Top 5 Common Mistakes Horse Owners Make When Feeding Their Horses

As horse owners, we all want the best for our horses. Yet when it comes to feeding, even the most well meaning among us can make mistakes that impact our horses’ health and performance. After working with hundreds of horse owners and seeing the same challenges arise time and again, I’ve realized that getting feeding right isn’t just about knowing what to feed – it’s about having the right tools and knowledge to make informed decisions.

Before we look at the most common feeding mistakes horse owners make, consider this: How confident are you in your horse’s current feeding program? Many owners initially felt sure about their approach, until they used our interactive feed calculator to analyze their horse’s specific needs. (If you’d like to check your own horse’s requirements, you can access our free basic feed calculator here).

Let’s explore these five critical feeding mistakes and, more importantly, learn how to avoid them. By the end of this post, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to optimize your horse’s nutrition – and I’ll share some additional resources that can help you create the perfect feeding program for your horse.

5 mistakes feeding your horse — A young warmblood can be on the lighter side

1. Overfeeding or Underfeeding Based on Visual Assessment

“He looks fine!” – It’s a phrase I hear often when discussing feeding with horse owners. However, relying solely on visual assessment is one of the riskiest approaches to feed management. While your eye can tell you a lot about your horse’s condition, it shouldn’t be your only tool for determining feed portions.

Think about this: a horse that appears to be at an ideal weight during winter might actually be carrying too much condition under that fluffy coat. Conversely, a horse that looks “well-covered” during summer might be masking ribs with poor muscle tone. This is where the science of feeding needs to replace guesswork.

The real challenge comes when we need to adjust feed quantities. Many owners struggle with questions like: “How much should I increase feed when work intensity changes?” or “Should I reduce feed during rest periods?” These aren’t decisions that should be made based on appearance alone.

The Solution: Getting it right starts with understanding your horse’s actual weight and body condition score (BCS). Using a weight tape monthly and recording the results gives you concrete data to work with. Combine this with regular body condition scoring (which I explain in detail in my free Condition Scoring Guide), and you’ll have a much more accurate picture of your horse’s nutritional needs.

Once you have these measurements, you can use them to calculate precise feed requirements. Our interactive feed calculator factors in everything from your horse’s age and workload to their current condition score, taking the guesswork out of portion sizing. (If you haven’t already, try it out – you might be surprised by how your current feeding program compares to the recommended amounts.)

Remember: Small adjustments in feed quantities can make a big difference over time. It’s not about making dramatic changes, but rather about getting the portions right consistently, day after day.

2. Ignoring the Importance of Forage Quality

When it comes to feeding horses, there’s a truth that often gets overlooked: not all hay is created equal. While most owners understand that forage should make up the majority of their horse’s diet, many don’t realize just how much forage quality can impact their horse’s overall health and performance.

I recently worked with a client whose horse was losing condition despite being fed premium concentrates. The culprit? Poor-quality hay that looked fine at first glance but lacked the nutritional value her horse needed. This isn’t uncommon – in fact, it’s one of the most frequent issues I encounter in my nutrition consultations.

What Makes Quality Forage So Critical? Your horse’s digestive system is designed to process forage continuously throughout the day. Beyond just filling their belly, good quality forage provides essential nutrients, maintains gut health, and supports natural behaviors. When we compromise on forage quality, we’re not just cutting corners – we’re potentially setting our horses up for digestive issues, behavioral problems, and poor nutrient absorption.

Key Signs of Good Quality Hay:

Sweet, fresh smell (never musty or moldy)
Bright green color (not yellow or brown)
Leaf-to-stem ratio that favors leaves
Free from dust, weeds, and foreign objects
Consistent texture throughout the bale

This is where many owners ask me: “But how do I really know what my horse is getting from their forage?” It’s a great question, and it’s exactly why I developed our Forage Analysis Guide. (If you’d like to learn more about analyzing your own hay, our free guide walks you through the basics of forage assessment.)

Understanding your forage quality is essential for making informed decisions about the rest of your horse’s diet. In fact, when you use our feed calculator, one of the first things we consider is forage quality – because it impacts every other aspect of the feeding program.

Remember: The best concentrated feed in the world can’t compensate for poor quality forage. Start with good forage, and you’re already halfway to an optimal feeding program.

3. Sudden Changes in Feed Routine

We’ve all been there – the feed store runs out of your usual brand, or you’re tempted by a new product promising amazing results. But here’s something that might surprise you: sudden feed changes are one of the leading causes of digestive upset in horses, even when you are switching to a “better” product.

Let me share a story that illustrates this perfectly. Last summer, a client’s horse developed colic shortly after switching to a new feed brand. The new feed wasn’t the problem – it was actually an excellent product. The issue was the abrupt transition. This scenario is far more common than most owners realize, and it’s completely preventable.

Why Gradual Changes Matter

Your horse’s digestive system relies on a complex community of gut microbes to break down feed efficiently. These microbes are specialists – they’re adapted to process specific types of feed. When we suddenly change the feed, we essentially shock this microbial community, potentially leading to:

Reduced feed efficiency
Increased risk of colic
Digestive discomfort
Changes in behavior
Loose droppings

The Right Way to Make Changes

Any feed change should take place over 10-14 days minimum. This gives the gut microbes time to adjust and maintain their essential function. (Not sure how to calculate the right transition schedule? Our feed calculator includes a transition planner that does the math for you.)

