The 5 Types of Horse Feeds and Concentrates

The vast majority of a horse’s diet should be forage or roughage.1 Hay, however, is not enough for a complete nutritional profile. The addition of grains and concentrates will add critical minerals and nutrients but will also add calories. Below, see types of roughage, feeds, and concentrates—ordered from least to most “complete."

Roughage and Fiber

A horse on anything but a complete feed should eat 1.5-2% of its body weight in good-quality roughage in the form of pasture, hay, or other types of fiber. This equals 15-20 pounds of hay per day for an average 1,000 pound horse. Because horses evolved to graze, it is the most natural to feed smaller, frequent meals throughout the day if your horse isn't on pasture.

Pasture

Green grass is the most natural form of roughage and can be the most economical. However, it is important to routinely ensure pasture is free of any poisonous plants or debris that may injure the horse. Also, fresh green grass is very high in easily digestible sugar, so horses that are prone to obesity may need to have restricted pasture to prevent metabolic disease. In seasonal climates, pastures may not supply enough nutrition in the winter, so hay supplementation in colder temperatures may be necessary.

Hay

Hay is dried and baled grass (such as timothy, Bermuda grass or orchard) or alfalfa. There is no perfect hay; horses prone to obesity require a less nutrient-dense hay, while others may require those with more protein or easily digestible carbohydrates. Timothy, orchard, oat, and Bermuda are all grass hays. These are all high in fiber but lower in energy and protein than alfalfa. Hay is usually kept in either square or round bales, with the former being divided up into partitions, called flakes. Weighing a sample flake from each new batch will give you an idea of how much to feed; flake and bale weights differ considerably. Round bales may be more economical, but must be closely examined for wetness or mold which can harbor the dangerous toxin, botulism. Quality of hay, including low dust and absolutely no mold, is paramount to horse health. 

Hay and alfalfa also come in pelleted and cubed form. These can be easier to eat for horses with poor dentition because roughage is already broken down into small pieces to create the pellets and cubes. However, it is very important to soak hay cubes in water for at least 10 minutes2 and even break them up manually, as they can be a source of esophageal obstruction or choke. Horses that have airway diseases may benefit from being fed soaked hay, cubes, or pellets, as dust coming off soaked feeds is minimal.