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Questions and answers on feeding horses

You have questions about the basics of horse feeding and are looking for the right feed for your horse? On this page you will find the most important answers about the natural and healthy feeding of horses. Use the marked points to go directly to the respective topic. 

You have further questions? At the end of this page you will find all information about our feeding advice from our equine nutritionists.
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The immune system Would you like to know how you can support your horse's immune system through feeding? You can find our articles here:

Question & answers on the immune system
Proper equine diet Would you like to know how you can support your foal through feeding, from weaning to young horses? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Info on proper equine diet
Liver and kidneys Would you like to know how you can support your horse with liver problems? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Questions and answers on the subject of liver and kidney
Digestion Would you like to know how you can support your horse with digestive problems such as colic, faecal water, stomach problems or stomach ulcers? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Questions & answers on digestion
Metabolic disorders Would you like to know how you can support your horse with metabolic diseases such as PPID, EMS, PSSM or laminitis etc.? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Question & answers on metabolic disorders
Energy and nutrients Would you like to know how you can support your horse, e.g. in building muscle? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Question & answers on energy and nutrients
Hooves and coat Would you like to know how you can support your horse, for example when it comes to mudguards, rasps, sweet itch or when it comes to changing fur? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Questions & answers on coat
Teeth Would you like to know how you can support your horse with dental problems or EOTRH? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Questions and answers on teeth
Hooves and coat Would you like to know how you can support your horse, for example when it comes to mudguards, rasps, sweet itch or when it comes to changing fur? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Questions & answers on hooves and coat
Proper equine diet in all life stages Would you like to know how you can support your old horse, sport horse or broodmare? Questions, answers and our articles can be found here:

Info on proper equine diet in all life stages
Horse pastures and their care Do you have any questions about horse pastures and pasture maintenance? You can find our articles here:

Info on horse pastures and their care

Digestion

My horse is prone to colic. What should I watch out for regarding feed?
The first symptom of colic is pain in the belly. The causes are manifold. Colics can be impaction colics, sand colics, or gas colics. Colic symptoms in mares may occur in connection with ovarian diseases. It is therefore essential to find the root cause. A vet should always be consulted in acute cases. Whilst waiting for the vet, give the horse ample water but no feed. Depending on the findings, the vet will decide when the horse can begin to eat hay again. Depending on the cause, temporary abstention from cereals may also be necessary after colic (e.g. if stomach pain is the cause). Instead, feed your horse feed mashes like AlpenGrün Mash or Pre Alpin® Wiesencobs. Soaked, ground linseed is also suitable due to its mucilage.

 
My horse has watery stool. What kind of feed will help?
Watery stools are a phenomenon that affects many horses regularly or even permanently. Triggers can be: stress, dental problems or heavily woody roughage (straw-like hay, lots of straw) as well as feeding haylage. This results in the excretion of free water (before, during or after defecation). The main goal should always be to find the cause(s). However, this is very often not quite so easy and varies from horse to horse. Therefore, there is not THE solution that can help every horse equally well.

We recommend feeding your horse AlpenGrün Mash or AlpenGrün Pellet for at least 7–10 days. These products contain Prenatura® fine fibres. These provide nutrients to microbes in the large intestine which are responsible for cellulose breakdown, and effectively bind free faecal water in the intestine. If the roughage quality is poor, our products from the PreAlpin products can ensure the supply of high-quality and easily digestible crude fibre. In addition, Bierhefe Pur (brewer's yeast) can be supplemented as a cure over 4-8 weeks. The prebiotic yeast cell wall components contained in it additionally support digestion.


 
How can I support my horse with stomach problems or stomach ulcers?
Stomach ulcers can have many causes. Poor diet, overwork, and stress are some of the most common causes. Research the cause and eliminate possible triggers in consultation with your veterinary surgeon. Adaptations to feed play an especially important role in alleviating stomach problems.

