23 feeds suitable for horses prone to laminitis
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Due to the fact that laminitis is effected by diet, finding feeds suitable for horses prone to lamintis is a real challenge. Horses prone to laminitis require a low starch and sugar diet – a combined level below 10% is considered low, but really the lower the better. Even if overweight, they still need a balanced feed ration to avoid deficiencies, especially when grazing is restricted.
It’s important to understand that these feeds don’t treat laminitis, but are formulated for horses prone to the condition. This guide explores the options available to help you make the right choice for your horse. If you’re still unsure, consult a feed manufacturer’s nutritional helpline.
Feeds suitable for horses prone to laminitis
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Fibre-based chaffs
Dengie Meadow Lite with Herbs
Bag weight: 15kg
RRP: £14.99
- Energy: 5MJ/kg
- Sugar: 3%
- Starch: 0.5%
A soft, tasty blend of British grown, chopped, precision-dried grass and high-quality oat straw for maximum fibre content whilst being low in calories. Suitable for good-doers and those prone to laminitis, naturally low in sugar and starch with tasty herbs – cinnamon and thyme – plus postbiotics to promote digestive health, can be fed as a total or partial forage replacer. Free from molasses, cereals, alfalfa & preservatives.
Mollichaff Light Molasses Free
Bag weight: 12.5kg
RRP: £8.79
- Energy: 7.5MJ/kg
- Sugar: 1.8%
- Starch: 3.9%
High in fibre, while being low in starch and sugar. This highly palatable chaff contains straw, fibre pellets, and grass that is dressed with soya oil. This chaff can be fed as a partial forage replacer or to complement your hard feed or balancer. It is suitable for good doers and those that have endocrine and metabolic issues that could lead to laminitis.
Spillers Happy Hoof Molasses Free
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £18.15
Laminitis Trust Approved: Yes
- Energy: 8.8MJ/kg
- Sugar: 1.25%
- Starch: 1.5%
This product is the same as the original Happy Hoof, providing all the same nutrients, but without the molasses coating, which lowers the sugar content from 4% to just 1.25%. For those concerned about molasses this is a low calorie fibre blend with garlic and no added sugar. It contains biotin and a full range of added vitamins and minerals to provide a balanced diet and can be used as a total hay replacer.
Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £17.45
- Energy: 8.5MJ/kg
- Sugar: 2.5%
- Starch: 1.5%
This nutritionally-balanced, high fibre feed has been formulated with B vitamins, biotin and MSM to promote stronger hooves and healthy joints. It’s made from a blend of soft cereal straw with chopped and pelleted nutrient rich alfalfa. It’s low in calories, which makes it ideal for good-doers and laminitis prone. It has a light rapeseed oil coating that provides slow-release energy and coat shine, plus garlic to help tempt fussy feeders.
Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound
Bag weight: 18kg
RRP: £19.29
- Energy: 8.7MJ/kg
- Sugar: 5%
- Starch: 5.8%
This fibre-based feed is formulated specifically for horses prone to laminitis. It contains blended herbs, added biotin for hoof support and antioxidants to support the body’s ability to fight against free radical damage.
Honeychop Lite & Healthy
Bag weight: 15kg
RRP: £16
- Energy: 8MJ/kg
- Sugar: 3.5%
- Starch: 0.5%
Is a non-heating, molasses-free, low sugar fibre feed suitable for those prone to laminitis. It is a soft, palatable blend of oat straw, timothy grass, herbs, marigolds and cinnamon with a light coating of oil.
Spillers Happy Hoof
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £17.45
- Energy: 8.8MJ/kg
- Sugar: 4%
- Starch: 1.5%
This high fibre feed is suitable for horses prone to laminitis as it will produce a low insulin response – and being low calorie it is also ideal for good-doers, natives and those in light work. It can be fed on its own, alongside a balancer or as a hay replacer. The blend includes short chopped fibre to extend eating time, contains biotin to support hoof health, and a full range of added vitamins and minerals to provide a balanced diet.
Pure Feeds Pure Fibre Balance
Bag weight: 15kg
RRP: £23.93
- Energy: 9MJ/kg
- Sugar: 3%
- Starch: 7%
Specially formulated for good doers – horses that maintain condition easily and don’t need extra calories. With a high fibre content and a concentrated dose of balancer, it provides all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients without the risk of unwanted weight gain. This low-calorie, all-in-one feed supports digestive health including prebiotics and probiotics for gut function, essential amino acids for muscle maintenance, biotin for healthy hooves and coat, and added salt for electrolyte balance.
