Feed Company Resources

Most horse owners don't realize that the feed companies supplying their local tack and feed stores have entire departments dedicated to helping customers make better nutritional decisions for their horses. These resources are often free or low-cost, backed by actual equine nutritionists, and can save you thousands in veterinary bills by helping you feed your horse correctly from the start. Whether you're confused about which feed to choose, struggling with your horse's weight, dealing with a picky eater, or trying to optimize nutrition for performance, feed companies have phone lines, email support, and nutritional calculators specifically designed to help you find answers.

The catch is that most horse owners never use these resources because they don't know they exist or how to access them. You might call a feed store looking for advice and get someone who knows feed products but not nutrition, when what you really need is to talk directly to the company's nutritionist who formulated those feeds. Understanding what resources are available, who to ask for, and how to describe your horse's situation will help you get genuinely useful guidance rather than a sales pitch.

Feed company resources vary depending on the size and philosophy of the company. Larger national manufacturers like Purina, Nutrena, and Tribute typically have dedicated phone numbers and websites where you can request a nutritionist call or email consultation. Regional companies often have more personal relationships with their local distributors and may work through those stores. Premium or specialty brands sometimes offer more in-depth support including barn visits or custom formulation. Knowing what your feed company actually offers and how to reach the right person makes the difference between getting helpful guidance and getting frustrated by generic answers.

The quality of advice you'll receive varies considerably depending on who you speak with and how clearly you present your horse's situation. Someone working in customer service might understand feed products but lack the depth of nutritional knowledge you need. An actual equine nutritionist will ask you specific questions about your horse's age, activity level, body condition, current diet, health history, and goals. That difference is huge. The goal of this article is to help you navigate feed company resources effectively, understand what kind of support exists, and know how to ask for what you actually need.

Most horse owners discover feed company resources by accident—calling with a specific problem and discovering there's a nutritionist waiting to help. Others systematically check company websites and build relationships that serve them for years. Being proactive about reaching out to feed company nutritionists can solve feeding problems faster than trial and error, give you confidence that you're making good decisions, and actually save you money by preventing nutritional mistakes that damage your horse's health.

Feed companies employ equine nutritionists because proper horse nutrition is genuinely complicated. A nutritionist understands not just what nutrients your horse needs, but how different feed ingredients provide those nutrients, how your horse's digestive system processes them, and how to balance everything based on your individual horse's requirements. They know the difference between crude protein and digestible protein, understand mineral ratios and their interactions, and can explain why a feed that looks identical on the label might perform very differently in your horse's body.

The nutritional expertise varies by source within a feed company. Product development nutritionists formulated the feeds you're considering and understand the reasoning behind each feed's nutritional profile. Customer service nutritionists take those products and match them to individual horses, adjusting quantities and combinations to meet specific needs. Both are valuable, but for personal advice about your horse, you want the customer service side—someone who spends time answering questions from horse owners rather than purely developing new products.

Feed companies provide nutritional information in multiple formats. Guaranteed analysis labels tell you minimum protein and fat, maximum fiber, and various minerals—but they don't tell you digestibility or bioavailability, which is where actual nutrition happens. Feed company websites often include more detailed nutritional specs than you'll see on the bag. Asking for a complete nutritional breakdown of a specific feed including digestible energy, digestible protein, and mineral ratios gives you information to compare products more accurately than label reading alone.

One of the most valuable resources is the nutritional calculator. Many larger feed companies have online tools where you input your horse's weight, age, activity level, body condition score, and current diet, and the calculator recommends daily quantities of their feeds to meet your horse's needs. These aren't perfect—they can't account for individual metabolism or specific health conditions—but they give you a solid starting point rather than guessing. They also help you understand how feed amounts change based on your horse's situation. A 1,000-pound horse in light riding needs different daily calories than a 1,000-pound pregnant mare or a 1,000-pound performance horse, and the calculator makes that visible.