It is important that your horse be given adequate hay and that long intervals between feeding be avoided. Ad libitum access to feed would be the ideal solution as long as this doesn't cause the horse to gain weight. Pre Alpin® Wiesencobs or Pre Alpin® Wiesenflakes can be used to supplement forage if necessary. Chaff is unsuitable as it can cause additional irritation to the stomach under certain circumstances. Furthermore, it is advised that cereals be avoided completely, at least until the horse has recovered.
Instead, replace concentrate feed rations with Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli, AlpenGrün Mash or AlpenGrün Pellet, as both are very gentle on the stomach. They provide natural mucilage, a high crude fibre content and are starch-reduced. Beet pulp, oil and linseed also make good supplements. In addition to an adapted feed, the supply of magnesium can also play an important role for horses with sensitive stomachs. Magnesium Pur supports the nervous system and helps reduce stress-related stomach issues.
 
Can magnesium cause digestive problems in horses such as watery droppings or diarrhoea?

If the correct dosage is given, magnesium will not cause digestive problems in most horses. Diarrhoea can occur in sensitive horses or in cases of overdose. Slowly increasing the amount fed and choosing digestible magnesium compounds can prevent these kinds of problems. 

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Liver

What can I feed a horse with liver problems?
The liver is a key metabolic organ. It is responsible for the conversion and elimination of nutrients and is an important detoxification organ. The ability of liver cells to regenerate means that liver values should always lie within the normal range. Elevated liver enzyme levels may mean that liver cells are dying off, but this does not necessarily indicate a liver insufficiency.
Causes may include general faulty diet, poor quality roughage, or poisonous plants (ragwort).

Horses with liver problems should be fed low-protein feeds. Pre Alpin® Protein, Light Flakes and Maiscobs are a good supplement for underweight horses. Avoid oats and barley, but low-protein maize is a suitable energy source for horses with liver problems. Oil and feeds with high-quality amino acids likewise make suitable supplements.
You can also support your horse's liver with herbs like milk thistle or artichoke. Herbs for the liver.

 
My horse has an impaired renal function. What do I need to consider when feeding magnesium?

Although hypermagnesemia (excess magnesium in the blood) is very rare in horses because excess magnesium is excreted via the kidneys, you should only add magnesium to your horse’s diet after talking to your vet, especially if your horse has an impaired renal function.

Symptoms of severe excess magnesium are: muscle weakness, digestive problems such as diarrhoea or loose droppings, lethargy and slow reactions.

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Teeth

My horse has EOTRH / dental problems. What should I be aware of with regard to feed?
Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is a quite painful dental disease that appears mostly in horses ages 15 years and older. It particularly affects the area of the incisors; in some cases the canine teeth may also undergo pathological changes. EOTRH has no cure and its cause is still unknown. It is presumed that there are many factors involved. The main factors include greater mechanical load on the incisors in advanced age and an infection of the oral cavity tissues with pathogenic bacterial strains. Genetics and systemic diseases (e.g. PPID) could also play a role in the development of the disease, which leads to inflammatory processes in the gums and periodontium. This is associated with a degradation of the tooth substance by odontoclasts, accompanied by the formation of excessive amounts of tooth cementum. Affected horses sometimes have bad breath, show changed eating behaviours, and produce more saliva. Depending on the degree of disease and general dental condition, you can supplement or replace your horse's roughage with hay replacers. The Pre Alpin® products are suitable for this: Pre Alpin® Wiesencobs, PreAlpin Senior or for quicker soaking the Pre Alpin® Wiesenflakes. Depending on individual needs, our grain- and molasses-free AlpenGrün Seniormüsli or our Horse Alpin Senior, which contains thermally broken down maize and barley flakes, can be added.
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Hooves and coat

How can I help my horse with mud fever / scratches?
Mud fever is a skin eczema that occurs at the back of the pastern. When this eczema occurs at the cannon bone area, it is called scratches. Inflammatory lesions form on the skin and become dry scabs. This inflammation often appears on the epidermis in winter, when the ground is damp or muddy. Causes also include mites, an inadequate supply of nutrients (zinc, amino acids) or a photoallergy triggered by certain plants or medications. Consult your veterinary surgeon to clarify the cause and to initiate any necessary topical treatment. Household remedies may be ineffective or even cause further irritation to the skin.

