What to Feed a Good Doer Horse

When your horse seems able to gain weight simply by looking at grass, feeding can feel like a balancing act.

You want to provide an appropriate diet without supplying unnecessary calories – and you still need to think about fibre and the horse's wider nutritional requirements.

For a good doer, the answer isn't simply to remove everything from the bucket.
It's to make every part of the diet count.

Forage Still Comes First

Good doers still need fibre.

The challenge is balancing adequate forage intake and opportunities to forage with appropriate calorie intake and body condition.

Forage type, grazing access and overall intake may need careful management according to the individual horse.

If weight management is required, don't make drastic forage restrictions without appropriate professional advice. A vet or suitably qualified equine nutritionist can help develop an appropriate plan, particularly for horses with underlying health concerns.

Keep Bucket Calories Sensible

A good doer's bucket can usually be kept relatively small and fibre focused.

Depending on the individual horse, this might include:

• A small handful of low-calorie chaff
• A suitable fibre compound mix or cubes
• A small portion of correctly prepared unmolassed sugar beet
• Targeted nutritional supplements where appropriate

The aim is to provide a practical carrier and complement the forage rather than adding unnecessary calories simply because feeding time has arrived.

Target What the Horse Actually Needs

This is where targeted nutrition can be particularly useful.

Rather than increasing the amount of feed to provide a particular nutrient, consider whether that requirement can be addressed more specifically.

For example, HERCULES provides amino acids and may be considered where targeted amino acid support is appropriate without relying on a large additional feed.

Depending on the horse's age, workload and individual requirements, GYMNAST or SUPER SOUND may be incorporated as joint nutritional support.

For horses that are naturally reactive or become unsettled in particular situations, BUCK OFF may also be considered where appropriate.

An Example Feeding Plan for a Good Doer

A simple NEIGHKED-style approach could look like:

Forage: appropriately managed grass, hay or haylage.

Bucket feed: small amount of low-calorie chaff + suitable fibre compound mix/cubes + small portion of soaked unmolassed sugar beet.

Targeted nutritional support: HERCULES + GYMNAST or SUPER SOUND, with BUCK OFF where appropriate.

This isn't a fixed recipe. It's an example of how you can keep the bucket simple while tailoring the overall diet to the individual.

For good doers, the principle is straightforward:

Don't feed more for the sake of feeding more.

Start with forage, monitor body condition regularly and target the nutritional requirements that actually need addressing.

Explore Our Equine Nutrition Guides

📖 Our Feeding Philosophy: A Simple Guide to Feeding Horses →

📖 What to Feed a Horse in Light Work or a Happy Hacker →

📖 What to Feed a Poor Doer or a Horse That Needs to Gain Weight →

📖 What to Feed a Performance Horse →

📖 What to Feed a Senior Horse →

Important Feeding Note

This feeding plan is provided as a general example only. It isn't intended as an individual weight-management programme or a replacement for veterinary or professional nutritional advice.

Every horse's requirements differ according to bodyweight, body condition, forage, workload, health and metabolism. Always follow feed manufacturers' instructions and introduce dietary changes gradually. Significant forage restriction or weight-loss programmes should be undertaken with appropriate professional guidance. If your horse is overweight, has a medical condition or you are concerned about its weight or metabolism, speak to your vet or a suitably qualified equine nutritionist.