Horse Feed Ingredients Explained: Fibre, Cereals, Protein, Oils and More

Horses are ‘designed’ to eat fibre. Their hind gut is full of fibre fermenting microbes that break down the fibre they eat, releasing volatile fatty acids which are absorbed into the blood stream and converted to energy that can be used by the horse. Understanding the role of different horse feed ingredients is essential to providing a balanced diet that supports health, performance, and wellbeing. From fibre-rich super feeds to cereals, proteins, and oils, each ingredient in Saracen Horse Feeds is carefully chosen for its nutritional value and purpose.

Fibre Sources in Horse Feed

Lucerne (Alfalfa) - A Super-Fibre for Energy and Protein

Lucerne, also known as alfalfa, provides moderate energy, high-quality protein, and calcium. Its amino acid profile makes it ideal for stud and performance horses, while its buffering properties support gastric health.

Dried Sugar Beet Pulp - Highly Digestible Super-Fibre

Unmolassed dried beet pulp is naturally low in sugar and around 80% digestible, making it an excellent low-starch, high-calorie feed. Its pectin content forms a gel in the stomach, protecting the gut lining.

Soya Hulls - Energy Without Excitability

Soya hulls are a highly digestible fibre source rich in pectin. They provide slow-release energy for performance and conditioning feeds while helping maintain calm behaviour.

Oatfeed and Wheatfeed - High Fibre, Low Starch Energy

Made from the fibrous husks of oats and wheat, these ingredients add bulk and fibre to leisure and low-calorie feeds. Wheatfeed also acts as a natural binder in cube formulations.

Cereal Grains in Horse Nutrition

Why Cereals Are Used in Horse Feed

Cereals provide starch for quick-release energy. They are important for performance horses, veterans, and poor doers, provided starch limits are respected (no more than 1g/kg BW per meal, 2g/kg BW per day).

Oats - High Fibre, Easily Digested Grain

Oats are the lowest-starch cereal grain and highly digestible. Crushed oats are used in Saracen feeds for safe energy release.

Barely - Calorie-Dense Energy for Condition

Micronised barley improves digestibility and is included in condition and veteran feeds for weight gain and palatability.

Maize - The Highest Energy Cereal Grain

Micronised maize provides maximum energy and is used in high-performance feeds such as Enduro-Performance and Competition-Fit Mix.

Wheat - High Energy with Natural Binding Properties

With high starch and gluten levels, wheat adds energy to condition cubes while helping pellets bind without chemical additives.

Protein Sources for Horses

The Importance of Protein in Equine Diets

Protein supports continued tissue and muscle repair, muscle renewal and tone as well as hoof and coat health. If your horse’s ration is lacking in quality protein and essential amino acids then your horse will struggle to build and maintain topline and muscle tone. It is not a cause of excitability but an essential nutrient for topline and tissue renewal.

Soya Flakes and Soya Bean Meal – Rich in Lysine

Micronised soya flakes and soya bean meal provide lysine, a key amino acid for muscle and tissue health, alongside additional oil content for coat and condition.

Pea Flakes – Highly Palatable Protein Source

Pea flakes offer good protein levels, colour to mixes, and palatability, supporting dietary variety.

Other Key Horse Feed Ingredients

Oils – High-Calorie, Low-Starch Energy

Linseed, soya oil, and rice bran (Equi-Jewel) add calorie-dense energy, improve stamina with a glycogen-sparing effect, and support gastric health.

Molasses – Palatability and Nutrient Benefits

Molasses aids consistency, binds feeds, improves taste, and supplies minerals such as potassium, calcium, and B vitamins.

Vitamins and Minerals – Essential for Balanced Nutrition

Fortified feeds ensure micronutrient requirements are met where forage-only diets may fall short. Correct feeding rates are critical to avoid deficiencies.

Digestive Enhancers – Supporting Hindgut Health

Live yeast (Yea-Sacc) is used to stabilise hindgut pH, improve fibre digestion, and support immunity.

Flavours – Encouraging Fussy Feeders

Encapsulated flavours such as apple, cinnamon, banana, and blackcurrant enhance palatability and stimulate appetite.

Saracen’s Horse Feeds - the Very Best In Natural Ingredients for Your Horse

Every ingredient in Saracen Horse Feeds serves a nutritional purpose - from super-fibres that support digestive health, to proteins that promote topline, and oils that enhance stamina and condition. By carefully combining these ingredients, Saracen delivers balanced, performance-focused feeds that support horses across all life stages and workloads.
To learn more about how Saracen Horse Feeds can support your horse’s health and performance, explore our full range of feeds or contact our nutritional team for expert advice.

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