FEED ADVICE – HEALTH
Youngstock Nutrition: A Comprehensive Guide
Selecting the correct youngstock feed is critical to supporting controlled growth, skeletal integrity, and long-term soundness in foals and yearlings. Nutrition during early life directly influences bone density, muscle development, and metabolic programming, with imbalances increasing the risk of developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD), including physitis and osteochondrosis.
A scientifically balanced approach to youngstock feeds focuses on optimising nutrient intake without promoting excessive growth rates, ensuring steady development and reducing physiological stress on immature skeletal structures.
Key Highlights
A youngstock is a young, growing horse, including foals, weanlings, and yearlings with elevated nutritional demands to support rapid and correct development
A youngstock feed is specifically formulated to meet these demands – providing controlled energy, high-quality protein, and balanced vitamins and minerals tailored to growth
Key considerations for youngstock include managing growth rate, supplying bioavailable protein and essential amino acids, and maintaining correct calcium: phosphorus ratios alongside key trace minerals
Always prioritise digestive health and feed quality – fibre-based diets that support hindgut development, while avoiding high sugar and starch levels, help promote steady, healthy growth
What Are Youngstock Feeds?
Youngstock or stud feeds are formulated to meet the precise nutritional requirements of growing horses, where demand for amino acids, minerals, and digestible energy differs significantly from that of mature horses.
Effective youngstock feeds must:
- Provide adequate but controlled digestible energy (DE)
- Deliver high-quality, bioavailable protein
- Maintain correct calcium: phosphorus ratios (typically 1.5–2:1)
- Supply essential trace minerals (copper, zinc, manganese) in bioavailable forms
- Support hindgut development and microbial stability
Nutritional Requirements of Growing Horses
Protein and Amino Acids
Protein quality is more critical than quantity in youngstock feeds. Lysine is the first limiting amino acid in equine diets and is essential for muscle protein synthesis and tissue development.
Deficiencies in lysine or overall protein quality can result in:
High-quality protein sources such as grass-based ingredients provide a more natural amino acid profile aligned with equine digestive physiology.
Pure Stud can contribute to youngstock diets by supplying quality protein alongside essential amino acids, supporting controlled growth and condition without excessive energy intake.
Energy Sources and Growth Regulation
Energy provision in youngstock feeds must be carefully controlled. Excessive digestible energy, particularly from high-starch and sugar sources, has been strongly associated with an increased incidence of DOD.
- Fibre (structural carbohydrates): Primary energy source, supporting hindgut fermentation and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production
- Fats: Provide energy density without increasing glycaemic response
- Starch and sugars (NSC): Should be minimised to avoid insulin spikes and altered cartilage development
Diets high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) can disrupt endochondral ossification, contributing to skeletal abnormalities. Therefore, youngstock feeds should prioritise low-starch, fibre-based energy systems.
Minerals and Skeletal Development
Correct mineral balance is fundamental in youngstock feeds, particularly for bone mineralisation and joint health.
Key considerations include:
Calcium & Phosphorus: Essential for bone formation; imbalances can impair skeletal development
Copper: Critical for collagen cross-linking and cartilage integrity; deficiency is linked to osteochondrosis
Zinc & Manganese: Support bone density and enzyme function
Oversupplementation or incorrect ratios can be just as detrimental as deficiencies, highlighting the importance of a balanced, formulated feed rather than ad hoc supplementation.
Digestive Development and Gut Health
In young horses, the hindgut microbiome is still maturing, making digestive stability a critical consideration when formulating youngstock feeds. A well-established microbial population is essential for fermenting fibre into volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which provide a steady source of energy and support overall metabolic health.
Fibre intake encourages microbial colonisation and stabilises fermentation, promoting gut maturation and preventing rapid fluctuations in pH that can lead to hindgut acidosis.
Prebiotics and probiotics help maintain a balanced microbial population, enhancing nutrient absorption, improving immune function, and reducing the risk of digestive disturbances during periods of growth or dietary transition.
Abrupt dietary changes or high-starch feeds can destabilise the hindgut environment, leading to dysbiosis, colic, diarrhoea, and inefficient nutrient utilisation, all of which can negatively impact growth and overall health.
Feeds within the Pure Feed Complete range are specifically designed to support digestive health during critical growth phases, incorporating pre- and probiotics alongside fibre-rich ingredients. This combination encourages stable microbial communities, enhances nutrient uptake, and helps youngstock achieve steady, healthy growth without compromising gut integrity.
Risks of High Sugar and Starch Diets in Youngstock
Feeding high levels of sugar and starch is one of the most significant nutritional risks for growing horses. Diets high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose and post-prandial insulin, which not only affects metabolic stability but also interferes with normal cartilage and bone development. Excessive insulin and glucose can disrupt the endochondral ossification process, increasing the risk of developmental orthopaedic diseases (DOD) such as physitis and osteochondrosis. High-NSC diets can also contribute to digestive upset, including hindgut acidosis, and may promote excitability or behavioural issues due to rapid energy fluctuations.
Because of these risks, youngstock feeds should be carefully formulated with controlled starch and sugar levels, relying primarily on fibre and fats as the main energy sources. Fibre supports stable, slow-release energy through hindgut fermentation, while fats provide dense energy without the rapid glycaemic spikes associated with high-NSC feeds, helping to maintain steady growth, skeletal integrity, and a calm, healthy temperament.
Key Components of Youngstock Feeds
Grass chaff: Provides long fibre to support gut motility and microbiome development, essential for young horses’ digestion and nutrient absorption. Slow-fermenting fibre helps prevent colic and maintains a steady energy supply.
Vitamin E & Selenium: Crucial antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative damage during rapid growth. Selenium supports muscle function and immune health, while vitamin E works synergistically to maintain healthy tissues and immunity.
Linseed: A source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain development, anti-inflammatory processes, and skin/coat health. Also contributes a modest amount of digestible energy.
Grass Pellets: A concentrated fibre source that is palatable and easily digested, helping meet daily fibre requirements without excess bulk. Supports gut health and provides some slow-release energy for growth.
Balancers: Ensure youngstock receive all essential vitamins and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, trace elements) in the correct ratios, supporting bone growth, joint development, and metabolic functions.
Feeding Management Strategies for Youngstock
Promote steady growth rates: Avoid rapid weight gain or excessive condition
Prioritise fibre-based diets: Support gut health and metabolic stability
Minimise starch intake: Reduce risk of DOD and metabolic disruption
Use balanced feeds: Select youngstock feeds that provide integrated nutrition rather than relying on multiple supplements
Monitor body condition and development: Adjust feeding rates based on growth stage and workload
Conclusion
Feeding young horses requires a precise and scientifically informed approach. The correct youngstock feeds support controlled growth, skeletal integrity, and long-term soundness, while reducing the risk of developmental disorders associated with nutritional imbalances.
By prioritising fibre-based energy sources, high-quality protein, and correctly balanced minerals, breeders can ensure optimal development. Carefully formulated feeds such as Pure Stud and the Pure Feed Complete range provide a practical, all-in-one solution, delivering consistent nutrition while avoiding the risks associated with high sugar and starch diets.
Establishing correct nutrition during early life stages is one of the most important factors in producing healthy, resilient, and high-performing horses.
What we recommend for youngstock:
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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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