How to Read a Horse Feed Label
Five Steps, in This Order
- What type of feed is it? Balancer, complete feed, high-fiber feed, senior feed or a straight such as beet pulp. The feeding directions tell you within seconds.
- Read the analysis panel. Protein, fat, fiber and ash as percentages. It is called the guaranteed analysis in the US and the analytical constituents in the UK and EU.
- Check sugar and starch if your vet has said your horse needs a low-sugar, low-starch diet.
- Match the feeding rate to your forage. The printed amount assumes a certain amount of hay or grass alongside it.
- Watch your horse, not the bag. Body condition over the next few weeks tells you whether the amount is right.
Balancer or Complete Feed?
A ration balancer is concentrated: a small daily serving of protein, vitamins and minerals for a horse that gets its calories from forage. Native ponies, cobs and horses in light work often need nothing more.
A complete or high-fiber feed carries fiber and calories too, so its feeding rate is much larger. It is designed to replace part of the forage for a horse that can't eat enough hay, works hard or struggles to hold weight. Feeding a full complete-feed ration on top of plenty of hay is the classic way to end up with a round pony.
Protein, Fat and Fiber
Each figure is a percentage of the bag, not of your horse's whole diet. A balancer can show a high protein percentage and still supply a modest amount, because you feed so little of it. Compare feeds on what your horse actually eats in a day, not on the label alone.
- Protein: young, growing horses and horses in hard work need more than an adult at rest. Forage supplies a good share for most horses.
- Fat (oil): a dense source of calories, useful for a horse that needs more energy without more starch.
- Fiber: higher fiber usually means a feed closer to forage in character.
Sugar and Starch
Some labels list sugar and starch, sometimes combined as NSC (non-structural carbohydrate). If your vet has told you your horse is at risk of laminitis or needs a low-sugar diet, these numbers matter, and your vet or an equine nutritionist can tell you what to look for.
For a healthy horse with no such advice, the lowest number on the shelf isn't automatically the best feed. It is one factor among several.
The Feeding Rate Only Works Alongside Forage
Feeding directions give a range by body weight and work. A horse on poor or limited forage may sit toward the top; a horse on good grass may need the bottom of the range, or a balancer instead.
Weigh what you feed, at least once, so you know what a scoop of this feed actually holds. Scoops of different feeds weigh very different amounts. Make any change gradually, over several days. Our feeding horses forage first guide covers how much hay to start from.
Weighing and Storing Feed
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A kitchen-style scale or a hanging scale lets you weigh a scoop of each feed and a net of hay. A marked scoop then does the job day to day. A lidded metal bin keeps feed dry and away from rodents, and a ration balancer or high-fiber feed of the right type covers most horses once you know what your forage supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Protein, sugar and how much to feed, mostly.
Is a higher protein percentage better?
Not on its own. Growing and hard-working horses need more protein than an adult at rest, and forage supplies a good share. Compare what your horse eats in a day, not the label percentage alone.
How can I tell a ration balancer from a complete feed?
Look at the feeding directions. A balancer asks for a small daily amount; a complete feed asks for a much larger one because it replaces part of the forage.
Do I need a low-sugar feed?
If your vet has advised a low-sugar, low-starch diet for your horse, yes, and they or a nutritionist can tell you what figures to look for. Many healthy horses don't need the lowest number available.
My horse is gaining weight on the recommended amount. Why?
The printed rate may assume less forage than your horse gets, or a balancer may suit it better. Weigh the feed, check body condition and adjust gradually, with help from your vet or a nutritionist if needed.
Is a more expensive feed better?
Not necessarily. Matching the type of feed to your forage and your horse's needs matters more than price or brand.
Related Reading
- Feeding horses forage first: how much hay, and why it comes first.
- Horse feed and treats: balancers, feeds, salt and slow feeders.
- Body condition scoring: the check that tells you if the ration is right.
If your horse has special dietary needs, has lost or gained weight without an obvious reason, or your vet has flagged a laminitis risk, plan its diet with your vet or an equine nutritionist.