Feed companies also provide information about feed storage, shelf life, and how to transition your horse to new feeds. They understand common problems like feed palatability issues, digestive upset from transitions, and supplementation strategies. They can explain why your horse might not like a particular feed or suggest alternatives. They know which feeds work well together and which combinations create problems. That institutional knowledge saves you from expensive mistakes like buying a 50-pound bag of feed your horse refuses to eat or transitioning too quickly and causing colic.

Getting useful help from a feed company requires approaching them strategically. Start by identifying which company you want to work with—either the manufacturer of a feed you're considering, or one whose philosophy aligns with how you want to feed your horse. Then find their customer service line, usually through their website. Larger companies have 1-800 numbers and email addresses specifically for this. Regional companies might work through their local distributors or have a less formal process, but they typically welcome horse owner questions.

When you contact a feed company nutritionist, be ready to describe your horse accurately. They'll ask for age, weight (estimated is fine), activity level, current diet, body condition, and what you're trying to accomplish. Having this information ready makes the conversation much more productive. If your horse has health issues, mention them—laminitis, metabolic syndrome, ulcers, dental problems, or metabolic challenges all affect feeding. If you're transitioning from another feed, tell them what you've been feeding and over how many weeks you want to transition. If your horse is a picky eater or has digestive sensitivities, describe those issues. The more specific you are, the more useful the advice will be.

Most feed company consultations start with questions about your current situation and goals, then move into specific recommendations about which feeds to use and how much. Ask them to explain their recommendations in terms you understand. Why does this feed work better than that one for your situation? How do you calculate the daily amount? What should you expect to see change in your horse? A good nutritionist explains their reasoning, not just what to do. They'll also ask you to follow up after you've made changes—does your horse look better? Is the feed working as expected? Are there adjustments needed?

Many feed companies provide transition guidelines for moving your horse to their feeds. They usually recommend a gradual introduction over 10-14 days, starting with 25 percent of the new feed mixed with 75 percent of the old feed, then increasing the proportion of new feed every few days. Following this guidance prevents digestive upset and colic. Some companies provide printed transition sheets with their feeds or on their websites. Using these resources helps you avoid the mistake of switching too quickly, which is one of the most common causes of feeding-related problems.

Keep the nutritionist's contact information and don't hesitate to reach out if something isn't working. Feed companies want you to succeed with their products because satisfied customers buy more feed. If your horse isn't eating well, isn't gaining weight, or isn't performing as expected, a follow-up conversation with the nutritionist might reveal that you need a different feed, different quantities, or additional supplementation. That adjustment is usually free and much cheaper than having a vet try to diagnose a problem that might actually be a feeding mistake.

Feed company resources are especially valuable for horses with specific needs. If you have a senior horse, nutritionists can explain how a senior feed's formulation differs from regular feeds and whether it's actually necessary for your horse or whether you could feed a regular feed with more frequent smaller meals. For performance horses, they can calculate calories based on your training schedule and help you understand when you might need additional grain or supplements. For horses with laminitis or metabolic syndrome, they can identify feeds that are safe for those conditions and explain which feeds you absolutely need to avoid.

Easy keepers often surprise their owners because they seem to maintain weight on very little feed. A nutritionist can help you figure out if your easy keeper is actually getting enough essential nutrients on the reduced quantities you're feeding, or if you need to supplement even though the weight is fine. Many owners overfeed easy keepers because they calculate based on body weight rather than condition, and a feed company calculator can help you understand your specific horse's actual requirements.

Hard keepers present the opposite problem and are where feed company expertise really shines. These horses need more calories, better nutrient density, and sometimes additional supplements to maintain condition. A nutritionist can help you understand whether you need grain in addition to hay, whether you should add fat supplements, what mineral supplementation your hay-and-grain diet might be missing, and whether supplements like probiotics or digestive aids might help your hard keeper process feed more effectively and gain weight.

