This What Should I Feed My Horse Quiz helps you choose the right diet based on age, workload, temperament, and overall condition. Feeding your horse isn’t just about hay and grain it’s about balance, purpose, and adjusting for their individual needs. Whether you’re feeding a senior retiree, a growing foal, or a high-performance athlete, this quiz will guide you through the fundamentals of equine nutrition.
Feeding decisions affect everything from weight and behavior to hoof quality, digestion, and long-term health. Horses need consistency, structure, and a diet tailored to their workload and stage of life. This quiz looks at your horse’s daily routine, health status, and activity level to provide a feeding profile that reflects real-world best practices.
Equine nutrition is essential, but there’s so much more to explore. Test your riding skills with the What Level Horse Rider Am I Quiz or discover which horse might suit you best with the What Horse Suits You Best Quiz.
Your What Should I Feed My Horse Quiz Starts Here – Are You Ready?
Feeding Horses Is About More Than Calories
Each horse has a unique digestive system, and it operates best with a routine diet rich in fiber. However, not every horse requires the same ratio of forage to concentrates. Some burn through calories quickly. Others gain weight easily and need careful management.
This quiz helps you analyze:
- Current body condition
- Activity level and intensity of work
- Health issues like ulcers, laminitis, or metabolic concerns
- Feeding habits and pasture access
- Age-related requirements and feeding limitations
Every question brings you closer to a feeding plan that reflects your horse’s actual needs.
Forage First—But Then What?
Hay or pasture should make up the foundation of any horse diet. But some horses need more than just forage to thrive. Performance horses may require high-fat or high-protein feeds. Seniors might benefit from soaked options or complete feeds. Easy keepers could need ration balancers without added calories.
This quiz evaluates your horse’s forage availability and combines that with their workload and metabolism. Then, it identifies whether supplements, grains, or balancers may help fill in nutritional gaps without overfeeding.
You’ll explore:
- Types of hay your horse eats
- Turnout time and pasture quality
- How your horse handles grain or pelleted feeds
- Whether salt and water intake are consistent year-round
- Digestive tolerance for changes or stress
These factors allow the quiz to guide you toward a diet that supports weight, energy, and gut health.
Feeding by Life Stage and Discipline
What you feed a young dressage horse differs greatly from what you feed a retired trail gelding. Each stage of life requires different nutrients. Young horses need building blocks. Broodmares need calorie density. Working horses need fuel that matches their energy output.
This quiz aligns your horse’s lifestyle with the appropriate type of feed. It doesn’t suggest brands. Instead, it outlines what type of feed or ration works best based on biological demand and workload.
Expect recommendations such as:
- High-fiber for horses with ulcers or digestive issues
- Low-starch for metabolic or laminitic horses
- High-fat for performance horses needing cool energy
- Senior feeds for aging horses with dental issues
- Simple forage diets for ponies or horses prone to weight gain
You’ll also reflect on your horse’s mental energy, coat condition, and current performance trends. These clues often reveal more than weight alone.
This Quiz Does Not Replace a Nutritionist
The quiz is a useful guide, but it cannot replace a hands-on analysis by a vet or equine nutritionist. Instead, it helps you prepare for those conversations by offering insight into the factors you should already be tracking. It gives you a framework so that feeding becomes proactive, not reactive.
You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of what your horse needs and why certain choices may be better than others. You’ll also avoid common mistakes like overfeeding grain, ignoring hay quality, or using supplements without purpose.
Fun Facts About Feeding Horses
- Horses should eat 1.5 to 2.5 percent of their body weight in forage daily
- A horse’s stomach is relatively small and cannot handle large meals at once
- Feeding large amounts of grain can increase the risk of colic and laminitis
- Salt blocks are essential, especially during hot months or intense work
- Fiber is crucial for gut health, behavior, and metabolic regulation
- Soaked feeds and mashes help seniors or horses with poor teeth digest more easily
- Metabolic horses should avoid sugary treats, even in small amounts
Why Feeding Right Is One of the Best Forms of Care
Feeding a horse is one of the most important parts of horse ownership. It affects how they move, how they think, and how long they stay healthy. A good diet doesn’t need to be complicated. It needs to be consistent, appropriate, and supported by observation.
This quiz gives you a first step in that process. By paying attention to your horse’s needs and making informed adjustments, you support everything from hoof growth to mental focus. You also save money and reduce vet visits by preventing imbalances before they start.
Take the Time to Feed for Health, Not Just Habit
Many owners stick to what their horse “has always eaten,” even when conditions change. But your horse’s body changes over time, as does their work level, environment, and access to forage. Feeding isn’t a set-and-forget task. It’s a responsive, thoughtful process that adapts with your horse.
This quiz helps you spot when changes are needed. It identifies whether your current plan makes sense based on your horse’s condition today not last year or five years ago.
Take the What Should I Feed My Horse Quiz now and get one step closer to a balanced, effective, and horse-centered feeding program tailored to your animal’s real needs.
Saddle up for adventure with our Horse Quizzes …
Horse Food – FAQ
The primary purpose of horse food is to provide essential nutrients that support the overall health and well-being of horses. Proper nutrition helps maintain energy levels, promote growth, and ensure optimal performance in various activities, whether recreational riding or competitive sports.
A balanced horse diet typically consists of forage, grains, vitamins, and minerals. Forage, such as hay or pasture, serves as the foundation, providing fiber necessary for digestion. Grains, like oats or barley, offer concentrated energy. Supplements, including vitamins and minerals, fill any nutritional gaps, ensuring that horses receive a well-rounded diet.
Yes, different types of horses have varying dietary needs based on their age, activity level, and health status. For instance, growing foals require more protein and energy compared to adult horses. Performance horses may need higher calorie intake and specialized feeds, while senior horses often benefit from softer, easier-to-chew foods. Consulting with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist can help tailor a diet for individual needs.
Signs of an inadequate diet can include poor coat condition, weight loss, lethargy, and dental issues. Additionally, behavior changes, such as increased irritability or lack of energy, may indicate nutritional deficiencies. Regular monitoring and consultation with a veterinarian can help identify and address any dietary concerns effectively.
