FEED ADVICE – DISCIPLINES
Ultimate Guide to Feeding a Show Horse
Feeding show horses requires a well-balanced diet tailored to their specific needs. Unlike horses used for leisure or light work, show horses face the unique demands of maintaining peak physical condition, a glossy coat, and the stamina necessary for performances. In this guide, we will explore the best practices for feeding show horses, ensuring they remain in top form for competition.
What is Showing?
Showing highlights a horse’s way of going, conformation, and turnout, with classes ranging from in-hand to ridden at all levels.
Horses need controlled calories from fibre and oil to maintain topline and shine without becoming excitable.
Quality protein, oils, and a balanced vitamin and mineral profile help promote coat condition and muscle tone.
A complete, fibre-based diet supports calm behaviour, digestive health, and that polished show ring appearance.
Understanding the Nutritional Needs of Show Horses
Show horses have distinct nutritional requirements, influenced by their breed, age, workload, and the demands of their discipline. The key goals in feeding a show horse are to:
Maintain Optimal Weight:
Show horses need to be neither too thin nor overweight. Achieving the ideal body condition score is crucial for aesthetics and performance.
Support Muscle Development:
High-quality protein is essential for muscle tone and recovery, especially for horses undergoing regular training.
Enhance Coat Condition:
A shiny, healthy coat is a sign of good nutrition and care. Specific nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, are vital in achieving this.
Provide Energy for Performance:
Show horses require a steady energy supply for training and competition without becoming too excitable or nervous.
Metabolic Requirements of Show Horses
Show horses have heightened metabolic demands due to the physical and mental stress of training and competition. Their energy needs are higher than those of horses at rest or in light work. To meet these demands, it’s important to provide a diet rich in both energy and essential nutrients. The primary sources of energy for show horses include carbohydrates, fats, and fibre:
Carbohydrates: Provide quick-release energy. However, too many simple carbohydrates (such as those found in cereals) can lead to excitability and digestive issues. It’s better to rely on complex carbohydrates from fibre sources.
Fats: Offer a concentrated source of energy and are ideal for slow-release energy, helping to maintain endurance without causing spikes in energy levels.
Proteins: Crucial for muscle development and repair. Show horses benefit from high-quality protein sources that supply essential amino acids necessary for muscle tone, recovery, and overall condition.
Key Components of a Show Horse’s Diet
Forage
High-Quality Hay: The foundation of any horse’s diet should be good-quality forage. For show horses, this means providing hay that is clean, free from dust, and rich in nutrients. Timothy and alfalfa are popular choices, offering a balance of fibre and protein.
Grass: If available, fresh grass provides a natural source of nutrition. However, it’s essential to monitor grazing to prevent overconsumption, especially in lush fields that may cause weight gain or exacerbate the risks of laminitis.
Hard Feed
Balancers: A high-specification feed balancer can be an excellent way to ensure that a show horse receives all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and amino acids without adding too many calories. Did you know that all our complete feeds already contain a balancer?
Conditioning Feeds: For horses that need to build or maintain condition, conditioning feeds are designed to provide extra calories through fats and fibres rather than starches, which can lead to excitability
Key Components of a Show Horse’s Diet
Protein Sources
Soybean Meal: High in essential amino acids, ideal for supporting muscle tone and recovery.
Linseed: Offers a balance of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, promoting both muscle health and coat condition.
Fat Sources
Oils: linseed oil provides a dense source of calories without increasing starch intake. It also contains a rich source of omega 3 for enhancing coat gloss!
Rice Bran: A popular feed additive, offering high fat content with additional protein and fibre.
Full-Fat Soya: Provides a combination of protein and fat, helping to support both muscle and energy levels.
Key Components of a Show Horse’s Diet
Supplements
Electrolytes: Especially important during the competition season, electrolytes help replenish salts lost through sweat during intense work.
Joint Support: Glucosamine, chondroitin, and other joint supplements can help support the long-term health of a horse’s joints, crucial for horses in demanding disciplines.
