Sugar – balance is crucial for the horse's health
Sugar is found naturally in grass, wrap and hay – and is an important source of energy.
But too much sugar can create an imbalance and cause serious problems, especially for frugal horses and ponies.
How much sugar can a frugal horse tolerate?
Approx. 0.5–1 g sugar per kg body weight per day
Example: A frugal horse weighing 400 kg can tolerate 200–400 g of sugar daily
How do you know if your horse is getting too much?
Make one roughage analysis → it shows the sugar percentage in your hay or wrap.
Then you can calculate whether the roughage is within the limit – or whether the horse is getting too much.
🔎 Example from wrap:
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7 kg wrap with 17% sugar (75% dry matter) = 892g sugar → too much
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7 kg wrap with 7% sugar (75% dry matter) = 368g sugar → within the limit
Signs that the horse may be getting too much sugar
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Detention or tendency to sore hooves
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Overweight and fat deposits (e.g. on the neck or base of the tail)
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Metabolic problems (EMS or PPID)
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Irritable bowel syndrome and poor digestion
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High insulin or low energy despite plenty of food
Adapt sugar intake to the horse's work – here's how to do it
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Frugal horses → at most 7% sugar in dry matter
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Horses in regular work that become breathless and sweat → up to 10% sugar in dry matter
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Limit time on grass, especially in spring/autumn and after cold nights
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Use a muzzle or short grazing time if necessary
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Be mindful of treats, apples and carrots – small amounts are ok, but can quickly add up
👉 In short: Too much sugar can cause serious problems – and the only way to know how much your horse is getting is to know the sugar content in the roughage.
If you need personal telephone support, you can book a consultation here.
Inspiration blogs
How much sugar can a frugal horse tolerate?
What happens when a horse gets too much sugar?
How much sugar does your horse get from grass?
Weight loss with care – when the horse needs to lose weight without losing well-being
Can a fat comb be ridden away?
Sugar, fructan, obesity and lifestyle diseases – what do we really know?
Resveratrol – exciting, but be realistic with expectations
Strong Clean Balance, Resveratrol and other feeding choices – what does the science say?
Sarcoids in horses – what is it and what can you do?
Swelling on the neck in horses – is it dangerous and what can you do?
Do you want to help your horse lose weight?
- See our Easier Saturday
- Straw: The key to healthy weight and a calm stomach
- Myths & experiences: Apple cider vinegar, beetroot and Biosa for metabolically challenged horses
- Feed labels can be misleading – especially when it comes to combustion minerals
Do you want to help your horse gain weight?
- Help your horse gain weight – without compromising health
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Weight gain in horses – nutritional strategies and inflammatory risk
If you need personal telephone support, you can book a consultation here.
