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Why Are Horses Fed Grain?

Maya Lin-Takahashi • • 7 min read
Why Are Horses Fed Grain?

Horses are fed grain to increase caloric intake.
Most grain provides one and a half times more energy per pound than hay. Grain feeds typically supply more protein than hay. Working horses perform well on a diet of 12 percent protein; however, for most horses, a minimum of eight percent protein sufficient.

Do horses need to be fed grain?

Provide plenty of roughage

Many pleasure and trail horses don't need grain: good-quality hay or pasture is sufficient. If hay isn't enough, grain can be added, but the bulk of a horse's calories should always come from roughage. ... A horse should eat one to two percent of their body weight in roughage every day.

Why do horses eat grain?

Why We Feed Horses Grain

So why, then, do we give them grain? When horses are in work, are hard keepers, or are nursing broodmares they have additional energy requirements that may not by met with quality hay or pasture grass alone. We give horses grain-based feeds to meet this additional caloric need.

Maya Lin-Takahashi
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Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.