Zink Pur offers a way to help horses with mud fever through feed. Mud fever often occurs during periods of increased nutrient requirements, such as during moulting. Here, the problem is often a zinc deficiency. You can also ensure the supply of amino acids by feeding your horse Amino Pur. Supplementing your horse's feed with OMEGA3 Pur will provide anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids as well as omega-6 fatty acids to support skin metabolism.
 
My horse has sweet itch, what can I feed him?
Sweet itch is an allergic reaction to the bites of bloodsucking insects like black flies and midges. The itch is the horse's reaction to proteins in the saliva of mosquitoes. The first thing to do is to protect the horse from bites, for example by using special eczema blankets and by turning him out at appropriate times. Certain breeds are more susceptible to this disease, for instance Icelandics. Imported horses in particular often develop sweet itch because, as foals, their immune system had no contact with the salivary proteins of mosquitoes.

Affected horses can benefit from targeted amounts of zinc and omega-3 fatty acids in their feed rations. It is also important to keep the horse at a proper weight, as fat deposits can promote inflammatory processes. Under certain circumstances, a protein-reduced diet can also help to alleviate the symptoms. As a mineral feed, our Seniormineral or our Gipfelstürmer Mineral is suitable due to its higher zinc content.For the skin, coat and immune system, a regimen of one container of Zink Pur may be carried out three times a year. Horses that need concentrates should be given cereal-free feeds, as these help to keep blood sugar levels constant. You can also replace about 200 g of concentrate feed with 50 ml of OMEGA3 Pur for an optimum supply of omega-3 fatty acids.
 
How can I support my horse is during moulting?
Horses replace their entire coat twice a year in adaptation to the seasons. These periods begin in late June and late December around the summer and winter solstices. Moulting is therefore not dependent on temperature, but rather on the length of daylight.

You can support your horse during the moulting seasons by increasing the mineral content in his feed. Use the upper limit of the feeding recommendation for guidance. Alternatively, you can provide selected micro-nutrients to support moulting by feeding Spurenelemente Pur, Zink Pur, or Amino Pur.
 
How can I nourish skin, coat and hooves through adjustments to feed?
Hay and grass do not contain all nutrients in adequate quantities, so a mineral feed supplement should be given to cover your horse's trace element and vitamin requirements. These are important for all important metabolic processes. Naturmineral, Seniormineral or Gipfelstürmer Mineral are suitable for this, depending on your horse's individual needs. Seniormineral is not just for older horses, but also for any horses with increased requirements (growth, sport, susceptibility to skin problems, poor horn quality, etc.) A supplement of Zink Pur will provide extra support to coat, skin, and hooves. Bierhefe Pur also supplies the horse with high-quality amino acids and B vitamins for horn and hair growth.
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Metabolic disorders

How should I feed my Cushing's horse?
Equine Cushing's disease, also known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a disease that arises from a disorder of the pituitary gland (hypophysis). It mostly affects older horses. Changes in hormone production affect the coat, skin, and muscles. This disease is often accompanied by insulin resistance and laminitis. A veterinary surgeon should always be consulted in cases of PPID so that the horse can receive proper medication. However, symptoms can also be alleviated through feed.

Low-carbohydrate feeds are advised with regard to disease-related development of insulin resistance. The horse's ration should be cereal-free, and sugary foods like apples and bananas should be avoided. Adjustments to pasture management should be undertaken, especially in spring and autumn, when grasses may have especially high sugar and fructan levels. In addition, the horse's feed management should always be adapted to its nutritional status. An adequate supply of energy and protein is important to counteract the weight loss that often accompanies Cushing's. In case of increased energy requirements, our Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli as well as our Omega 3 Pur can be supplemented. Our AlpenGrün products are also an alternative if the feed should not contain quite so much energy for the build-up. Our Luzernecobs, Myo Protein Flakes or Amino Pur can ensure the supply of high-quality protein. Overweight horses generally need very little complementary feeds beyond high-quality hay.
Minerals and vitamins are also especially important for metabolism. Seniormineral provides optimum coverage even with increased requirements. As a vital substance concentrate, the Gipfelstürmer Mineral supplies all important micronutrients. A regimen with Spurenelemente Pur two or three times a year is advisable.

