The best horse feed is the one that meets your horse’s specific needs. A lot of people are confused about what to feed their horses, and they end up feeding them something that doesn’t work for them. This leads to a number of problems, including underweight or overweight horses, lack of muscle mass, poor appearance etc. That’s why it is vital to choose the best feed for your horse.
Horses require different types of feeds depending on their age, health issues and weight gain needs. For example, if your older retired horse has a problem with gaining or losing too much weight, then you should opt for senior feeds that are rich in protein and fibre – but not necessarily high in calories. The best senior horse feeds usually contain lower sugar and starch levels than other types of horse feed.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to feeding your horse, which is why we’ve decided to help by introducing some of the best options on the market today.
We’ve done our research by looking into what people are saying about each product, and we’ve also tested out the feeds ourselves. So let’s dive into the best horse feeds for 2021!
1. Formula 707 MultiFly Feed-Thru Fly Control Pellets – Safe & Palatable Fly Population Reduction
The new and improved Formula 707 MultiFly Feed-Thru Fly Control Pellets are a patented, alfalfa and wheat midd-based feed supplement that contains the active ingredient Novaluron. This new generation technology has been proven 99% effective at breaking fly life cycles to help eliminate your barn’s pesky pests!
The pellets are palatable as well as safe for horses and can be administered daily with their feed. Formula 707 MultiFly can also be used in combination with our other horse products such as Hoof Soother Plus, EquiSoothe.
Palatable
The Formula, 707 MultiFly Feed-Thru Fly Control Pellets for Horses, is the perfect choice to keep those pesky flies at bay and ensure that all of their appetites are on yours!
Safe
What’s not to love about this horse feed? The active ingredient in the feed is not an organophosphate, and it’ll be completely safe for your sharp friend!
Fly-Free Summer
A multi-pellet feeder is the best way to control flies and mosquitoes during summer.
Additionally, horses are more susceptible than humans when it comes downing these pesky pests, so using a pelletized formulation of your favourite fly spray will ensure that you’re not putting any unnecessary stress on their digestive system or skin, which could lead to other complications like ulcers from malnutrition (or worse).
Pros
- Tested successfully in multiple animal species.
- Significant reduction in the fly population
- Premium pellets
- Can easily be mixed with regular horse feed
- Easy to use
Cons
- The shipping container should be in a plastic bag because the lid can pop off.
2. Manna Pro Bite-Sized Apple Flavored Horse Treats
You can reward your horse for good behavior and training by giving them great horse treats. These bite-sized horse treats from Manna Pro come in an easy to carry resealable bag that makes it simple to take along on the go. Made with real apples, these apple-flavoured horse treats will have your horse begging for more! These Manna Pro apple-flavoured horse treats are sure to be a hit with you and your equine if you are looking for the best senior horse feeds.
Irresistible taste
Manna Pro’s Bite-Sized Horse Treats are high fiber and protein Senior horse feed that can help your senior equine friend gain weight. They’re also easy to break up for small horses with brittle or JOBO syndrome, so they don’t need supervision when eating them! The apple flavouring will make these tasty treats irresistible even if you have picky eaters in the house, too; just put some apples under each one before giving it away as bribery material (or reward).
Ideal Nugget Size For Stretching Or Training
Manna Pro Horse Treats are the perfect nuggets for training or stretching your horse. The apple flavoring will keep him satisfied and happy while also helping fill his stomach with nutrients!
4 Popular Flavors; Peppermint, Apple, Carrot, Butterscotch, & Spice
Manna Pro is here with their new line of horse treats! They have 4 delicious flavors: Apple, Peppermint, Carrot and Butterscotch. So you can give your equine friend something that will taste not only good but also be good for them too by choosing one of these tasty options from Manna pro!
Pros
- Made of high-quality ingredients
- Great taste and smell
- Quite affordable
- Best for all types of horses
- Variety of flavors
Cons
- Comes in small sizes
3. Manna Pro Simply Flax for Horses | Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Flaxseed | 8 Pounds
There is a reason why Manna Pro Simply Flax for horses has been one of the great choices of veterinarians and horsemen for over 20 years. With 8 pounds per bag, you’ll have no problem getting your equine friend their daily dose of this all-natural ground flaxseed!
Not only does it contain omega 3 fatty acids, which help promote healthy skin & coat conditions, but it also contains an abundance of vitamins A&E as well making sure that everything on board looks good from within out too! Plus, when Guaranteed Fresh arrives at our doorstep, no worries at all!
