Forage: How to Balance It with Concentrates

Proper equine nutrition is the cornerstone of a healthy, thriving horse. When planning a feeding regimen, balancing forage with concentrates is essential for ensuring your equine companions receive the nutrients they need to perform, recover, and live long, healthy lives. Whether you’re managing a stable of elite performance horses or caring for a beloved trail companion, understanding the role of forage and concentrates in your feeding strategy can make all the difference.

Understanding Forage: The Foundation of Equine Diets

For horses, forage is more than just food—it’s the core of their diet. Unlike other animals that rely heavily on grains and concentrates, horses are grazing animals. Their digestive systems are designed to process large quantities of fibrous material throughout the day. That’s why forage, in the form of cubed or pelleted options, should form the foundation of any horse’s nutrition plan.

Why Forage Matters

Forage promotes healthy digestion, supports dental health, and helps prevent colic and ulcers. High-fiber forage stimulates natural chewing behavior and saliva production, which aids in buffering stomach acid. It also fosters gut motility, ensuring the horse’s gastrointestinal system stays active and functional.

Cubes vs. Pellets: Know the Difference

1. Forage cubes are compressed blocks of high-quality plant material. Due to their density and nutritional value, they’re ideal for high-performance horses. Soaking cubes for about 30 minutes (or until softened) is recommended to prevent choke, especially in horses with dental issues or those that eat quickly.
2. Forage pellets are smaller and often used as a supplement to an existing forage base, not a replacement. Pellets can also be soaked to improve palatability and reduce the risk of choking, though it’s not mandatory. Pellets are ideal for fine-tuning nutritional intake.

Integrating Concentrates: When Forage Alone Isn’t Enough

While forage should make up the majority of a horse’s diet, some horses—especially those in heavy training, breeding programs, or recovering from illness—require additional nutrients that forage alone cannot provide. This is where concentrates come in.

What Are Concentrates?

Concentrates are energy-dense feeds like grains, pelleted feed blends, and specially formulated ration balancers. They are designed to deliver targeted nutrition, particularly protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals, in smaller servings.

Guidelines for Use

1. Start with Forage First: Calculate the horse’s forage intake based on its weight (typically 1.5% to 2.5% of body weight daily).
2. Evaluate Nutritional Gaps: Conduct a forage analysis or consult with a nutritionist to determine what additional nutrients your horse needs.
3. Add Concentrates Gradually: Introduce concentrates slowly to avoid digestive upsets. Divide feedings into multiple small meals throughout the day.
4. Tailor to the Individual: Not all horses need the same diet. Young, growing horses, pregnant mares, and athletes will require more energy and nutrients than retirees or lightly worked horses.

Customizing Your Horse’s Diet by Life Stage & Activity

Performance Horses

These athletes require top-tier forage. Forage cubes made from premium ingredients are especially suited to their high demands. Supplement with pellets and energy-dense concentrates to maintain optimal weight, muscle mass, and endurance.

Senior Horses

Older horses may have difficulty chewing traditional long-stem forage. Softened forage cubes or soaked pellets become vital here, ensuring easy digestion and nutrient absorption. Concentrates with added joint support and probiotics can also be beneficial.

Breeding Stock

Mares in foal and lactating mares need a forage base that provides sustained energy and protein. Additional concentrates formulated for reproductive health can support fetal development and milk production.

Leisure & Companion Horses

While these horses often thrive on forage alone, light supplementation with pellets can address minor gaps in vitamins or minerals, especially when pasture quality is low.

Feeding Best Practices: Tips for Balance

Balancing forage with concentrates isn’t just about math—it’s about observation and adjustment. Here are a few pro tips:

• Monitor Body Condition Score (BCS): Adjust feeding amounts based on visual and tactile assessments of fat coverage.
• Watch for Behavioral Cues: Horses that seem restless, bored, or display cribbing may benefit from increased forage to satisfy their need to chew.
• Hydration is Key: Ensure fresh, clean water is always available, especially when feeding dry cubes or pellets.
• Soak When Needed: While not mandatory, soaking forage cubes and pellets for 30 minutes or until softened can enhance safety and palatability.
• Routine Review: Reassess your feeding strategy every season. Changes in workload, weather, or health status can shift nutritional needs.

Why Greenway Animal Nutrition?

At Greenway Animal Nutrition, we recognize that high-quality feed is essential for maintaining healthy, well-nourished horses. That’s why we offer premium forage products designed to meet the diverse needs of horse owners, breeders, and trainers.

Our products include:

• Forage Cubes: Crafted from top-grade ingredients, perfect for high-performance horses.
• Forage Pellets: A supplement to your core forage program, offering flexible nutrient delivery.
• Bagged Straw Bedding: Clean, dust-free, and comfortable, ensuring a healthy living environment.

We don’t just sell products; we foster a culture of support, education, and community. Our goal is to empower horse owners with the tools and knowledge they need to keep their horses thriving.

Striking the Right Balance

Balancing forage with concentrates isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires thoughtful planning, regular review, and a commitment to understanding your horse’s individual needs. By prioritizing forage as the primary energy and fiber source and strategically supplementing with concentrates, you can support everything from optimal performance to graceful aging.

And remember—the best feed is only as good as the people who stand behind it. That’s why Greenway Animal Nutrition is proud to offer not just superior products but also exceptional service and guidance.

Ready to Feed with Confidence?

Whether you’re caring for a high-performance racehorse, a trusted riding companion, or a herd on your farm, Greenway Animal Nutrition has the products and expertise you need. Reach out to us directly to learn more about our premium forage cubes, pellets, and bedding solutions.