Extra Energy, Not Just Oats and Barley, Makes Horses ‘Hot’

Feeding your horse extra calories can add unnecessary energy, making them ‘hot.’
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Horse owners commonly feed horses oats and barley because they are high in calories as an energy source, Dr. Jacobs told us. But some horses respond differently to these energy sources, acting “hotter” on them than when fed other types of feed.

This podcast is an excerpt from our Ask The Horse Live Q&A, “Myths and Misconceptions About Equine Nutrition.” Listen to the full recording here.

About the Expert: 

Robert Jacobs

Dr. Robert Jacobs

Robert Jacobs, MS, PhD, is the Equine Innovation Manager at Purina Animal Nutrition. Jacobs and his team conduct innovative research focused on nutrition for horses, including palatability and eating behavior, gastrointestinal physiology, microbiome studies, exercise physiology, and growth and development. They perform their studies at the equine unit of the Purina Animal Nutrition Center in Gray Summit, Missouri, a 300-acre facility home to more than 80 horses ranging in age from newborn to 30. Jacobs earned his BS and MS in Animal Sciences from the University of Florida and continued his studies, completing his PhD in equine reproductive physiology and nutrition at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he investigated the role of omega-3 supplementation on the equine uterine environment and early pregnancy in obese, metabolically compromised horses. Research is a passion for Jacobs, but his favorite part of the day includes walking the pastures to check on the horses.

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Written by:

Michelle Anderson is the former digital managing editor at The Horse. A lifelong horse owner, Anderson competes in dressage and enjoys trail riding. She’s a Washington State University graduate and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in business administration and extensive coursework in animal sciences. She has worked in equine publishing since 1998. She currently lives with her husband on a small horse property in Central Oregon.

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