5 Signs You’re Feeding Your Horse the Wrong Feed (And How to Fix It)
Feeding your horse seems straightforward—until you notice something’s off. Maybe your horse is losing weight, acting differently, or developing health issues. More often than not, the root of these problems lies in the feed. Despite our best efforts, even experienced horse owners can miss subtle cues that something isn’t right in their feeding routine. Choosing the right horse feed isn’t just about keeping your horse full—it’s about supporting their performance, behavior, and long-term well-being.
Let’s explore five clear signs your current horse feed may not be ideal and, most importantly, what you can do to correct it.
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1. Sudden Changes in Weight: Weight Loss or Gain
One of the most obvious signs of feeding the wrong feed is a noticeable change in your horse’s weight. Horses that are underfed or receiving the wrong balance of nutrients may start losing muscle mass and condition. Conversely, overfeeding or giving high-calorie concentrates to an idle horse can result in unhealthy weight gain.
How to Fix It:
- Assess Body Condition Score (BCS): Regularly evaluate your horse’s BCS on a scale from 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese). Ideal scores range between 4 and 6, depending on the horse’s age and workload.
- Evaluate Feed Composition: Ensure your horse’s feed matches their workload, age, and breed. For example, a high-performance horse requires more energy-dense feed than a pasture pet.
- Introduce High-Quality Forage: Forage should always be the foundation of your feeding program. Products like forage cubes and pellets provide digestible fiber and nutrients without unnecessary calories.
A gradual change in diet, with adjustments based on performance level and metabolic rate, can bring your horse back to a healthy weight.
2. Dull Coat and Poor Hoof Quality
A shiny coat and strong hooves are often indicators of good internal health. If your horse’s coat looks dull, feels coarse, or their hooves crack and chip easily, you may be dealing with a nutritional imbalance, particularly deficiencies in essential fatty acids, amino acids, or minerals like zinc and biotin.
How to Fix It:
- Add Omega Fatty Acids: Look for horse feeds that include flaxseed, soybean oil, or other healthy fats to promote a glossy coat.
- Ensure Balanced Minerals: A high-quality feed should have the right balance of macro and trace minerals. You can also consider a hoof-specific supplement if your current feed falls short.
- Boost Protein Quality: Horses need amino acids like lysine and methionine for healthy hair and hoof growth. Premium forage products often contain naturally balanced protein sources to support these needs.
Feeding the right nutrient-rich feed improves external appearance and supports your horse’s immune function and overall vitality.
3. Behavioral Changes or Energy Imbalance
Horses are creatures of habit. If your normally calm horse becomes hyperactive, irritable, or lethargic, consider looking at their diet. An energy mismatch—too many quick carbs for a laid-back trail horse or not enough fuel for a competition horse—can cause serious behavioral swings.
How to Fix It:
- Avoid High-Starch Feeds (Unless Necessary): Diets heavy in grains and starch can spike blood sugar, leading to unpredictable energy and even conditions like laminitis.
- Use Forage-Based Energy: Forage pellets and cubes provide slow-release energy that supports sustained performance without behavioral side effects.
- Match Feed to Activity Level: Feeding a racehorse the same ration as a lightly ridden gelding is a recipe for problems. Customize your feeding based on work intensity.
When your horse receives a balanced source of energy appropriate to their job, you’ll notice a more consistent, manageable temperament.
4. Digestive Issues: Colic, Diarrhea, and Gas
Feeding the wrong type or amount of horse feed can wreak havoc on your horse’s digestive tract. Frequent colic episodes, soft stools, or excessive gas can often be traced back to poor-quality feed, sudden diet changes, or an improper forage-to-concentrate ratio.
How to Fix It:
- Prioritize Digestible Fiber: Horses are hindgut fermenters, meaning they rely on fiber for proper digestion. High-quality forage products like alfalfa or timothy cubes support gut health.
- Feed Small, Frequent Meals: Instead of two large grain-heavy meals, offer smaller, more frequent portions with free choice forage to prevent gut stress.