Skin and Coat Conditioners: Supplements rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can promote a shiny coat, while also supporting skin health. Adding a small amount of micronized linseed each day can help improve coat shine – check out our micronized linseed here!
Hydration
Always ensure that fresh, clean water is available. Hydration is critical, especially when travelling to shows or during warm weather.
Pure Feed has two different routes for hydration help – Meadow Mash and ReFuel! Both are made from micro quick soaking pellets that form tasty mashes! Meadow Mash can be fed at high volumes and only contains a pre and probiotic, whereas ReFuel is fed in smaller concentrated doses and contains all the ingredients your horse needs for recovery!
Feeding Tips for Show Horses
Energy Management: Opt for feeds that provide slow-release energy, helping to sustain your horse through long training sessions without causing spikes in energy levels.
Consistency is Key: Horses thrive on routine. Feed your show horse at the same times each day, and avoid sudden changes in diet, which can cause digestive upsets.
Monitor Body Condition: Regularly assess your horse’s body condition score (BCS). Adjust the diet as needed to maintain the ideal weight.
Manage Stress with Diet: If your horse becomes stressed during travel or at shows, consider feeds that include magnesium or other calming ingredients. However, always consult with your vet before adding new supplements.
Hear from the Expert – Ellis Grierson
Ellis Grierson is a successful show rider whose thoughtful approach to feeding plays a big part in her horses’ performance. In 2023, she and her 16-year-old pony Hummy took an impressive second place at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). Known for her dedication and strong bond with her horses, Ellis pays close attention to every part of their care – especially their nutrition.
Feeding to Support Performance
To keep Hummy in top condition throughout a busy show season, Ellis combines good-quality forage with carefully chosen hard feed. She feeds Pure Performance – our highest energy feed – to give Hummy the stamina and sparkle needed in the ring.
Oats give quick-release energy for instant performance.
Oil provides long-lasting, controlled power for stamina.
Fibre supports digestive health – essential during busy show days.
All-in-one formula keeps feeding simple and balanced.
Pure Performance also supports topline and muscle tone – vital for horses in the show ring where condition and appearance matter just as much as performance.
What We Recommend for Show Horses
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Horse nutrition has become surprisingly complicated, and somehow we`re still left wondering if we`ve missed something.
At Pure Feed, we started with a different question:
**What if one feed could do the whole job?**
Every complete feed is built around the fundamentals of equine nutrition:
🌱 A high-fibre foundation for digestive health
🧬 Quality protein to support topline and muscle function
⚖️ Balanced vitamins and minerals for everyday health
⚡ Premium oil sources for slow-release energy
🦠 Gut and hoof support built in as standard
No nutritional gaps.
No complicated feeding plans.
No guesswork.
Just confidence that every feed is helping your horse get what they need 🩵
Most horse owners think about gut health when there`s a problem, but a healthy hindgut influences far more than digestion alone.
In fact, around 80% of the immune system is associated with the gut, and the hindgut is home to trillions of microorganisms that help break down fibre, produce energy and support normal immune function.
That`s why gut health can have a knock-on effect on:
🛡️ Immunity
🥕 Nutrient absorption
🌱 Condition
⚡ Performance
💪 Recovery
🧠 Behaviour
The challenge is that modern horses face plenty of pressures that can disrupt the hindgut environment; from travel and competition schedules to changes in grazing, forage quality and routine.
That`s why gut support isn`t an add-on at Pure Feed, it`s built into every complete feed through:
✔️ Prebiotics
✔️ Probiotics
✔️ Live yeast
✔️ High-quality fibre sources
Want to start feeding Pure, but not sure where to start? Comment down below to recieve a link to our diet plan service 🔗🩵
The biggest summer feeding mistake? 👉 Assuming that because a horse is gaining weight, they`re getting everything they need. 🌱
Grass is brilliant at supplying calories, but calories aren`t the same as nutrition.