 
How should I feed my EMS horse?
Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), like PPID, is a common hormonal disease with a range of symptoms including obesity, insulin dysregulation/resistance and laminitis. A dysfunctional sugar metabolism can also trigger compulsive eating in the horse,
putting emphasis on a reduction diet and exercise plan adapted to individual requirements.

First, forage should be reduced to 1.5 kg per 100 kg of the horse's target body weight. The hay can also be soaked in water to flush out water-soluble carbohydrates, if necessary. This may accelerate microbial spoilage, however, depending on the ambient temperature. Low-energy straw can also be used to replace 1–2 kg of hay. Check the barrel circumference weekly to ensure that the horse is not losing weight too quickly, otherwise there is a risk of hyperlipidaemia, a fat metabolism disorder.
If the horse shows no lameness and is able to bear weight, 30 minutes of trot and canter work included in the exercise plan at least three to five times a week will help to improve insulin sensitivity.

Under no circumstances should the horse be fed high-energy concentrate feeds containing cereals.
Seniormineral is not only suitable for old horses, is also an ideal mineral feed for horses with increased mineral requirements, as is the case with malfunctioning metabolisms.
Amino Pur has essential amino acids to help maintain as much muscle mass as possible on a reduced-feed diet. Among other things, the Gipfelstürmer Mineral is also suitable as a mineral feed, which as a vital substance concentrate provides all the important micronutrients for powerful muscles. In addition to the protein building blocks methionine, lysine and threonine, it also contains L-carnitine, high levels of selenium and vitamins E, B1, B2 and C ensure a sufficient supply in all situations. 
Since magnesium plays a central role in metabolism and can improve insulin sensitivity, supplementing with Magnesium Pur could provide additional support.
 
How should I feed my PSSM horse?
Equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSSM) is a genetic disease involving muscle metabolism, in which muscle cells are damaged and destroyed as a result of the intake of easily digestible carbohydrates (sugar, starch). This hereditary disease often affects heavy horse breeds such as Quarter Horses and draught horses.

Carriers of the gene can usually be helped through adaptations to diet and general management, allowing them to live symptom-free. In this context, our AlpenGrün products and the Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli for example, come into question. These adaptations may include an open stable to allow the horse continuous, slow movement. In winter, however, EPSSM horses should wear rugs to protect the back and croup muscles and always have access to shelter. The horse's diet should be as cereal-free as possible to keep starch intake low and maintain stable blood sugar levels. Supplementing your horse's feed with high-quality protein like our Myo Protein Flakes, Luzerne+, and Luzernecobs will help to prevent loss of muscle tone. We also recommend Amino Pur, which contains essential amino acids that are especially important for musculature. Oil can also provide active sport horses with sufficient energy without adding more carbohydrates to their rations. As a mineral feed, Seniormineral or Gipfelstürmer Mineral is also suitable here, which provide higher levels of amino acids, vitamin E and selenium than Naturmineral.
Since magnesium also plays a central role in muscle metabolism, targeted supplementation with Magnesium Pur can help promote muscle health and provide PSSM horses with greater well-being in their daily lives.

 
My horse has laminitis. Will changes to his diet help?
Laminitis is a painful inflammation of the hoof corium. Although it can have many causes, the most common cause is a sugar metabolism malfunction as the result of obesity (EMS) or PPID (ECS). Possible but much rarer causes of laminitis are the ingestion of endotoxins (as a result of hindgut acidosis or post-partum behaviour), selenium toxicity, or from overload to the hoof.