Here’s what a proper transition looks like: Days 1-3: 75% old feed, 25% new feed Days 4-6: 50% old feed, 50% new feed Days 7-9: 25% old feed, 75% new feed Days 10-14: 100% new feed

Pro Tip: Keep a small buffer supply of your current feed to ensure you have enough to make gradual transitions when needed. If you’re interested in learning more about managing feed transitions effectively, I cover this in detail in my Feeding Fundamentals digital guide.

Remember: Planning ahead for feed changes isn’t just about being organized – it’s about protecting your horse’s health and wellbeing. Even the best feed can cause problems if introduced too quickly.

4. Improper Feeding Schedule

If you watch horses in their natural environment, you’ll notice that they spend 16-18 hours a day grazing. Yet in domestic settings, we often see horses being fed just two or three large meals a day. This disconnect between natural feeding patterns and common stable practices can lead to serious health and behavioral issues.

The Science Behind Feeding Frequency

Your horse’s stomach continuously produces acid, whether there’s food present or not. In nature, constant grazing means there’s always forage to buffer this acid production. When we restrict feeding to just a few meals a day, we create periods where the stomach is empty but still producing acid – a recipe for potential ulcers and digestive discomfort.

Signs Your Feeding Schedule Needs Attention:

Wood chewing or cribbing
Weaving or stall walking
Aggression around feeding time
Weight loss despite adequate feed quantity
Poor concentration during work
Digestive issues

Creating an Optimal Schedule

The good news is that with some planning, you can create a feeding routine that better matches your horse’s natural patterns. (Our Feeding Schedule Generator, available in the member’s area of our website, can help you plan this around your daily commitments.)

Key Principles for Better Feeding Timing:

Never leave your horse without forage for more than 4 hours
Space concentrate feeds evenly throughout the day
Adjust timing based on work schedule
Consider slow feeders for extended forage access

A client recently told me, “I thought I needed to feed more concentrates because my horse was losing weight, but after using your schedule planner, I realized I just needed to space his meals better. He’s now maintaining weight on less feed!”

For those interested in diving deeper into feeding schedules, I’ve created a comprehensive Timing & Distribution Guide that looks at how feeding patterns affect everything from digestion to performance. It includes practical solutions for common scheduling challenges, whether you keep your horse at home or at a boarding facility.

Often it is not what you feed, but when you feed that makes the difference. A well-planned feeding schedule can improve your horse’s health, behavior, and performance while potentially reducing your feed bills.

5. Over-Supplementing Without Assessment

“Better safe than sorry” – it’s a mindset that leads many horse owners to reach for supplements. While this comes from a good place, random supplementation without proper assessment can be both costly and potentially harmful. I’ve seen feed rooms that look more like supplement stores, with owners spending hundreds on products their horses don’t actually need.

The Supplement Trap

Let’s be honest – the equine supplement market is overwhelming. Every product promises amazing results, and the marketing is compelling. But here’s a startling fact: many horses on multiple supplements are either getting excessive amounts of certain nutrients or missing out on others entirely.

Real-World Example:
Recently, I analyzed a feeding program where a horse was receiving three different supplements containing selenium. When we calculated the total intake using our Nutrient Calculator, the horse was getting nearly three times the recommended daily amount – a potentially dangerous situation.

The Smart Approach to Supplementation

Before adding any supplement to your horse’s diet, ask these crucial questions:

What specific issue am I trying to address?
What nutrients is my horse already getting from feed and forage?
Has my horse’s need for this supplement been confirmed?
How will this supplement interact with their current diet?

Making Informed Decisions

The first step in smart supplementation is understanding your horse’s base diet. (Our feed calculator can help you analyze your horse’s current nutrient intake from basic feed and forage. Access it here to get started.) Once you know what your horse is already getting, you can make informed decisions about what, if any, supplements they actually need.

For those wanting to find out more about supplement selection, my Supplement Smart Guide provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating supplements and making cost-effective choices. It includes detailed nutrient interaction charts and guidelines for specific disciplines and life stages.

More isn’t always better when it comes to supplements. The most effective approach is often the simplest one, based on actual needs rather than marketing claims.

Conclusion

Getting your horse’s feeding program right doesn’t have to be complicated – but it does require attention to detail and the right tools. As we’ve explored these five common mistakes, you’ve likely recognized some aspects of your own feeding program that could use a review. That’s actually good news – awareness is the first step toward improvement.

Take a moment now to consider your horse’s current feeding routine. Are you confident in your feed quantities? How’s your forage quality? Is your feeding schedule working for both you and your horse? If you’re feeling uncertain about any aspect, you’re not alone – and more importantly, there are solutions available.

I invite you to start with our free basic feed calculator (click here to access) to get a baseline assessment of your horse’s nutritional needs. For those ready to dive deeper, our Complete Feeding Success Bundle includes all the tools we’ve mentioned throughout this article:

Interactive Feed Calculator (advanced version)
Forage Analysis Guide
Feeding Schedule Generator
Supplement Smart Guide
And more…

The most successful feeding programs are those that are regularly reviewed and adjusted based on your horse’s changing needs. Whether you’re managing one horse or an entire barn, having the right tools and knowledge makes all the difference.

Your horse’s nutrition is the foundation of their health, performance, and happiness. Taking the time to get it right is one of the best investments you can make in their well-being.

Top 5 Common Mistakes Horse Owners Make When Feeding Their Horses

1. Overfeeding or Underfeeding Based on Visual Assessment

2. Ignoring the Importance of Forage Quality