Pregnant and lactating mares have dramatically different nutritional needs than horses in light activity, and feed company resources can help you understand those differences. A pregnant mare needs more calories, especially in the last trimester, plus specific mineral ratios for bone development. A lactating mare needs even more calories and better quality protein for milk production. A nutritionist can help you time feed changes appropriately through these phases rather than guessing or waiting too long to increase nutrition.

Young horses being grown on feed company resources benefit from accurate calculations that support proper bone and joint development without pushing growth too fast. Feeding a growing horse incorrectly can cause developmental orthopedic disease and permanent lameness. Having a professional nutritionist help you formulate a growing horse's diet removes a lot of guesswork and risk. The investment in a couple of consultation calls can prevent tens of thousands of dollars in problems from improper growth nutrition.

One common mistake is assuming that feed company nutritionists will recommend their most expensive products regardless of your needs. This isn't typical. Good nutritionists match the right feed to your horse's specific requirements and budget. Sometimes that means recommending a good basic feed rather than a premium product. Sometimes it means showing you how to stretch your budget by using the right feed combination rather than more feed overall. The nutritionist's goal is helping your horse thrive on a diet that works for your situation, not selling the most expensive feed.

Another misconception is that feed company resources are only for people buying large quantities. Even small operations with one or two horses should take advantage of these resources. A 10-minute phone call from a feed company nutritionist might prevent months of feeding mistakes that affect your horse's health. The cost-benefit is enormous. Don't hesitate to reach out thinking your question isn't important enough or your operation isn't big enough.

Some horse owners avoid contacting feed companies because they think the advice is biased toward that company's products. This is sometimes true—a feed company nutritionist will naturally recommend that company's feeds. However, a good nutritionist will also acknowledge if their products aren't the best fit for your specific situation and might suggest alternatives or explain why a competitor's product might actually work better for you. The goal is building a relationship where you trust their advice because they're giving you honest guidance, not just a sales pitch.

A less obvious issue is that feed company recommendations are based on average horses, while your horse might not be average. Some horses are extremely sensitive to changes or certain ingredients. Some have metabolic issues that require specialized feeding. Some are picky eaters who reject certain textures or flavors. A good nutritionist will ask about these individual quirks and adjust recommendations. A mediocre one will give you the standard recommendation and expect you to make it work. If the first conversation doesn't feel useful, try a different nutritionist at the same company or a different company entirely.

It's also important to understand that feed company resources complement but don't replace veterinary advice. If your horse has health issues like ulcers, Cushing's disease, or other metabolic problems, your vet and a nutritionist should work together. Sometimes the vet needs to treat the underlying condition and then the nutritionist helps you feed appropriately around that condition. Don't skip veterinary care thinking a nutritionist can solve health problems that actually need medical attention.

Start using feed company resources before you have a problem. When you're first setting up your feeding program or considering changing feeds, reach out to the nutritionist and get it right from the beginning rather than discovering mistakes later. This is especially true if you're new to horses or feeding a particular type of horse for the first time. An hour of professional consultation at the start saves weeks of adjustment and expensive mistakes.

Build a relationship with one or two feed company nutritionists. Rather than calling random companies whenever you have a question, identify one or two that align with your philosophy and values, then work with them consistently. They'll learn your horse, remember your situation, and be able to give you increasingly tailored advice. They become a resource you can rely on rather than starting from scratch every time you have a feeding question.

Use nutritional calculators and online resources before you call. Most feed companies have websites with extensive information. Reading their educational materials and using their calculators makes your actual conversation with a nutritionist more productive. You'll already have a basic understanding, and they can address your specific situation rather than explaining basic concepts. This also helps you ask better questions and feel more confident in the recommendations.

When you get advice from a feed company nutritionist, follow up after a reasonable period—4 to 6 weeks—to report results. Let them know if their recommendations worked well, if you're seeing changes in your horse's condition, or if something isn't working as expected. This feedback helps them fine-tune recommendations and shows you're taking their advice seriously. Most nutritionists genuinely want to help and appreciate knowing whether their recommendations were successful. This also opens the door to adjustments if the initial recommendation didn't work perfectly for your specific horse.