In fact, summer grazing can often be:
☀️ High in energy
⚖️ Low in certain minerals
🧬 Variable in quality protein
🦠 Missing the gut support that many horses benefit from
That`s why it`s not unusual to see horses carrying plenty of condition whilst still struggling with things like topline, hoof quality, recovery or overall performance.
The goal isn`t necessarily to feed *more*, it`s to make sure what`s missing gets replaced.
That`s why every Pure Feed complete feed contains vitamins & minerals, amino acids, pre & probiotics, fibre, salt and oil-based slow-release energy, all in one feed!
Me during the heatwave: "Drink."
My horse: "No."
Me: "DRINK."
My horse: "No."
Me: makes a bucket of Refuel
My horse: "Well, why didn`t you say so " 🍒
"I can`t believe how good my horse feels."
Not sharper.
Not stronger.
Not more explosive.
Just more consistent.
More consistent energy.
More consistent focus.
More consistent condition.
Because for most horses, performance isn`t limited by a lack of energy 👉 it`s limited by how efficiently that energy is supplied and utilised.
That`s why Pure Feed uses fibre and oil as the foundation of its feeding philosophy, supporting horses that can work, perform and recover without the highs and lows often associated with traditional high-starch diets 🩵
Most feed rooms get more and more complicated.
A balancer, chaff, nuts, supplements, gut products, a hoof supplement, oils, and even more!
Before long, you`re feeding half a dozen products just to create a balanced diet.
At Pure Feed, we took a different approach.
What if the feed already contained everything most horses need?
That`s why every Pure Feed complete feed contains:
✔️ Vitamins & minerals
✔️ Pre & probiotics
✔️ Amino acids
✔️ Biotin
✔️ Salt
✔️ Fibre
✔️ Oil for slow-release energy
All combined into one simple feeding system.
And because we believe horses thrive on fibre-based nutrition, our feeds are free from:
✖️ Molasses
✖️ Alfalfa
✖️ Soya
✖️ Wholegrain cereals
✖️ Artificial mould inhibitors
The result?
Less time worrying about what`s missing from the diet. More time enjoying your horse 🩵
"He`s living out on good grass, so he doesn`t need any feed."
It`s one of the most common things we hear this time of year.
The challenge? Grass provides calories. It doesn`t always provide balanced nutrition.
Even good doers can benefit from additional vitamins, minerals, amino acids and gut support! That`s why many owners choose a balancer or low-calorie complete feed during the summer months.
🌱 Pure Balance – concentrated nutrition with minimal calories
🌱 Fibre Balance – ideal for horses needing a little more fibre in the bucket
🌱 Pure Easy – higher in slow release energy and fibre, still low calorie
Not sure where to start? Comment diet plan below to recieve your FREE diet plan 👇
The Pure Feed range is built around one simple principle: work with the horse’s digestive system, not against it.
That’s why our range is cereal-free (with the exception of Pure Performance).
Instead of relying on traditional cereal grains as a primary energy source, we prioritise highly digestible fibre and superfibres. These ingredients provide a more natural route to energy production in the hindgut, supporting a steadier release of fuel rather than the rapid spikes often associated with starch-heavy diets.
Cereals have long been used in horse feeds for energy density, but they can place a greater digestive load on a system that is fundamentally designed for forage fermentation. By reducing reliance on them, we aim to support a more stable gut environment and more consistent overall condition.
The result is a range designed to be suitable for a wide variety of horses, from leisure horses to performance types, without compromising digestive health or nutritional balance.
Want to learn more about our cereal-free feeds? Tap the link in bio to learn more 🩵
“Mine lives out 24/7 on good grass… do they really still need a balancer?” 👀🌱
Short answer: very often, yes.
Because grass supplies calories brilliantly… but it doesn’t always supply nutrients in the right balance for modern horses, especially those in work, restricted grazing, poor doers or horses with higher nutritional demands.
The tricky bit?
