Horse Feeding Guide to Support Weight and Gut Health This Spring

As the days grow longer and pastures begin to green, horse owners know it's time to adapt their feeding routines. This horse feeding guide has been designed to support weight, digestion, and overall condition during the vital transition into spring. By simplifying feed choices, you can not only save time during daily turnout but also minimise the need for multiple adjustments as conditions change.

Choosing the right feeding strategy during this time is critical. Spring grass, while rich in energy, can lead to imbalances in nutrition, weight gain, or digestive upset. A clear feeding plan supports horse gut health and helps maintain an ideal horse body condition score, particularly in horses prone to weight loss or gain.

Transitioning horses to grass must be approached with care. Early spring grass is lush and high in sugar, which can overwhelm a horse's digestive system if introduced too quickly. Sudden access can increase the risk of colic, laminitis, and weight fluctuations.

To manage this safely, introduce grass gradually over 10–14 days, starting with short turnout periods and increasing daily. During this phase, high fibre horse feed such aschaffs and fibre feeds can slow the rate of grass consumption and support a healthy digestive environment. Feeding hay or haylage before turnout can also help regulate intake.

Explore our full range ofhay and haylage to ensure your horse continues to receive essential roughage alongside grazing.

During spring, forage quality can vary, and while grass may appear abundant, it doesn’t always supply the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals for horses. This is where a balancer feed for horses plays an essential role.

Feed balancers are concentrated supplements designed to fill the nutritional gaps left by grass or forage-only diets. They provide essential micronutrients without excess calories—ideal for horses in light work or those prone to weight gain.

For easy incorporation into your routine, Mole Avon offers a carefully selected range offeed balancers, tailored for various life stages and workloads. Using a balancer simplifies your feeding routine and eliminates the need for multiple separate supplements.

Regular monitoring of your horse's weight and fat coverage using the horse body condition score (BCS) system is vital during the seasonal change. Spring grass can lead to rapid weight gain, especially in native breeds, while older or more active horses may struggle to maintain condition.

Evaluate your horse’s BCS every few weeks, checking for changes in fat cover over the ribs, shoulders, and hindquarters. For horses needing extra support, consider incorporating underweight horse feed from ourcubes, mixes and mash selection. These feeds offer highly digestible calories with fibre-based energy, supporting healthy weight gain without digestive compromise.

Conversely, good-doers can benefit from a reduced-calorie diet that still supports gut health and nutrient intake (another reason to choose a balancer and high fibre horse feed).

If your horse dropped weight over winter or struggles with condition, spring is the time to intervene. Look for underweight horse feed that offers controlled energy release, supports the digestive system, and delivers essential nutrients. Feeding fibre-first is a golden rule. Combine forage with a calorie-dense mash or conditioning cube to promote steady weight gain.

By using balancer feed for horses and incorporating high fibre horse feed, you can streamline your routine and prevent nutritional shortfalls. Transitioning horses to grass must be done thoughtfully to preserve horse gut health and avoid unwanted fluctuations in weight or energy.

Browse our full selection ofhorse feed online, where you’ll find feeds tailored for older horses, performance horses, and those needing additional support. Our feeds are chosen for digestibility, consistency, and trusted brand quality.

Comparing feed types can be overwhelming. That’s why our team is always on hand to offer expert horse feed comparison advice—whether in-store or via our contact us page.

Fromfibre feeds tobalancers and specialistunderweight horse feed, Mole Avon Country Stores offers a wide range of carefully selected products to meet your horse's individual needs.

Simplifying your horse’s diet this spring not only supports overall health but also saves time and effort every day. Shop our complete range ofhorse feed today or speak with our knowledgeable team for personalised feeding advice.