This article is a detailed discussion on concentrate foodstuffs often available to the horse owner and is a complement to the article Adult Nutrition and Overview where general principles of nutrition including the use of concentrates in the horse's diet is discussed.

Foodstuffs in the form of concentrates are needed in the diet when forage, pasture and hay, alone cannot meet the nutritional demands of the horse. Horses have lived on pasture grasses for tens of thousands of years but today's modern domesticated horse is a far cry from the small efficient wild horse of our past. In spite of this most horses can do quite well on good quality grass forage for maintenance, though there are some exceptions. Light exercise will tax the energy density of most forages and it's ability to keep the horse in good condition. Besides exercise, the increased demands of pregnancy, lactation, growing, and the extra needs of older horses can will require adding concentrates to supplement the nutrients in grass forages.

Concentrates can be defined as any food source that contains more than 1.4 mcal of energy per lb but this definition is really too narrow and we should also consider any foodstuff with more than 15% protein a form of concentrate as protein often needs bolstoring in the horses diet. Most horse owners today but a premade horse feed for a concentrate. Commonly used grains in horse sweet feeds and pellets are the large grains like oats, corn, barley and less commonly the smaller grains like sorghum (milo), rice, rye, wheat, emmer, spelt and triticale. Fat and vegetable oils are used with increasing frequency to boost energy content while soybean meal is frequently added to balance the protein and all should be considered concentrates. Alfalfa can be considered both an energy and protein supplement but because of its fiber contenet is discussed with the forages.

This article discusses protein and energy in the horses diet and then details and contrasts the strengths and weaknesses of the commonly available concentrates for feeding horses.

Before we get into concentrates and before you forget what is really important in the horses diet, let's emphasize the general rule of feeding horses:

Water, trace mineral salt, and good quality forage are the foundations of good nutrition for the average mature horse and, when fed at about free choice (all they want) levels, can meet the maintenance needs of most horses. When adequate levels of forage are not enough to maintain good condition, concentrates are fed and adjusted to maintain good body condition.

The golden rule stresses that forages, not concentrates, are the foundation of good nutrition. Horses evolved to eat forages and so forages are very close to what the horses body requires for good health and also required for the digestive system to work properly. When forages are not of good quality or horses require more energy than provided by forages alone supplementation with a concentrate will be needed to meet the horse's needs. You cannot understand the role of commercial horse feeds and concentrates in the horses diet without a thorough understanding of types and quality of forages ...more.

Once forages are maximized is quanity and quality yet proper condition not achieved it is time to turn to grains and concentrates. A good place to start is with a summary of the major nutrient requirements of horses.

Summary of Major Nutrient Requirements of Foodstuffs for Horses

Estimating Your Horses Nutritional Needs