Horses with laminitis should be fed low-carbohydrate feed rations to avoid high insulin secretion. This can be done by eliminating cereals (including products containing rice) from the ration. Hay that is high in sugar can be soaked in water to flush out the water-soluble sugars. It is important that the hay not be simply made wet, but that it be thoroughly washed over a period lasting at least 30, ideally 60 minutes. Overweight horses must lose weight so that they do not contract laminitis again. Here, it is recommended that the horse's daily hay ration be weighed.

The horse's mineral feed should contain more than the required zinc and vitamin E. To ensure the supply of all vital micronutrients, we recommend supplementing Seniormineral or Gipfelstürmer Mineral, which contains more zinc and vitamin E as well as essential amino acids. Underweight laminitis horses (for example those with Cushing's) will benefit from oil (such as OMEGA3 Pur) as a sure source of energy that's carbohydrate-free.
 
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The immune system

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Energy and nutrients

What can I feed my horse to help develop muscle mass?
High-quality forage is the foundation of all feeds and should provide the horse with adequate protein. Building muscle requires meeting the horse's dietary requirement for amino acids. However, the most important factor in building muscle is exercise. No feed can take the place of work when it comes to building muscle, but the right feed can support muscle development. The key is to supply the amino acids important for musculature, for example through Myo Protein Flakes or Luzernecobs in combination with Amino Pur. These products have high quantities of amino acids to support the synthesis of muscle protein. If you want to combine muscle building with energy supply, you can choose the grain-free Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli or the Haferwiese Sportmüsli.
We recommend our Seniormineral for building muscle in younger horses as well, as it contains more essential amino acids, vitamin E, and selenium than our other mineral feeds. Magnesium also plays a crucial role in muscle metabolism. It is important for muscle relaxation, nerve function, and energy production in the cells. Supplementing with Magnesium Pur can therefore effectively support muscle development.
During muscle development we also recommend Seniormineral or Gipfelstürmer Mineral as a mineral feed even for younger horses, as both contain more essential amino acids, vitamin E and selenium than our other mineral feeds.

 
I suspect that my horse has a magnesium deficiency. Will this show up in a blood test?

A magnesium deficiency doesn’t always show up in blood test results. Magnesium in the blood only makes up around 1% of the total magnesium in the body because magnesium is mostly stored in the bones and cells. The magnesium concentration in the blood can remain stable for a long time, even if there is a deficiency in the tissues. 

Blood tests are of limited use when it comes to diagnosing magnesium deficiency. Abnormally low values confirm a deficiency, but normal values don’t rule it out. Alternatively, measurements of magnesium in whole blood or in the red corpuscles (erythrocytes) can be useful because they more accurately reflect the cellular magnesium status. 
If you suspect a magnesium deficiency, you should look at the symptoms, feeding and alternative tests. If you are unsure, you should talk to your vet about what would be the best thing to do for your horse. 

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Horse pastures and their care

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Proper equine diet in all life stages

How should I feed my senior horse?
A balanced diet is particularly important in older horses, as the entire organism begins to lose efficiency. Naturally, digestion is also affected. For all horses, the following applies: The minimum amount of hay should be between 1.5 kg and 2 kg per 100 kg of the horse's target body weight. Here it is important to take into account the state of the horse's teeth, as many older horses can no longer chew long-stem hay sufficiently. A soaked hay substitute (Pre Alpin® Wiesencobs or Pre Alpin® Wiesenflakes) will help the horse get an adequate supply of forage.

In addition, sufficient mineralization is important to guarantee the supply of all vital nutrients. Seniormineral or Gipfelstürmer Mineral are suitable here, as they have higher contents and additionally contain vitamin C. This ensures that the horse gets enough vitamins even when it can no longer synthesise sufficient amounts.
Supplementing the ration with magnesium can strengthen the heart and circulation. Senior horses, in particular, with circulatory fluctuations, weather sensitivity, and swollen legs, can benefit from the administration of Magnesium Pur.

