One of the most common problems horse owners face is deciding the amount and type of grain that they should be feeding their horse. Horses can be picky eaters. If your horse is not used to a particular type of grain, it might begin to skip meals which can lead to weight issues.
For this reason, a lot of grains are available on the market that contain the right amount of protein and other macronutrients to help your horse maintain its muscle mass. This study on equine dietary supplements provides specific detail on a horse’s best nutrition.
After a lot of research, we have compiled a list of the top five brands that offer the best grain for horses available on the market today.
A Quick Glimpse: Customer Opinion Of Each Brand
In a hurry? For your convenience, we have put together a condensed list of the options available on this list based on their best characteristics as recommended by verified consumers.
Best Overall: Formula 707 Daily Fresh Packs
“707 products are always quality. Our older horse was stiff and sore so we thought we would give it a try. He is feeling much better even wants to work a bit. Love the pre measured packets. They are very convenient. Already ordered a second month.”
Best Budget: Purina Apple and Oat Flavored Horse Treats
“Presume the flavor is good as the horses follow me around for them. 🙂 Excellent value as compared to purchasing smaller quantities locally. Good shipping communication. Bonus: my cat loves the box they shipped in! Will order more as needed.”
Best Splurge: Manna Pro-Max E-Glo Pellets
“My horses love this product!”
Best for Performance Horses: Bluebonnet Feeds Race Horse Whole Oats
“Couldn’t ask for better quality oats really.”
Best for Older Horses: Manna Pro Max E-Glo Meal
“This product is amazing!
I have a gelding I just could not get to gain weight, he is older and teeth are not so great anymore. Just 2 months on this product he looks and feels so much better!”
Best Grain for Horses
1. Formula 707 Daily Fresh Packs
The box comes with a 28 day supply of food in the form of pre-measured packets, ensuring that there is no confusion on the correct amount of food being served to your horse. The grain in this product helps support your horse’s metabolism, builds muscle, and optimizes its body definition.
The ingredients present in the grain include Lysine, gamma oryzanol, creatine, and OKG, which are all natural compounds that support muscle development in horses. This will help your horse regulate its weight and define its muscle mass.
The packets are sealed tightly to ensure that the grain inside does not get damaged by water, oxygen, or sunlight. If you’re traveling with your horse, these packets can be a convenient way to help it maintain a well-balanced daily diet.
However, there are some precautions that you need to take before considering this product. If you intend to use your horse for breeding (or you have a pregnant horse), you should avoid this brand. Another complaint that verified customers have noted is that it might take some time for results to show, so you should not expect immediate results.
Specifications:
- Brand: Formula 707
- Container type: Box + 28 packets
- Flavor: Apple
- Product dimensions: 11 x 10 x 8 inches
- Item weight: 3.55 pounds
Pros
- Pre-measured packets
- Natural ingredients
- Product helps regulate metabolism, helping your horse regulate its weight
Cons
- Not suitable for pregnant horses or horses meant for breeding
- Immediate results might not be visible
2. Purina Apple and Oat Flavored Horse Treats
Another interesting thing about this product is that the supplement comes in appealing shapes. While some horses would not care about this aspect, there are others that find shapes and sizes interesting. The unique shape of this product is visually appealing to most horses.
The packaging also features Amazon’s “Compact by Design” certification. This certification is given to products that have made changes in their product size and weight to ensure reduced carbon emissions by incorporating less packaging, less air in the container, efficient shapes, and waterless technology.
While the product certainly smells and tastes good, some verified purchasers have noticed a “stale” smell from the biscuits. The exchange policy on the product is also not very customer friendly.
Specifications:
- Brand: Purina
- Container type: Packet
- Flavor: Apple and Oat
- Product dimensions: 20 x 14 x 3 inches
- Item weight: 15 pounds
Pros
- Flavor is appealing, even to pick eaters
- Supplements are visually appealing to most horses
- Compact by Design certification, indicating lower carbon emissions
Cons
- Product smell can be unappealing to humans
- Company exchange policy is not customer-friendly
3. Manna Pro-Max E-Glo Pellets
The supplement also contains 18% fat, which ensures that your horse does not gain too much energy too quickly (which can lead to aggressive behavior). You can check out this video on how to calm down a hot horse if you’ve noticed that behavior in your horse.
