22/05/2026
🐴 Small changes, big difference: Let’s talk variety in forage… 🌿
One of the simplest things we can think about for our horses is adding more variety to what they eat — and no, this doesn’t mean spending loads of money or creating the perfect setup.
For horses in the wild, grazing wouldn’t just be grass, grass and more grass.
They would naturally browse a huge variety of plants, hedgerows, leaves, bark, herbs and different fibres throughout the day. Variety isn’t just about nutrition — it’s also about movement, enrichment and choice.
This little video is of Meg & Gigha enjoying access to their hedgerow 💚
And honestly? Watching horses browse naturally is one of my favourite things.
🌿 Reaching
🌿 Stretching
🌿 Snuffling through different textures
🌿 Choosing what they fancy
🌿 Moving as they eat Small changes count.
If you’re on DIY livery or have limited space, here are some simple ideas:
✔️ Offer safe hedgerow cuttings (always check what’s horse-safe first)
✔️ Add a little variety to forage where appropriate
✔️ Create browsing opportunities instead of everything being served in one place
✔️ Think enrichment as much as feeding
Even allowing access to safe hedging for part of the day can encourage more natural behaviours and give horses something mentally engaging to do.
For us, this is especially lovely to watch with Gigha 💚 Since living on the track and having freedom to move, browse and choose, she’s been happier, more comfortable and constantly moving at her own pace.
The biggest thing?
👀 Observe your horse.
What do they enjoy? What are they naturally drawn to? Do they seem more relaxed when given options?
This isn’t about perfection or judgement — just ideas to help horses live more naturally, wherever they are kept.
Because sometimes the little changes really do make the biggest difference 🌿