply the one with the biggest name or the highest calorie count. It is the one that supports proper horse nutrit

What Causes a Horse Fussy About Feed? Many picky eaters are not being difficult on purpose. A horse may turn down one horse feed and happily eat another because the feed’s palatability , texture , or smell doesn’t fit them. Horses lean strongly on their senses when deciding whether to eat, so a minor change in aroma or mouthfeel can make a big difference in feed intake . Many horses dislike dusty mixes. Some others avoid feeds that are too hard, too sti

Can an overweight horse still need horse feed? Indeed, an overweight horse may still need horse feed , but the type and amount should meet its actual needs. The goal is not to cut out all feed automatically. Instead, you want a forage-first plan that supports balanced nutrition without adding unnecessary calories , starch , or sugar . An easy keeper often maintains weight on hay, pasture, and very little concentrate. But some horses still need a ratio

What Is Nutrena Horse Feed? Nutrena horse feed is a diverse line of horse feed products designed to support multiple classes of horses, from easy keepers and pasture horses to hard-working athletes. Like other major brands, Nutrena offers formulas built around equine nutrition goals such as sustained energy, digestive health, controlled starch, and balanced vitamins and minerals. The best product depends on the horse’s age, workload, forage access, and body conditi

The main types of horse feed are fiber sources, energy feeds, grain mixes, compressed feeds, and textured rations. In practical terms, most horse owners build a feeding program around horse feed that starts with roughage like hay and pasture , then adds concentrates only when extra fuel, protein , fat , vitamins , or minerals are needed. The right choice depends on the horse’s age and stage, exercise demands, body condition score, and how well the fee

Can Horse Feed Cause Gas in Horses? Absolutely, horse feed can trigger gas in horses, especially when the diet adjusts too fast, the portion size is excessive, or the feed is high in starch and sugar content. Gas is often the result of hindgut fermentation , which is a regular part of digestion, but problems happen when that fermentation goes off track. In those cases, the horse may develop digestive upset , bloating, discomfort, or even colic. The biggest issue i