Ensures Health Wellness
Manna Pro Simply Flax for Horses provides a natural omega-3 fatty acid supplement from flaxseed, which is great to feed your horse if they need more fat in their diet. It is the best senior horse feed for weight gain that makes sure your equine stays healthy and active with an 8-pound weight gain!
Fresh Ingredients
The best horse feed is made with fresh ingredients and provides your equine partner everything they need to stay healthy, happy and active, including an increased metabolism that helps them burn fat more efficiently!
Pure And Effective
Manna Pro Simply Flax for Horses is a nutritious and effective feed to provide your horse with omega-3 fatty acids. Moreover, it’s economical than other brands!
Pros
- Omega-3 fatty acids resolve the horse’s dandruff problem.
- Makes skin neat and improved
- Can heal wounds
- Reduces inflammation
- No artificial ingredients
Cons
- Can take longer to bring results.
4. Daily Red Complete Wellness, fortified mineral mix supplement for horses, 5lb bag
Daily Red Complete Wellness, a supplement for horses that provides all the minerals they need to stay healthy. It also has key vitamins like vitamin C and B-vitamins in it so your horse can have an immune system strong enough to fight off any illness while giving them energy!
Daily red allows you to give your horse just what he needs without having to worry about guessing which mineral might be lacking in his diet – simply mix up some bags from 5lbs down depending upon their size preference or dietary needs (bigger adult requires heavier doses) then voila!
Suitable For Different Types Of Horses
Daily Red is a specially formulated horse feed that includes various multivitamins and minerals that help to provide balance in terms of essential nutrients. Daily red is ideal for horses confined to their stables, hard-working horses, nutrient-deficient horses and pregnant mares.
Made With Pure Natural Elements
Daily Red Horse Feed is made with a proprietary blend of horse- and pH-balancing ingredients. Its innovative mix of prebiotics, probiotics and super fruits help keep your horse healthy and his immune system strong. Daily Red has no grains, sweeteners, no fillers, or artificial flavors or colours.
Mixture Of Fortified Minerals And Amino Acids
Daily Red Complete Wellness, a premium blend of fortified minerals and amino acids, is specifically tailored to keep your horse healthy.
Pros
- The salt in Daily Red helps restrain consumption
- All-in-one package of minerals and multivitamins
- Easy to use
- Safe for horses
- No side effects
Cons
- Not recommended to feed with other salt blocks.
5. Purina Animal Nutrition Enrich Plus Ration
Purina Animal Nutrition Purina Enrich Plus Ration Balance is a complete feed that provides the protein, vitamins and minerals your horse needs to perform at its best. This horse feed provides balanced nutrition for horses who are kept on pasture and hay. It can be used as a complete feed or to add nutritional value to your horses’ diet. With high levels of vitamins and minerals, it supports your horse’s overall health and well-being.
Fill The Nutritional Gap
The nutrient needs of your horse will continue to change as he grows, becomes more active or is restricted due to a change in his diet. Recommended for consumption with a forage base, Purina Enrich Plus helps fill the nutritional gap left by forages and unfortified grain.
Appropriate For Stallions, Early Gestation Mares, & Growing Horses
Purina Animal Nutrition Purina Enrich Plus Ration Balancer Pellet 50lb is a high-protein feed for horses that promotes a balanced total diet for your equine companions, ideal for growing horses, early gestation mares, and stallions. This complete ration supplies excellent nutrients for your horses while promoting normal hoof development and balanced digestive health.
Recommended For All Breeds
Made with minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients to support healthy hooves, skin, hair, and overall coat health, it is a balanced horse feed that can help all types of horse breeds maintain a healthy weight.
Pros
- Maintains the body condition of your horse
- Less calories and more nutrients
- Balances out” the forage
- Low Starch
- Brings effective and quicker results
Cons
- A bit expensive
6. Manna Pro Sho-Glo Mineral & Vitamins Horse Supplement for Healthy Skin & Coat
Manna Pro’s Sho-Glo horse supplement is made to enhance the nutritional value of any horse feed. Its highly palatable; the easy-to-feed formula contains antioxidants, enzymes and yeast culture for optimal digestion.
Vitamins and minerals are included in the Nasc-certified formula to help support a strong immune system, ensure healthy skin and hair, and provide optimum energy. It’s the #1 best senior horse feed for weight gain and works well for post-surgical or convalescing horses. Manna Pro Sho-Glo is available in multiple sizes and formulations, including high-energy and Lite.
