Horses are herbivores and mainly eat forage —that means grass and hay, with small extras like grain and safe fruits or vegetables for treats.

Main things horses eat

  • Grass from pasture; this is the most natural base of a horse’s diet.
  • Hay (dried grass), such as timothy or orchard grass, often called “grass hay.”
  • Legume hay like alfalfa for horses that need more calories or protein (hard workers, lactating mares).
  • Clean, fresh water available at all times.

Extra energy and nutrients

  • Grains (called “concentrates”) such as oats, corn, barley, and commercial pelleted feeds for extra energy when needed.
  • Commercial horse feeds balanced with vitamins and minerals for specific life stages or workloads.
  • Fiber-rich extras like beet pulp to boost calories while still supporting gut health.

Treats and snacks horses enjoy

  • Safe fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots in small amounts.
  • Special horse cookies or treats formulated for equines.

Example: a typical leisure horse might eat hay or pasture most of the day, a small measured grain meal once or twice daily, plus an occasional apple or carrot as a treat.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.