Grass quality changes constantly depending on:
☀️ Sunshine
🌧️ Rainfall
🌱 Growth stage
🧪 Soil mineral levels
🐴 Grazing pressure
So while your field may look rich and healthy, key nutrients like copper, zinc, selenium, amino acids and vitamin E can still be lacking.
That’s where a balancer or complete feed comes in 🩵
At Pure Feed, our feeds are designed to help fill the nutritional gaps that forage and grazing alone may not cover, without unnecessary sugar, molasses or feeding huge bucket feeds.
Why that matters 👇
✔️ Supports hoof quality & skin condition
✔️ Helps maintain topline & muscle function
✔️ Supports immunity & recovery
✔️ Helps balance forage-based diets
✔️ Supports gut health & fibre digestion
Think of grass as the base of the diet…
and balanced nutrition as the part that helps everything function properly around it 🌾🧬
Hoof supplements are one of the most commonly purchased products in the horse world.
But what if the nutrients that support hoof growth were already in your feed? 👀
Every Pure Feed complete feed contains added biotin as standard, alongside the amino acids, vitamins and minerals needed to support hoof growth and horn quality.
Because whilst hoof oils, dressings and supplements all have their place, hooves are built from the inside out.
✔️ Added biotin in every feed
✔️ Essential amino acids
✔️ Balanced vitamins & minerals
✔️ Complete nutrition in every bucket
Your horse can stand in a field full of grass…and still be missing key nutrients 👀🌱
Because while grazing looks “natural”, modern pasture isn’t always nutritionally complete, especially for horses in work, restricted grazing, mixed grazing systems or poorer-quality field conditions.
Grass nutrient levels constantly change depending on:
☀️ Weather
🌱 Growth stage
🌧️ Rainfall
🐴 Grazing pressure
🧪 Soil mineral content
Which means the same field can provide very different nutrition throughout the year.
That’s why many horses can still benefit from targeted vitamin & mineral support, even when the grass looks lush or if they`re a good doer 🩵
At Pure Feed, we believe forage should always come first… but it shouldn’t have to do all the heavy lifting alone.
A well-balanced diet helps support:
✔️ Hoof quality
✔️ Muscle function
✔️ Energy metabolism
✔️ Immune health
✔️ Skin & coat condition
✔️ Gut health and fibre digestion
Need help figuring out which feed would suit your horse? Check out our diet plan service, link in bio 🩵
If you turned your horse’s feed label over… would you actually know what you’re looking at? 👀
A lot of feeds focus on calories first. At Pure Feed, we focus on what those calories are bringing with them 🌱
Because a horse’s bucket should support far more than just weight maintenance ⬇️
🧬 Amino acids to help support muscle repair, topline and recovery
🦠 Pre & probiotics to support a healthy hindgut microbiome
⚡ Oil-based slow-release energy for stamina without the starch spikes
💧 Salt & hydration support to help maintain fluid balance during work and warmer weather
🌾 Highly digestible fibre sources to support gut function and digestive health
🦄 Vitamins & minerals balanced to support normal bodily function, immunity and performance
🐴 Added biotin to support hoof quality and skin condition
And the best bit?
It’s all already built into the feed 🩵
Just complete, fibre-focused nutrition designed around what horses actually need to thrive.
Halfway through the season and suddenly your horse feels… flat? 👀
By mid-summer, many competition horses are working harder, travelling more, sweating more and burning through energy reserves faster, but simply throwing more starch at the problem isn’t always the answer. ⚡
At Pure Feed, we focus on controlled, fibre-based energy to support horses through the busiest part of the season without the unnecessary fizz. 🌱
Why fibre-first refuelling matters 👇
✔️ Slow-release energy supports stamina and consistency
✔️ Added oils provide safe calories without huge starch spikes
✔️ Essential amino acids help support muscle recovery and topline
✔️ Electrolytes & gut support become increasingly important as workloads and temperatures rise
✔️ Highly digestible formulations help horses maintain condition even during intense competition periods
The goal isn’t just more energy 👉 It’s usable energy, sustainable condition and horses that recover well enough to go again next weekend 💪
Most horse feeds are built around adding things in. At Pure Feed, we built ours around taking the confusion out 🩵
No separate chaff.
