Horse Nutrition FAQ
Common questions about horse nutrition, feed, supplements, and how the EquiBalance analysis works.
What is EquiBalance?
EquiBalance is a free online tool that analyses your horse's diet against the National Research Council (NRC) 2007 nutritional requirements for horses. You enter your horse's details and current feed, and we calculate which of 17 key nutrients are deficient, balanced, or in excess — then recommend specific UK supplements to fill any gaps.
How does the horse nutrition analysis work?
You provide your horse's profile (breed, age, weight, workload, body condition score, and any health conditions), then enter the feeds and forages your horse currently eats with daily quantities. EquiBalance calculates the total nutrient intake for each of 17 nutrients and compares it against the NRC 2007 recommended daily allowances for a horse of that profile. Any shortfalls are flagged as deficiencies.
What is the NRC 2007 standard?
The NRC (National Research Council) 2007 publication 'Nutrient Requirements of Horses, Sixth Revised Edition' is the internationally recognised scientific reference for equine nutrition. It defines daily requirements for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals across all life stages and work levels. It is the same standard used by equine nutritionists and veterinarians worldwide.
Which nutrients does EquiBalance assess?
We assess 17 key nutrients: Digestible Energy (DE), Crude Protein, Lysine, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Iodine, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Biotin.
Is EquiBalance free to use?
Yes. The full 17-nutrient analysis, report, and supplement recommendations are completely free. No sign-up is required.
What are the most common nutritional deficiencies in horses?
The most commonly deficient nutrients in UK horses are: Vitamin E (especially horses not on fresh pasture), Selenium (soils in many parts of the UK are selenium-poor), Zinc and Copper (often lacking in horses fed predominantly hay or haylage), Magnesium (particularly relevant for horses prone to laminitis or EMS), and Lysine (the first limiting amino acid, often deficient in horses on a forage-only diet).
How do I know if my horse has a nutritional deficiency?
Clinical signs vary by nutrient. Common indicators include: poor hoof quality or slow hoof growth (biotin, zinc, copper), dull or poor coat condition (zinc, copper, essential fatty acids), muscle weakness or tying-up (Vitamin E, selenium), poor topline (protein/lysine), bone issues in youngstock (calcium, phosphorus), and behavioural changes such as nervousness (magnesium). However, many deficiencies are subclinical and only identifiable through dietary analysis — which is what EquiBalance provides.
What workload level should I select?
Use maintenance for horses in light or no work (under 1 hour per week). Light work covers horses in regular hacking or light schooling (1–3 hours per week). Moderate work is for horses in regular schooling, jumping, or competition (3–5 hours per week). Heavy work applies to horses in intensive training, eventing, or endurance (5+ hours per week). If in doubt, select the lower level — you can always re-run the analysis.
Why does the Ca:P (calcium to phosphorus) ratio matter?
Calcium and phosphorus work together in bone formation and metabolism. The NRC recommends a Ca:P ratio of 1.2:1 to 2:1 in most horses' diets. An inverted ratio (more phosphorus than calcium) can impair calcium absorption and lead to bone density issues over time. High-grain diets are a common cause of inverted Ca:P ratios in horses.
Can EquiBalance help horses with health conditions like laminitis or Cushing's?
Yes. During the analysis you can declare health conditions including EMS/insulin resistance, laminitis, PPID (Cushing's), tying-up/PSSM, gastric ulcers, RAO/respiratory issues, poor hoof quality, and poor coat condition. These conditions can alter nutritional requirements and the supplement recommendations take them into account.
How often should I re-run the analysis?
We recommend re-running the analysis whenever your horse's circumstances change: a new feed or forage, a change in workload, a seasonal change (especially winter when forage quality drops), a change in health status, or significant weight change. At minimum, an annual review is good practice.
Is EquiBalance a replacement for a professional equine nutritionist?
EquiBalance is a decision-support tool, not a replacement for professional advice. It gives you an accurate, evidence-based starting point for understanding your horse's diet. For horses with complex health issues, significant performance demands, or if you are unsure about any recommendations, always consult a qualified equine vet or nutritionist.
Which supplements do you recommend?
EquiBalance recommends UK-available supplements from brands including NAF, Science Supplements, Blue Chip, TopSpec, Dodson & Horrell, and others. Recommendations are matched to your horse's specific deficiencies and grouped by category (energy/protein, vitamins & minerals). Where available, we provide links to purchase supplements on Amazon UK.
What is a body condition score (BCS)?
Body condition score is a system for assessing a horse's fat coverage on a numeric scale. EquiBalance uses a simplified scale: underweight (score 3 or below), good condition (score 4–6), and overweight (score 7 or above). A horse's energy requirements are adjusted based on body condition — an underweight horse needs more digestible energy than one in good condition.
Does EquiBalance cover forage (hay and haylage)?
Yes. You can enter hay, haylage, and grass as part of your horse's diet. We use regional UK average values for hay and haylage nutrient content. For best accuracy, if you have a forage analysis from your hay supplier, contact us — we can advise on how to interpret it alongside the EquiBalance results.
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