- Transition Gradually: Always take 7-10 days to transition between feed types to allow gut bacteria to adjust.
A stable digestive system translates to a happier, healthier horse—and a lower vet bill.
5. Poor Performance and Slow Recovery
Is your performance horse tiring quickly, refusing to train, or struggling to recover after workouts? While these symptoms could stem from overtraining or a medical condition, don’t overlook nutrition. Feeding a diet lacking in quality protein, electrolytes, or digestible energy can hinder your horse’s ability to train and recover.
How to Fix It:
- Incorporate High-Energy Forage: Alfalfa-based cubes or pellets are excellent sources of digestible energy and protein to support muscle repair.
- Add Electrolytes in Hot Weather: Especially during intense training or hot climates, horses lose vital salts through sweat. Consider electrolyte supplementation.
- Monitor Protein Intake: Underfed muscles don’t grow. Make sure your horse is getting enough lysine, threonine, and other essential amino acids.
Recovery isn’t just about rest—it’s about fueling the body with the right nutrients at the right time. The right horse feed provides energy and replenishes lost nutrients after physical effort.
Bonus Tip: Feed Labels Can Be Misleading
Another often overlooked issue is feed mislabeling or misleading marketing. Many commercial feeds appear to be “complete” but contain low-quality fillers, synthetic additives, or imbalanced nutrient ratios. It’s important to scrutinize feed labels and seek transparency in sourcing and nutritional content.
What to Look for in a Quality Horse Feed:
- Named Forage Sources: Look for specific ingredients like “alfalfa meal” or “timothy grass,” not just “plant protein.”
- No Artificial Fillers: Avoid feeds loaded with molasses, corn syrup, or by-product meals.
- Consistent Nutritional Values: The guaranteed analysis should align with your horse’s needs, and reputable manufacturers will offer guidance or support in customizing a feeding program.
The Role of High-Quality Forage in a Balanced Diet
Regardless of whether your horse is a backyard buddy or a performance athlete, forage should be the centerpiece of their diet. The digestive system of a horse is built for constant grazing—not bolted grain meals. That’s why switching to forage-first nutrition often resolves multiple health and behavioral problems at once.
Forage cubes and pellets are particularly useful for:
- Horses with dental issues (easier to chew or soak)
- Traveling or boarding horses (more convenient and consistent)
- Weight gain or muscle maintenance
- Seniors and young horses needing quality protein
These products offer versatility, nutritional density, and digestibility—qualities that hay alone may lack, especially if the hay quality is inconsistent due to seasonal changes.
Customizing the Fix: It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All
Every horse is different. Breed, age, workload, metabolism, and environment all play a role in determining the right feed. The solution isn’t always about switching brands—it may be about tweaking rations, supplementing strategically, or upgrading forage quality.
If you’re unsure, consider consulting an equine nutritionist or working with a feed provider that understands your horse’s unique needs.
Why Choose Greenway Animal Nutrition?
At Greenway Animal Nutrition, we understand that not all horses—and not all horse feeds—are created equal. Whether you’re managing a competitive show string, nurturing a growing foal, or simply enjoying trail rides with your favorite companion, we provide premium forage products tailored to your horse’s health and lifestyle.
Our offerings include:
- Forage Pellets – Easy to feed and great for mixing with supplements or top-dressings.
- Forage Cubes – Ideal hay replacement for high-performance needs or weight maintenance.
We prioritize quality, consistency, and nutritional integrity in every batch. No fillers. No mystery ingredients. Just clean, reliable nutrition that helps horses thrive from the inside out.
Ready to Make a Change?
If you’ve seen any of the signs above, it’s time to rethink what’s going in your horse’s feed bucket. You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight, but you do need to ensure that what you’re feeding is doing more good than harm. Your horse deserves feed that fuels, heals, and supports—every single day.
Contact us today to learn more about our forage-based feed solutions and how we can help customize a feeding program that brings out the best in your horse. Whether you have one horse or a whole herd, we’re here to support you every step of the way with knowledge, compassion, and quality you can trust.