Getting the right feed for your horse will help ensure they've got the right amount of energy, that their diet is balanced and in the long-term hopefully help with their health.
This page, in particular, is not about cutting corners. It's about deciding what's best for your horse and then doing it in the most economical way possible.
You need to know what your horse weighs before you can get started on what fuel they need.
There are a few ways to do this, but one of the most accurate is a weighbridge (essentially a large set of scales). You can usually book a weighbridge to come to your yard if you have a minimum number of horses to take part.
You'll be given your horse's weight in kilograms and a condition score (confusingly there's no one scoring system). A top tip would be to use your own weigh tape as part of this visit so that you monitor your horse's weight in between weighbridges.
To get ready for the weighbridge it's worth making sure you know your horse's age, breed, workload, current feed, forage and supplements and anything that you might want to ask. In particular, it's worth asking how their recommendations may change throughout the year, e.g. what's the best way to adapt the feed for summer and winter.
Some free weighbridge options are listed below. It goes without saying the representatives linked to a feed company will promote their own products, but you're not obliged to only use their products.
Once you've got your horses weight, you'll also have recommendations on what to feed.
As stated above, you're not obliged to stick with that advice but if hopefully provides a good jumping off point.
Many of the top feed brands offer a helpline, so armed with your horse's weight and details you could call them to get a second opinion. Many local horse shops and saddleries will also be able to give feed advice.
Once you've got a range of options, it's worth doing a bit of homework to read the exact ingredients and check they're going to meet your horse's needs.
Some horses may need some extra supplements based on their individual needs, for example, specialist supplements are available for horses that struggle more with their gut health, joint supplements are available for older horses and other supplements are available for those with conditions such as Sweet Itch.
The number of feed and supplements are endless and it can feel very overwhelming. The key thing is do as much research as possible based on your horse's needs and weight and work out the best options.
Once you know the products you need to buy for your horse, you can figure out how to save money on them. Below are some ways to save:
1. Check what is a 'good price' for your product. For example, the RRP on a supplement I use is £99 for 3kg, but as there is always an offer available, I count the 'real' price as approximately £65 and judge how good an offer is based on this price.
2. Consider bulk buying. If you know you'll need a long-term supply and spot it at a very good price, you might want to stock up as long as you're able to store it.
3. Check for any discount codes or vouchers. It can be worth checking the feed or supplement manufacturer's website for these, as well as other sites. See our Discount Codes for more information.
4. Sign up to alerts for 'flash sales'. Some sites will do big discounts for 24 hours so it's worth being ready to pounce.
5. Plan ahead for sales. It's pretty much a given that you'll see offers at certain times of the year, eg, throughout November for 'Black Friday', around Christmas and bank holidays.
6. Check if subscribe and save works for you. Some sites offer a discount if you sign up to a regular delivery.
7. Check if your local saddlery has a loyalty scheme or offers discount codes.
8. Check if any feed or supplements are being sold 'second hand'. Some owners may sell feed and supplement they no longer need, such as via Facebook Marketplace. See Buying Second Hand for more, but always remember to make sure it's safe for your horse, e.g. you may only want to consider sealed feed.
Here are a few key things I've learned along the way: