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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Did you know that Pure Fibre Balance lasts the average horse two weeks ? That means only two bags per month are needed to cover all your horse’s feed requirements, including:
🌱 their chaff
⚡️ their energy
🧬 their balancer
🍎 their gut supplement
🦶 their hoof supplement
💪 their muscle supplement
= a much simpler way of feeding
Can you believe that this transformation only took 15 weeks?
Earlier this year, Ted lost a significant amount of weight after a difficult winter. Understandably, his owner, Bea, was worried and looking for a way to help him regain condition.
Ted started on Pure Condition Pellets after a friend on Bea`s yard recommended them to her, to help him put weight back on.
Just 15 weeks later, the difference speaks for itself.
Here`s what Bea had to say:
"Your feed has changed my boy`s life and honestly, I think it might have saved him. This is exactly 15 weeks difference. He is now on Pure Easy and is totally thriving. Our whole yard uses your feed and none of us will ever switch again. I think you saved my heart horse, and that has earned lifelong custom from us."
Thank you, Bea, for trusting us to be part of Ted`s journey. Stories like this are why we`re so passionate about helping owners find the right feeding plan for every horse. Ted is now on Pure Easy and thriving 🩵
If your horse is struggling to maintain condition, our nutrition team offers free personalised diet plans to help you find the right approach.
Just one of the many ingredients that go into making up a bag of Pure Feed ?
Any guesses on which one this is ? Comment below 👇
Heatwave 🤝 Refuel
The easiest way to get essential electrolytes, water and key recovery ingredients in your horse, whether they’re competing this weekend or relaxing in the field ☀️
Do you have any tips or tricks to keeping your horse cool in this weather? 🤔 Drop them in the comments below 👇
The brief was simple =
“Can you make a recovery mash that’s low in sugar & starch, plus no molasses or cereals?”
So that’s exactly what we made.
The result?
🥄 Pure ReFuel: 46g sugar + starch
🥄 Another recovery mash: 80g.
🏆 Winner: Pure ReFuel.
The only acceptable eating noises 💁♀️
After working hard or a hot day in the sun, there’s nothing better than seeing (or hearing!) a horse slurping down a bowl of Refuel 🍒
Horse owners spend a lot of time trying to fill nutritional gaps:
✅ A supplement for this.
✅ A powder for that.
✅ An extra scoop of something else.
But what if there weren`t any gaps to fill?
At Pure Feed, every complete feed is formulated to provide the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, gut support and slow-release energy your horse needs, all in one feed 🩵
Most performance feeds rely on one energy source.
Pure Performance uses two.
⚡ Bruised oats provide readily available energy for horses that need power, responsiveness and athletic output.
🌱 Oil and superfibres provide slower-release energy to help support stamina, condition and endurance throughout the session.
The result?
Energy for the jump-off.
Stamina for the last fence.
Condition to keep going all season.
That`s why Pure Performance is the only feed in our range to contain cereals; carefully combined with fibre, oil, prebiotics, probiotics and live yeast to support digestive health alongside performance 🩵
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
What people say about Pure Feed
