Each horse has certain nutrient needs and calorie requirements you must factor into his daily ration. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

Does your horse need a dollop, dab, pinch, or peck? Learn to formulate a diet based on age, body condition, and health status

Whether your adult horse is an average Joe, an easy or hard keeper, an athlete, a golden oldie, or has an underlying medical condition that requires a special diet, he has certain nutrient needs and calorie requirements you must factor into his daily rations.

“Diet is the foundation of equine health and welfare,” says Kathleen Crandell, PhD, a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research in Versailles. “This holds especially true now more than ever, considering the recent explosion of equine obesity and other nutrition-related diseases.”

In this article we’ll provide practical recipes for adult horses at various life stages and with specific medical conditions