Smarter Feeding for Healthier Horses

Feeding your horse isn’t just a daily chore. It’s one of the most important ways you support their health, energy, and overall well-being. Whether you’ve got a mellow companion or a high-performing athlete, what and how you feed makes a real difference.

With so much information (and misinformation) out there, it helps to return to the basics. This guide walks you through the fundamentals. From clean water to quality feed and understanding how much your horse really needs. It’s not complicated, but it does take intention.

Rules of Feeding Horses

Feeding well isn’t just about what’s in the bucket. It’s about understanding your horse’s needs, respecting their routine, and choosing quality every time. Here are a few guiding principles that lay the groundwork for better health and performance:

1. Fresh, Clean Water – Always: One of the best things you can give your horse is constant access to clean, fresh water. Whether that’s from a trough, bucket, or automatic waterer. Hydration supports every body system, especially digestion.
2. Feed Hard Feed in the Right Amounts: Concentrates should supplement good forage, not replace it. Don’t feed more than 4.5 lbs in one sitting. If your horse needs more, split it into smaller meals. 
3. Choose Quality Feed: Feed should be clean, fresh, and free from dust, mold, or off smells. When in doubt, throw it out. High-quality feed builds the foundation for long-term health and performance.
4. Feed the Individual Horse: Every horse is different. Some are naturally more energetic or “hot,” and the wrong feed can make them harder to manage. Match the ration to their body type, temperament, and workload. As a general rule: you should feel their ribs, not see them. Watch for signs of excess weight like a cresty neck or apple-shaped hindquarters; those might mean it’s time to adjust.
5. Time Feed Around Work: Avoid feeding hard feed right before exercise. Give one to two hours for digestion beforehand. Fiber-based feeds are gentler on the stomach and can be fed closer to ride time, helping to support gut function without discomfort.
6. Be Consistent: Horses thrive on routine. Feeding at the same time every day helps them feel grounded and secure – supporting both their physical and mental well-being.

Why Weight Matters

At Elston’s, we believe in practical, purposeful care and nutrition is right at the top of the list. But here’s something many horse owners still overlook: feeding by weight.

Ask most folks how much they feed, and you’ll likely hear answers like “a scoop” or “a couple of flakes.” It may feel familiar, but it’s often far from accurate. Equine nutrition isn’t one-size-fits-all, and eyeballing it doesn’t cut it. Feeding by weight is one of the simplest shifts you can make for healthier horses and smarter care.

So, What Do Horses Actually Eat?

A balanced diet typically includes:

• Forage (hay or pasture) – the foundation
• Concentrates (like pelleted or textured feeds) – for added energy or nutrients
• Supplements – only when needed, based on individual needs

Forage should make up the bulk of the diet. It keeps the digestive system moving and supports natural grazing behavior. Concentrates fill in the gaps when horses need extra fuel. Some may also benefit from added vitamins, minerals, oils, or electrolytes, depending on the weather, their condition, or workload.

It starts with reading the label and knowing how much you’re actually feeding.

Every Horse Is Different

A young colt, a broodmare, and a retired trail horse won’t thrive on the same type or amount of feed. Their needs vary based on age, breed, activity, and health. The only way to truly meet those needs? Know your horse’s weight and measure what you feed.

Feeds are carefully formulated based on nutritional science. They’re designed to be fed in specific amounts to deliver the right balance of protein, fiber, fat, vitamins, and minerals. When you “eyeball” a scoop or flake, you’re guessing and that guess can miss the mark.

And when it does? You could end up with weight loss, poor performance, or even serious health issues like colic, laminitis, or nutrient deficiencies over time.

You Might Be Overfeeding or Underfeeding

Let’s say you’ve got a moderately active 1,100-pound horse. That horse likely needs 2-2.5% of their body weight in total feed each day about 22–28 pounds of hay and grain combined. But if you’re not weighing it out, you could be feeding too much or too little without realizing it.

Scoop sizes vary. Flakes of hay can weigh wildly different amounts depending on the type and moisture content. A scoop of pellets isn’t the same as a scoop of sweet feed. And alfalfa hay weighs more than grass hay. These little differences can add up fast.

Precision Feeding = Better Health

Weighing feed gives you clarity and control. With a simple scale, you can:

• Meet your horse’s energy demands
• Avoid overfeeding and reduce metabolic risks
• Maintain healthy weight and condition
• Get the most from the feed you’re buying
• Spot appetite or health changes early

How to Start Feeding by Weight

1. Weigh your horse: If you don’t have access to a scale, use a weight tape for a solid estimate.
2. Know your feed: Check the label or talk to your feed dealer or equine nutritionist for recommended amounts.
3. Use a scale: A hanging or kitchen scale works great. Weigh your hay and grain until you know what your typical scoop or flake actually weighs. Once the item is weighed, mark the scoop or mark the flake thickness for that bale so it doesn’t have to be weighed every feeding.
4. Adjust as needed: Watch your horse’s condition, energy, and performance. Make changes based on season, workload, and health.
5. Stay consistent: Same time. Same amounts. Horses do best with a steady routine.

We’re Here to Help

At Elston’s, we don’t follow trends. We follow what works. Feeding by weight takes a little more time and attention, but it leads to better performance, fewer problems, and horses that truly thrive.

If you’re using a feed like Elston Hay & Grain’s Hay, Integrity Horse Feeds, Star Milling Co, Farmer’s Best, Purina Mills, or any other feed developed with a balance of nutrients in mind, feeding your horses properly by weight ensures your horse gets every benefit built into the formula.

Feeding well doesn’t mean feeding more, it means feeding smarter. With a scale, a little consistency, and a focus on your horse’s individual needs, you can make a meaningful difference.

Got questions about feed, weight, or choosing the right product? Come see us at Elston’s. We’re here to help.

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Elston Hay & Grain

For over 55 years, Elston’s has been San Diego’s go-to for animal care and rural living. We proudly support generations of horse lovers, livestock caretakers, pet owners, and home growers with top-notch hay, feed, and supplies. Rooted in ranching and built on friendly know-how, we’re here to help you care for your animals with confidence. Whether you’re raising chickens, feeding a stable, or spoiling your pup, here at Elston’s we’ve got what you need.

Shop online or visit us at our locations in Ramona and Poway. We proudly deliver to all of San Diego County, including Escondido, Lakeside, Warner Springs, Julian, Ranchita, and South County. https://shop.elstonhayandgrain.com/