Enhances the horse feed
A complete mineral and vitamin supplement for horses, Manna Pro Sho-Glo, improves the feed value of all types of horse feeds. It is specially balanced for the needs of mature horses, but it can be used for any horse in good condition at any age.
Supports Shiny Coats And Healthy Skin
Rich in minerals and vitamins, this supplement supports shiny coats and healthy skin, while indulgent antioxidants can actually help boost your horse’s immune system.
Formulated With Sho-Hoof And Sho-Flex
Manna Pro Sho-Glo supplement is made to work together with Sho-Hoof and Sho-Flex for advanced performance.
Pros
- Ideal for all breed types
- Enriches the nutritional value of your horse’s feed
- Highly-palatable horse feed
- Boosts the energy and makes your horse active
- For 40 days supply
Cons
- It may not smell pleasant.
How To Choose The Best Horse Feed? | Buying Guide
If you want to buy the best horse feed, there are many things that need to be considered. First, you will need to know what type of food your horses eat and how much they should consume. It is important that you choose a feed with all of the vitamins and minerals they require for their daily needs. Let’s learn all about choosing the right horse feed!
Caloric Density
Caloric density is a measure of how much food energy is in a given weight or volume of feed. You want to choose a feed that has a high caloric density, as this will ensure your horse gets the most nutrients possible for its size. For example, if your horse is lighter weight, you might want to choose a feed with fewer calories per pound.
In addition, many smaller horses may require more frequent feeding than larger ones in order to get the same number of calories and other nutrients that their bodies need. You can easily calculate the caloric density using an online calculator or by dividing the number of grams of digestible energy by the weight (in kilograms) of the feed.
Macronutrients
A horse’s diet should consist of a balance of macronutrients, which are protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The type and amount of these nutrients will depend on the age and activity level of your horse.
Horses that are used for moderate exercise or under a lot of stress may need more protein. But, on the other hand, they might not even need to consume as much fat as those who don’t do as much physical activity. For example, if your horse is working hard during competitions and training sessions, their feed should have a higher percentage of fat.
For the best ratio of macronutrients for your horse, you should always consult with a specialist.
Micronutrients
In addition to macronutrients, horses also need a variety of micronutrients in their diets. These include minerals and vitamins, which are essential for maintaining good health.
Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and other minerals are essential for strong bones and teeth. Horses also need a certain amount of copper, selenium, and iodine in their diets to stay healthy.
Vitamins A, D, E, and K are also important for building strong bones and teeth.
If you are feeding your horse a commercial feed, it will already have all of these essential nutrients in it. However, if your horse has special dietary needs or is on a homemade diet, consult with a veterinarian to find out what the best supplements would be for their health issues.
Price
In general, a good feed for your horse does not have to be the most expensive one available.
When comparing prices of different feeds on an ounce-per-ounce basis or per pound, you should look at the cost per unit rather than just considering how much it costs in total. So, for example, if two bags are the same price but one has twice as many ounces, it is actually cheaper per ounce.
When looking for a good feed, also consider the quality of the ingredients and how they will benefit your horse.
Feeding Schedule
How often you feed your horse can also play a role in what type of feed you choose.
If you are feeding your horse several times a day, it might be best to choose one that has more calories per ounce. This will ensure they get the nutrients they need even if not all of their feed is consumed at each mealtime. On the other hand, horses who only eat once or twice daily can handle lower-calorie feeds because they are not being burned through as quickly.
It is also important to note that horses who don’t eat breakfast might need a feed with more calories than those who do.
Depending on your horse’s activity level, you may want to choose one that has a higher or lower caloric density. For example, if your horse is not working hard or doesn’t do much physical activity, it may need a feed with fewer calories per pound.
On the other hand, if they are constantly burning through energy and you don’t want them to lose weight, look for one that has more calories per ounce than others on the market.
If your horse is on a homemade diet, you might want to consider one that has ingredients specific to their health issues or needs. For example, if they have respiratory problems it would be best to find a feed with antioxidants and probiotics so as not to put them at risk of developing lung infections.
Conclusion
When choosing the best horse feed, it is important to consider all of the different factors that go into their diet. Age, activity level, and overall health should all be considered.
It is also essential to make sure your horse gets a balance of macronutrients as well as micronutrients.
Talk to a professional before you begin feeding your horse so that they can help recommend the best feed for their needs!