What Kind of Oats Should I Feed My Horse?

No matter what breed of horse you own or what type of riding you do, it is important to provide your equine companion with the best nutrition possible. Horses were designed by nature to be grazers, and your horse should get a large portion of his daily calories from grazing in the pasture and eating quality hay. Even so, most horses also need some type of grain to maintain their weight and stay in top condition. This is especially true if your horse will compete in shows, races, endurance rides and other strenuous activities.

  1. Consider Your Horse's Job

    • Just like people, most horses have a job to do, and the type of job they are asked to do has a big influence on the type of oats and other grains they should have in their daily diet. A horse that does not get a great deal of exercise does not need the same type of feed as a horse that is asked to run a race twice a week or participate in a 100-mile endurance trail ride.

      When choosing oat grains for your horse, it is important to evaluate his current condition as well. If your current horse came to you in a debilitated state and needs to gain some weight, choosing a high-quality oat grain and supplementing it with some beet pulp is a good idea. You may also want to soak some alfalfa pellets to make them soft and then mix those with the oat grains. This can be particularly helpful for older horses who have difficulty gaining and maintaining their weight.

    Consider Your Horse's Age

    • The age of your horse is another important factor when determining what type of oats, corn and other grain to feed. Most commercial horse feed manufacturers, including Purina Omolene, provide special formulations designed specifically for older horses. These formulas generally consist of a mixture of oat grains, corn grains, vegetable grains and molasses, and they are designed to be easily digestible by older horses.

      At the other end of the spectrum are feeds designed specifically for weanling foals. Moving from mare's milk to commercial oat grain feed can be difficult for young horses. So horse feed manufacturers have developed specific formulations that are easily digestible and highly palatable to weanlings.

    Consider Your Horse's Energy Level

    • Another important consideration when choosing the right kind of oats and other grains is the normal energy level of your horse. This varies greatly from breed to breed and also between individual horses within a breed. Some horses have a very high energy level, even with feeds that are only 10 percent protein, while others are quite lazy until the protein level is raised to 14 percent, 16 percent or more. When changing feeds, it is important to watch your horse's energy level closely to see how she is affected by the new food.

      Oat-based and corn-based horse feed is rated according to the percentage of protein it contains. Non-riding horses and horses that do only light riding often do well on grain with a 10 percent protein content, while horses who are asked to perform at shows, races and other strenuous events typically need a higher protein content in their feed. As with everything, however, it is important to tailor your horse's feed to her own unique nutritional needs.