No balancing products.
No complicated feed charts stuck to the tack room wall.
Just scientifically balanced, fibre-based nutrition designed to support the horse as a whole 👉 from gut health and energy metabolism to muscle recovery and condition.
What makes us different? 👇
✔️ Complete nutrition in every feed
So every mouthful contributes towards a balanced diet; not just calories.
✔️ Low sugar & starch, no molasses, no alfalfa
Carefully formulated to support horses needing a more controlled, fibre-focused diet.
✔️ Gut-first formulation
With high fibre levels, pre & probiotics, and highly digestible ingredients to support the hindgut microbiome.
✔️ Real-world feeding that actually works
From happy hackers to top-level competition horses, we create feeds that are practical, consistent and easy to feed correctly.
Because feeding well shouldn’t mean feeding more products 👀
🏇 Worked hard. Sweated hard. Recovered properly?
When your horse exercises, they don`t just lose water. They also lose electrolytes, burn through nutrients and create muscle fatigue that needs supporting before the next ride.
That`s why we created Pure Refuel 🩵
Refuel combines:
⚡ Electrolytes to replace what`s lost through sweat
💪 Essential amino acids to support muscle recovery
🦠 Live yeast to support gut health
🍒 Cherry for to tempt the fussiest of horses
🌱 Low sugar & starch formulation
💧 Quick-soaking mash to encourage fluid intake
Whether you`ve just finished a competition, a training session, a fun ride or a long day travelling, Refuel helps support recovery from the inside out 🩵
🚨 Good doers need nutrients too 🚨
One of the biggest feeding myths we see? 👀
"My horse gains weight easily, so they don`t need hard feed."
The reality is that calories and nutrition aren`t the same thing.
A horse can be carrying plenty of condition while still falling short on important nutrients needed for healthy hooves, muscle function, immunity, coat quality and overall wellbeing 🌱
That`s where a feed balancer comes in 🩵
Designed to provide concentrated nutrition without unnecessary calories, a balancer helps support your horse`s diet when they don`t need large bucket feeds.
Why do owners choose Pure Balance? 👇
✔️ Low calorie, nutrient-dense formulation
✔️ Vitamins & minerals to help balance forage and grazing
✔️ Added amino acids to support topline and muscle maintenance
✔️ Pre & probiotics for digestive support
✔️ Biotin for healthy hooves
✔️ No molasses or added sugar
Think of it like this...
Your horse may not need more feed 👉 they may just need more nutrition. 🧬
Perfect for good doers, native types, horses on restricted grazing, and anyone looking to support a balanced diet without adding unnecessary calories 🩵
The hard work doesn’t end when the ride stops.
Whether it’s a competition, a schooling session, travelling, or simply coping with hot weather, giving your horse the right support afterwards can make all the difference to how they feel the next day.
Hydration, muscle function, digestive support and replenishing what’s lost through sweat all play a huge role in keeping horses comfortable, healthy and ready to go again.
That’s why we created Pure Refuel 💧🐴
An easy-to-feed recovery mash designed to support horses after work; without relying on cereals or unnecessary sugar 🍒🩵
Your horse’s feed should do more than just fill a bucket 👀
At Pure Feed, our complete range is formulated to be just that: complete. Meaning your horse gets balanced nutrition in every bite, without the need for endless extras and complicated feeding plans 🌱
Each feed combines:
✔️ High-quality fibre for digestive health
✔️ Added vitamins & minerals for daily balance
✔️ Essential amino acids to support topline & muscle
✔️ Linseed & rapeseed oil for slow-release energy
✔️ Pre & probiotics to support the gut microbiome
Because feeding your horse shouldn’t feel like solving a science equation every day 🧪
Whether you have a happy hacker, competition horse, veteran or good doer, the goal stays the same:
➡️ Simple feeding
➡️ Consistent nutrition
➡️ Healthy horses
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