Any high-fibre and high-energy feeds are suitable as concentrates, for example AlpenGrün Mash, AlpenGrün Pellet, Horse Alpin® Senior and AlpenGrün Seniormüsli. Otherwise healthy older horses that are experiencing loss of muscle tone should be given a high-protein feed such as Myo Protein Flakes. If the old horses still have intact teeth, the tasty Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli can help to maintain their substance and muscles. Senior horses that are underweight can also get additional energy from oil, such as our OMEGA3 Pur.

 
How should I feed my broodmare?
Pregnant mares should neither lose nor gain body fat. Pregnant mares up to their 7th month will not have noticeable increases in their energy and protein requirements, and can be fed the same as a riding horse. From the 7th month onwards, however, the mare will need more energy and protein.

Luzerne+, Luzernecobs or Horse Alpin® Senior will meet this increased need. Haferwiese Sportmüsli is also ideal for broodmares.
From this point on, Seniormineral or Gipfelstürmer Mineral are suitable mineral feeds for all horses with increased requirements.

In the last third of pregnancy, the mare's magnesium requirement also increases to optimally support the growing foal. Adapted feeding with sufficient magnesium (e.g., through the supplementation of Magnesium Pur) can help prevent deficiencies.
How can I properly feed a foal from weanling to young horse?
The basis of any good equine diet is high-quality hay. This applies for foals and young horses as well. Growing horses need hay with a good protein content, meaning hay that has not been cut too late. A low-protein base feed can be supplemented with our Luzernecobs.

It is important that growing horses not be fed excess energy. Studies show that fast-growing foals are often afflicted with OCD (osteochondrosis dissecans, or "bone chips") later in life. An adequate mineral supply is also important to provide a growing body with sufficient macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients. Well suited here is, for example, our Seniormineral or our Gipfelstürmer Mineral.

Foals being weaned from their mothers will benefit from the addition of AlpenGrün Mash and cooked linseed to their ration. Many foals in the weaning stages develop stomach ulcers due to increased stress. They should therefore be acclimated to the new feed before being completely weaned.
 
How should I feed a sport horse?
Like all horses, sport horses should get most of their daily energy requirement from forage, with a minimum amount of between 1.5 kg and 2 kg per 100 kg of the horse's ideal weight. Sport horses should be given more hay, because their increased physical activity means they need more energy in their feed than less active horses.
If hay alone does not suffice to maintain weight, the horse will need to be given concentrates.
Haferwiese Sportmüsli supplies sufficient energy for high performance demands and stimulates thorough chewing of concentrate feed. If you want to provide the same amount of energy via a grain-free feed that is also easy on the stomach and does not make the horse too temperamental, Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli is the first choice.

Maiscobs can supplement the rations of horses that work hard and need quite large amounts of feed. Maiscobs are very low-protein and can thus counteract excess protein from large quantities of feed.

Horses with high endurance requirements, such as those in endurance riding, will benefit from feeds with a high crude fibre content such as Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli, AlpenGrün Pellet or Maiscobs, as these provide continuous energy over several hours.

Supplementing rations with Amino Pur will offer targeted support to muscle development.
Additionally, sufficient magnesium intake should be ensured, as magnesium plays a crucial role in muscle relaxation and stress resistance. Especially under high physical strain, the body's magnesium requirement may increase. Targeted supplementation with Magnesium Pur is recommended to prevent muscle tension and support recovery after training.

As a mineral feed, the Seniormineral or the Gipfelstürmer Mineral is suitable for all sport horses. It contains nutrients important for muscles, including essential amino acids, vitamin E, and selenium.
 
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Proper equine diet

Why does my horse eat the faeces of other horses?
Coprophagia, or the eating of faeces, is a normal behaviour in foals which helps the gut flora transition to solid food. When adult horses exhibit this behaviour, it may indicate a feed, crude fibre, or nutrient deficiency.

A horse's daily forage requirement is between 1.5 kg and 2 kg of hay per 100 kg of its target body weight. If it is not possible to provide sufficient forage due to any circumstances, supplement the horse's hay ration with Pre Alpin® products. Pre Alpin® products are hay replacers, meaning that 1 kg of Pre Alpin® can be used to replace 1 kg of hay.
If a mineral deficiency is suspected, a ration calculation may be in order to help compensate for any deficiencies (e.g. through our Naturmineral or Seniormineral).
 
