11/09/2025
💚Wholefood Nutrition for Horses: What Does It Really Mean?
🌱In recent years, there's been a growing interest in wholefood nutrition — not just for humans, but for our horses too. But what does it really mean when we talk about “wholefood” diets for horses? Is it just feeding carrots and apples, or is there more to it?
🏵️As an equine herbalist passionate about natural, species-appropriate care, I wanted to break it down for you in simple terms.
Wholefood = Real Food
Wholefood nutrition means feeding your horse ingredients that are as close to their natural state as possible — minimally processed, nutrient-rich, and free from synthetic additives. Think of it as real food, not “food-like” products.
⭐It’s the difference between:
- A scoop of processed feed with molasses and binders
vs.
- A bowl of soaked grass nuts, chopped herbs, ground flaxseed, and a sprinkle of seaweed
💚Wholefoods are recognisable. They’re things you could grow, forage, or identify — like nettle leaf, linseed, dandelion root, or oats.
Examples of Wholefoods for Horses.
🌱Herbs: nettle, cleavers, dandelion, chamomile, meadowsweet
🫘Seeds: flax (linseed), chia, fenugreek
-🫚Roots: turmeric, marshmallow root, licorice root
🥕Vegetables (in moderation): carrots, beetroot, parsnip
🌾 Grains (when suitable): soaked or sprouted oats, barley
🏵️Natural supplements: seaweed, rosehips, brewer’s yeast
🌱Forage & pasture: high-quality hay, fresh grass, hedgerow herbs.
✨Why Choose Wholefood Nutrition?
1. It’s what they’re designed to eat
Horses evolved to browse and graze a wide variety of plants. Wholefoods honour this.
2. Better nutrient absorption
Whole plants provide nutrients in their natural, balanced forms — often with co-factors that help absorption.
3. Gentle, gradual support
Many wholefoods (especially herbs) support healing systems — liver, kidneys, digestion — without overwhelming the body.
4. Avoiding hidden nasties
Processed feeds can contain molasses, artificial flavours, chemical preservatives, and fillers. Wholefood diets cut out the guesswork.
What Wholefood Nutrition Isn’t
- Not just feeding a few carrots now and then
- Not about fancy powders or synthetic supplements
- Not a strict diet — it’s a philosophy of simplicity and connection to nature
- Not “one-size-fits-all” — every horse has different needs.
How to Get Started
1. Start with the basics: Review your forage. Good hay or haylage should be the foundation of any diet.
2. Reduce processed feeds: See what you can replace with simpler, real ingredients.
3. Add one or two herbs or wholefoods: Try nettle in spring, or a spoonful of ground flaxseed for the coat.
4. Observe and adjust: Wholefood feeding is intuitive. Watch how your horse responds.
🧙Final Thoughts
Wholefood nutrition isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being mindful. It’s about asking: Is this real? Is this necessary? Is this something a horse would choose if they could forage freely?
When you shift to wholefoods, you may find not only a healthier horse, but a deeper connection to how they eat, heal, and thrive.