Thunderbrook Organic Herbalite
Bag weight: 12.5kg
RRP: £17.75
- Energy: 7.2MJ/kg
- Sugar: 4.6%
- Starch: 1%
A tasty mix of diverse, organically grown UK meadow hay, combined with organic oat straw, plus organic mint and fennel seed.
Allen & Page L Mix
Bag weight: 15kg
RRP: From £16.40
- Energy: 7MJ/kg
- Sugar: 1.5%
- Starch: 3.75%
L Mix is a chaff based feed that is suitable for those prone to laminitis. The alfalfa and chaff ensures increased chewing time, which is beneficial for horses on a restricted diet and can help to maintain a healthy digestive system. It contains no added sugars, molasses or cereal grains and has an extremely low digestible energy. It contains herbs for palatability, pre- and probiotics, and linseed, which is a good source of omega-3. Suitable for horses with intolerances to cereal grains or molasses.
Soaked feeds
Also known as a mash, these products are soaked before feeding. While frequently composed of fibre-based elements, they can also include cereals and other components, such as herbs.
British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £20.50
Soaking time: 10 minutes
Laminitis Trust Approved: Yes
- Energy: 2MJ/kg
- Sugar: 5%
A highly nutritious, quick soaking (10 minute) beet pulp feed, with no added molasses, 95% sugar free. Made using only best quality British Beet Pulp, Speedi-Beet is subjected to a patented cooking process to produce a unique feed.There’s a high proportion of soluble fibre, mostly pectins, which means its fibre is more easily digested than that found in forage e.g. hay. This makes it a great source of non-heating slow-release energy. It’s starch free and low in sugar, so safe for horses prone to laminitis.
Spillers Speedy-Mash Fibre
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £18.15
Soaking time: 1 minute
- Energy: 8MJ/kg
- Sugar: 2.5%
- Starch: 7.5%
This molasses and cereal-free, low-starch and sugar formula is suitable for laminitic, senior, and weight-prone horses, even those with poor teeth or in light work. Its quality protein supports topline and muscle tone without excess calories. Prebiotics and probiotics support hindgut health. Highly digestible and palatable with an apple aroma, to temp fussy feeders.
Baileys Natural Meadow Cobs
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: From £22
Soaking time: up to 1 hour
- Energy: 6MJ/kg
- Sugar: 7.8%
- Starch: 2.2%
Made from late-cut perennial meadows, these are high in fibre, yet low in starch, sugars and calories, and soak to a tasty fibrous mash for extended chew time alongside any existing balanced diet. Ideal as an alternative to a low calorie chaff or unmolassed beet pulp.
British Horse Feeds Fibre-Beet
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £22
Soaking time: 45 minutes
Laminitis Trust Approved: Yes
- Sugar: 5%
- Starch 3%
This is a combination of Speedi-Beet and alfalfa supplemented with biotin, sodium and calcium. It has all the benefits of Speedi-Beet with its high level of easily digested soluble fibre for slow energy release, along with low starch and sugar but can be fed in larger quantities. This makes it a good conditioning feed and is ideal for those needing to control starch intake.
Allen & Page Care & Gain
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: From £16.40
Soaking time: 3 minutes
- Energy: 10.75MJ/kg
- Sugar: 4.5%
- Starch: 4.5%
This high-calorie feed designed for laminitis-prone horses and ponies, ideal for weight gain and higher energy needs with low starch and sugar. Contains quality protein for muscle maintenance in older horses, plus vitamins C and E for immunity, antioxidants, and muscle function. Calories from digestible fibre and oil support controlled weight gain and normal metabolism.
Keyflow Pink Mash
Bag weight: 15kg
RRP: From £24.50
Soaking time: 5 minutes
- Energy: 9MJ/kg
- Sugar: <2%
- Starch <2%
This mash is enriched with super fibres and beetroot to support the daily diet with high levels of prebiotics, aiding in the restoration of beneficial microflora for improved fibre digestion. Its low sugar and starch content makes it ideal for barefoot horses and thoseprone to laminitis. It can serve as a partial substitute for hay or forage and is particularly suitable for horses prone to digestive issues, with a very low feeding rate.
Balancers
Balancers, typically pelleted, are concentrated feeds formulated to offer horses a well-rounded diet without excessive calorie intake. Their low feeding rate makes them a great option for good-doers.
TopSpec AntiLam Forage Balancer
Bag weight: 15kg
RRP: £34.75
- Energy: 9MJ/kg
- Starch: 6.5%
This balancer is designed to provide nutritional support for those prone to laminitis. The formula combines several supplements with a high fibre, very low-calorie carrier to make it palatable. It can also be used as part of a calorie-controlled diet when weight loss is required.
