05/29/2026
Easy keepers and hard keepers may both be horses but nutritionally, they are very different.
EASY KEEPERS
These horses maintain weight very efficiently and often require fewer calories than the average horse. Many easy keepers are more prone to obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic concerns when overfed.
For these horses, the focus should be:
✔️ Controlled calorie intake
✔️ Lower starch and sugar levels (NSC)
✔️ Balanced vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
✔️ Plenty of forage without excessive energy intake
Research has shown that excess body fat can increase the risk of metabolic dysfunction and laminitis in susceptible horses.
HARD KEEPERS
Hard keepers burn calories quickly or struggle to maintain body condition due to workload, stress, age, environment, or individual metabolism.
The first step is almost always:
✔️ Increase forage intake and forage quality
Why? Because forage should make up the majority of the horse’s diet and supports both digestive health and calorie intake. Horses are designed to consume forage continuously throughout the day.
Then, if additional calories are needed:
✔️ Add highly digestible fiber and fat sources
✔️ Use concentrated nutrition instead of simply feeding more grain
✔️ Ensure adequate protein and amino acids for muscle maintenance
Simply adding large amounts of grain can increase starch intake without necessarily improving overall nutrition or digestive health.
The goal is never just “more feed.”
The goal is feeding the right nutrients for the individual horse.
