Can Athletic Horses Thrive on a Forage-Based Diet?

For decades, conventional wisdom held that high-performance horses required grain-heavy diets to fuel their athletic demands. However, emerging research is challenging this assumption, revealing that many horses can not only survive but thrive on forage-based nutrition.

The Case for Forage

The equine digestive system evolved over millions of years to process fibrous plant material. Horses are hindgut fermenters, meaning they extract energy from fibre through bacterial fermentation in the caecum and large intestine.

When we load horses with grain and starch:

• It overwhelms the small intestine's limited starch-digesting capacity
• Undigested starch reaches the hindgut, disrupting microbial balance
• This can lead to hindgut acidosis, behavioural issues, and increased colic risk

Research Findings

Studies have shown remarkable results with forage-based feeding:

• Racehorses have won races on high-energy forage diets
• Endurance horses perform excellently on fibre-based nutrition
• Reduced rates of gastric ulcers and digestive disturbances
• More stable energy levels throughout the day

Making Forage Work for Performance

The key is selecting the right forage:

1. Quality matters - Test hay for nutritional content
2. Consider lucerne - Higher protein and energy than grass hay
3. Super fibres - Beet pulp and soy hulls offer concentrated fibre energy
4. Supplementation - Address any nutritional gaps with targeted supplements

Transitioning Your Horse

If you're considering reducing grain:

• Make changes gradually over 2-4 weeks
• Monitor body condition closely
• Work with an equine nutritionist for personalised guidance
• Ensure adequate calorie intake through high-quality forage

Every horse is an individual. While many thrive on forage-based diets, working horses with very high energy demands may still benefit from some concentrate inclusion.