Baileys No.14 Lo-Cal Balancer
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £34
- Sugar: 5.5%
- Starch: 6%
This balancer provides essential nutrients without the calories associated with a mix or cube. It contains quality protein to provide the building blocks for muscle, skin and hoof and help maintain topline and tissue integrity, as well as a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals, including biotin and antioxidants. It also has Digest Plus prebiotic and a probiotic yeast to support gut health.
Blue Chip Lami Lite Balancer
Sizes: 15kg
RRP: £40.35
- Energy: 9.1MJ/kg
- Sugar: 4.5%
- Starch: 11%
A palatable formulation for those prone to laminitis, on restricted grazing, and a wide range of good-doers. Lami Light is a low starch, molasses free, no added sugar balancer that supports digestive health, fat metabolism and hoof quality.
Simple System Horse Feeds MetaSlim
Sizes: 10kg or 20kg
RRP: £39.95 for 10kg, £71.95 for 20kg
- Energy: 11.75MJ/kg
- Sugar: <4%
- Starch: <4%
A balancing feed specifically designed for those challenged by weight, and prone to laminitis. Made from functional, plant-based ingredients, MetaSlim offers natural support, for horses with fat pads, crests and metabolic issues.
Baileys No.19 Performance Balancer
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £36
- Sugar: 6.5%
- Starch: 6%
This balancer supplies the additional nutrients that are required by an increased workload without the unwanted calories. It helps build and maintain muscle and topline, while a full balance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants support healthy hoof growth, metabolism and recovery. The low starch and sugar levels also make it suitable for those with elevated nutrient requirements (not calories) and prone to laminitis.
Spillers Lite & Lean Balancer
Sizes: 20kg
RRP: £34.89
- Energy: 9.5MJ/kg
- Sugar: 3%
- Starch: 7%
A multi-vitamin and mineral balancer that supports the health of horses on a weight loss diet. These feed pellets are high in the essential amino acid, lysine, which is typically deficient in weight loss diets and supports muscle and topline.
Dodson & Horrell Go Lite Balancer
Sizes: 15kg
RRP: £26.13
- Energy: 8.5MJ/kg
- Sugar: 4%
- Starch: 8.5%
This low-calorie balancer is suitable for horses in need of a calorie-controlled diet and those prone to laminitis. It contains an effective level of biotin, zinc and methionine for hoof strength and growth, as well as natural antioxidants to support overall health, and protected yeast to support a healthy hindgut and nutrient uptake.
How to choose a suitable feed for a laminitis prone horse
If a horse is overweight and laminitis prone, it can be tempting to think they don’t require a bucket feed at all. While they don’t need to be supplied with energy or calories, consuming only grass or forage won’t provide everything they need. Deficiencies are even greater if grazing or forage have to be restricted to facilitate weight loss and manage the risk of laminitis. Therefore, feed rations for horses prone to laminitis need to be balanced and tailored to their individual needs.
It’s important to be aware that these feeds do not treat laminitis in any way, but are carefully formulated so that they are suitable to feed to a horse that is prone to the condition. If you’re at all unsure, it’s advisable to call a free nutritional helpline for additional advice – these are provided by most feed manufacturers.
For a good-doer or overweight horse, the bucket feed tops up the nutrients that are naturally lacking in grass and forage. This top up can be achieved by using a fortified feed, which is designed to provide a balanced ration when fed at the recommended quantity, or by feeding one of the best vitamin and mineral supplements (you can also find supplements for horses on restricted grazing) or feed balancers added to a low-calorie fibre feed.
Feeding a poor-doer that is prone to laminitis can be more challenging, as you’ll need to find feeds that contain more energy/calories but are still low in sugar and starch – look out for unmolassed alfalfa chaffs with added oil, or soaked beet products.
What is The Laminitis Trust approval mark?
The Laminitis Trust established an approval mark for horse feeds that reach certain standards as outlined by their scientific committee. The idea is that it will help owners identify feeds that are considered suitable for horses that either are considered prone to laminitis or are suffering from laminitis.
Feed manufacturers can apply to The Laminitis Trust for approval, but many choose not to do so despite developing feeds that are specifically formulated for horses prone to laminitis.
We’ve rounded up a selection of feeds that manufacturers describe as suitable for feeding to horses prone to laminitis, some of which are also approved by The Laminitis Trust. It includes some fibres, fully balanced feeds and balancers, so that you can find something that works for you and your horse. Before deciding what to feed a horse who is prone to laminitis, it’s advisable to call a free nutritional helpline for additional advice.
You might also be interested in:
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Laminitis: how to spot the signs, plus treatments and ways to prevent it
Feeding horses with laminitis — what should you do?
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How to calculate your horse’s body condition score – is he the right weight?
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