Concentrate (Hard) Feeds For Horses

When a horse is worked regularly it may require additional feed that is more concentrated in energy than a forage diet.

There are many commercial pre-mixed feeds that can be purchased to suit a variety of horses and ponies and understanding the ingredients and what qualities they possess will help decide on which feed is best for any individual horse or pony. Alternatively the individual ingredients can be purchased and then be fed as required.

Oats

Oats are nitrious and easily digested if fed crushed, rolled or cooked. Oats are a high energy (or "heating") food and the feeding of high quantities of oats can cause excessive exuberance in some horses. Oats may be fed as a total concentrate feed.

Barley

Barley should be boiled or soaked for at least 2 hours before feeding, as it swells when wet, so as to prevent it swelling once in the horse's stomach which can cause problems. It can however be fed dry if rolled and crushed first. It is nutritious and fattening as it is high in starch, so is good for a horse in poor condition or during winter. Micronised barley has a lower nutritional value. Barley may be fed as a total concentrate feed.

Maize

Maize is a high energy feed and may cause excitability. It is flaked and cooked or steamed to make it easier to digest. It is useful for fattening a horse but should not be fed to horses doing strenuous exercise as it stays in the stomach for a long time. Maize should not be fed as a total concentrate feed.

Linseed

Linseed is a food high in protein and must be cooked first to destroy poisonous enzymes and only a handful should be fed with a feed. It is useful for horses over the winter as it helps maintain condition and can aid fattening. It also promotes a good coat and skin. It can be laxative when fed in high quantities.

Chaff

Chaff is finely cut hay and straw and is used to bulk out a horses feed to prevent the horse from bolting down its food too fast.

Molichaff or Mollichop

Molichaff or Mollichop is a mixture of chaff and molasses, used to add bulk to the food and the molasses make it more appetising.

Bran

Bran is easily digested and provided wet in the form of a bran it proves a useful laxative.

Suger Beet

Sugar beet is a low sugar, slow release energy feed that is non-heating with high levels of calcium and fibre. Its very palatable so good for fussy eaters. Sugar beet should be soaked in water (one litre water for every 200g sugar beet) overnight as it swells when wet before feeding.