My overweight / easy-doer horse needs to lose weight. What can I feed him?
The daily forage ration should be based strictly on individual requirements. For easy doers, low-energy straw can replace 1–2 kg of forage. If the horse is also turned out, the quantity of grass eaten must be factored into its daily feed ration. A horse can eat between 3 kg and 5 kg of grass in an hour. The amount of hay must be reduced according to such factors as the duration of turnout, the type of vegetation, and the horse's nutritional fitness. The horse may also need to wear a feed brake. Free access to feed can be problematic, especially for robust breeds that are easy doers.

Most horses doing easy work (1–1.5 rides per day) can get by without concentrate feeds. Overweight horses do not need any high-energy concentrates, even with daily work. A small amount of soaked Pre Alpin® Wiesenflakes, Leichtgenuss or Grünhafer  for example, is a suitable mineral feed supplement. Seniormineral has an increased micro-nutrient content that can compensate for mineral and vitamin deficiencies due to diet.
 
What's the proper way to feed my underweight horse? My horse is a poor doer. How can I get him to bulk up?
The causes for unexplained weight loss are manifold. Common causes include dental problems, a severe parasite infestation, other underlying diseases, or too little intake of forage. The first step must always be to find the cause. The following applies:

The basis of any good equine diet is high-quality hay.
Depending on the breed, a horse's daily forage requirement is between 1.5 kg and 2 kg of hay per 100 kg of its target body weight. A warmblood weighing 600 kg will need between 9 and 12 kg per day. The higher number should always be selected if the horse is underweight. The horse can also be given ad libitum access to hay. If the amount of forage is not sufficient, increasing the amount of concentrate feed will not help.

If feeding the horse more hay is not possible, the Pre Alpin® line offers a number of alternatives. For all Pre Alpin® products, the following applies: 1 kg of Pre Alpin® replaces 1 kg of hay.
You can also supplement the ration with AlpenGrün Mash or AlpenGrün Pellet. Both are restorative and gentle on the stomach, as they contain more "calories" than hay. The Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli from our range is particularly ‘high-calorie’ and at the same time grain-free, stomach-friendly and very tasty. High-quality vegetable oils also make good supplements.
 
In addition, mineral feeds such as Naturmineral, Gipfelstürmer Mineral or Seniormineral should be supplemented to ensure the supply of minerals and vitamins. Seniormineral is not just for older horses – it is suitable for all horses with increased mineral needs.
How can I compensate for too little or poor quality hay?
The basis of any good equine diet is high-quality hay.
Horses require sufficient crude fibre to maintain healthy digestion and to satisfy the horse's need to chew. As descendants of animals that once grazed the steppes, horses are built to cover their energy and nutritional requirements almost exclusively through forage.
As a guideline, one can use a general rule of thumb for calculating a horse's forage requirement:  depending on the breed, between 1.5 kg and 2 kg of hay per 100 kg of its target body weight.

If the daily hay ration is inadequate or of poor quality, use Pre Alpin® products as a wholesome hay substitute or supplement. Dry Pre Alpin® feed products like AlpenHeu, Pre Alpin® Aspero, and Pre Alpin® Compact are suitable for horses with healthy teeth, whilst products in cob or flake form for soaking are also suitable for horses with dental issues.
 
How should I feed my hot-blooded horse?
In principle, feed can only influence the temperament of a horse to a certain extent. Genetics, individual personality, attitude, and training also influence a horse's temperament.

There are a few questions to be asked if a horse is too hot-blooded: Is the horse stabled in a loose box or an open stable? Many horses are happier being able to move about in an open stall, whilst others experience stress from always being in a group.
How much exercise does the horse get? Is your horse adequately challenged, both physically and mentally?