Besides fat, Manna Pro-Max also contains vitamin E as one of its ingredients. Vitamin E is integral in supporting and strengthening the immune system, which means that your horse will likely fall sick less often if it regularly consumes this product.
Even though this brand contains a lot of fat, it is not high in starch. This ensures that your horse will not put on any unwanted body weight if regularly consuming this brand. The product also contains a lot of antioxidants that promote cell longevity and overall health.
Some problems that customers have had with this product is the price; it’s very expensive when compared to other alternatives. If you’re working on a budget, this might not be the best fit for you.
Specifications:
- Brand: Manna Pro
- Container type: Packet
- Flavor: Rice Bran
- Product dimensions: 3.5 x 17.5 x 30 inches
- Item weight: 40 pounds
Pros
- 18% fat releases energy slowly and for a longer time
- Vitamin E supports horse’s immune system
- Presence of antioxidants improves longevity & overall health
Cons
- Expensive
- Cheaper only at local stores (not online), according to verified customers
4. Bluebonnet Feeds Race Horse Whole Oats
For underdeveloped horses who need to build muscle and body definition, this supplement contains 11% protein. Protein is the building block of muscle; with this feed and enough exercise, you should see changes in your horse’s body type within a few weeks.
The supplement contains a much lower percentage of fat as compared to other alternatives on the list at only 4% fat per serving. This makes it a good option for overweight horses as well. If you have a performance horse or racehorse, this is an ideal product choice.
The oats are triple-cleaned. This removes all the chaff and dust, giving them a healthy, polished texture that your horse would appreciate. Once this process is completed, the product is also vacuum cleaned for an even purer oat taste.
After cleaning, the oats are coated with high quality oils that contain Omega 3 fatty acids. This supports your horse’s immune system as well.
For people who are looking for high fat percentages for slow releasing energy, this might not be the best choice.
Specifications:
- Brand: Bluebonnet
- Container type: Packet
- Flavor: Northern oats
- Product dimensions: 14 x 10 x 10 inches
- Item weight: 50 pounds
Pros
- 11% protein for high quality muscle development
- 4% fat for regulating body weight and body definition
- Triple cleaned and enriched with Omega 3 rich vegetable oils
Cons
- Low fat content
- Not ideal for horses before performances
5. Manna Pro Max E-Glo Meal
The reason why some supplements are available in a more powdered form instead of pellets is so that older horses can eat it more effectively. As horses get older, their teeth do not have the same chewing ability as younger horses. This can potentially cause digestive issues and poor absorption of nutrients.
When supplements come in the form of a meal, horses can eat and digest it more easily. This makes this 40 pound bag of supplements an excellent pick for older horses.
However, this can be a problem for younger horses, as they are more used to solid food. If you have a younger horse, you can opt for the other Manna Pro option on this list. This is also not the cheapest item on the list, so you might want to look at meal alternatives if you’re working on a budget.
Specifications:
- Brand: Manna Pro
- Container type: Packet
- Flavor: Meal Powder
- Product dimensions: 3.5 x 17.5 x 30 inches
- Item weight: 40.5 pounds
Pros
- Comes in a powdered meal form- easier for older horses to chew and digest
- Large 40 pound bag for longer use
- Can maintain its freshness for a year, making it easy to store
Cons
- Not suitable for young horses who are used to solid food
- Expensive
“Food For Thought”- It’s Important To Feed The Best Grain For Horses For Overall Health
Feeding your horse all natural grains mixed on your own requires a lot of calculations and planning. Your horse might also be a picky eater, which can lead it to avoid some or all of its food, and that leads to the loss of muscle and body definition. If you own a performance horse, feeding it the best grain for horses is so important to keep it in its best health possible.
In this article, we have outlined the five best grain choices for horses. Now you’re able to make an informed decision about which of these feed options is the perfect fit for your horse’s specific needs. If you are interested in other topics regarding the care and feeding of horses, please feel free to check out our other informational articles, buying guides, and reviews as well!