With regard to feed, consider how much concentrate feed the horse is getting and whether he even needs it. As descendants of animals that once grazed the steppes, horses are built to cover their energy and nutritional requirements almost exclusively through forage. Supplement your hot-blooded horse's feed with cereal-free, low-carbohydrate complementary feeds if he needs additional concentrate feed to maintain a healthy weight. Unlike cereals or other high-carbohydrate feeds, these won't significantly elevate blood sugar levels and "go to his head".  AlpenGrün Müsli and AlpenGrün Pellet are good, cereal-free concentrate feed alternatives that, in combination with oil (OMEGA3 Pur), supply sufficient energy for work. If you want an even higher energy density for daily work but still don't want the horse to be too lively because it is based on fat and fibre instead of cereals, the Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli is a good choice.
Since a magnesium deficiency can also manifest as nervousness and increased skittishness, targeted magnesium supplementation with Magnesium Pur could be beneficial.
 
How should I feed lethargic, lazy horses?
As elsewhere, the first step is to look for the cause of the horse's lethargy. This can often be a first sign of certain health problems. Many factors come into play here: the horse's natural temperament, its daily workload, stabling, the type and quality of feed, and status of nutrition and health. Lethargy is also often seen in horses that are older, overweight, or that have stomach issues.
The idea of feeding the horse high quantities of cereals to provide more energy is often unproductive. The digestive system will have problems digesting large amounts of cereals, and if a horse is maintaining its weight, the cause of his lethargy will not be from getting too little energy.

Instead, the first important step is to ensure that he is getting enough good-quality forage. After that, if the horse is losing weight, you can raise the energy level by adding a concentrate feed to the ration.
Use a concentrate with or without cereals depending on need: Haferwiese Sportmüsli, Spitzenreiter Magenmüsli, AlpenGrün Müsli, or AlpenGrün Pellet. Older horses in particular can also be given herbs for health and/or hawthorn. Nutritional deficiencies can also trigger lethargy in horses, which is why it's important to see that your horse is getting the minerals he needs. For this purpose, there is Naturmineral, Gipfelstürmer Mineral or Seniormineral for horses with higher needs. For the pasture season, Weidemineral-Cobs are suitable.
 
My horse has no appetite, what can I do?
When a horse loses its appetite, this is almost always a sign of health problems. General ailments involving fever and pain will cause a horse to experience loss of appetite. Dental problems rarely lead to loss of appetite, but make digestion more difficult, which can then result in weight loss. A common cause of loss of appetite is stomach pain. Another is a very high workload. Other factors include poor hygiene and sometimes also feed structure (hay that is too coarse). Like with any other problems, the first step is to find out why the horse doesn't want to eat.

If the horse refuses its feed, offer it products from the Pre Alpin® line. AlpenGrün Mash and AlpenGrün Pellet are delicious concentrate variants/supplements – they are easy on the digestive system and horses love them. They are especially suitable for horses with stomach or intestinal issues.
If that doesn't help, try to stimulate your horse's appetite with cereal flakes, apple juice, apple sauce, or carrot juice.
Unfamiliar tastes, for example from new feeds, can lead to poor feed intake as well. Introduce any new feeds slowly and in small amounts, gradually increasing them to accustom the horse to the new feed.
 
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Respiratory problems

My horse has respiratory problems, how can I support it?
Respiratory problems can be acute and chronic. The causes are manifold. However, dusty and/or mouldy food is usually the trigger. In case of respiratory problems, the veterinarian should always be consulted. An adapted feed can improve the symptoms. The basis of horse feeding is high-quality hay. Especially for horses with respiratory problems, it is important to use hay that is low in dust and free of mould. It is advantageous to steam the hay. If this is not possible, watered hay is also suitable. But be careful: depending on the ambient temperature, watering increases the risk of microbial spoilage. Feeding haylage and PreAlpin products are also alternatives. In addition, herbs for the respiratory tract can be mixed into the feed for 3 weeks.

Since magnesium plays an important role in the relaxation of smooth muscles — including the bronchi — a balanced magnesium level can help the airways relax, making breathing easier for the horse. Targeted supplementation with Magnesium Pur can support adequate magnesium intake and promote the horse’s well-being.

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