Horse Care & Feeding
What Horses Eat: A Simple Guide to Hay & Grain
Hay, grass, grain, treats — a beginner's tour of the equine menu.
Read articleThe Best Food for Horses Before & After Trail Rides
Fueling the Four-Legged Athlete
Knowing the best food for horses before and after trail rides helps keep your horse healthy, comfortable and ready to enjoy the trail.
A horse is an athlete, and like any athlete, timing matters as much as the food itself.
Before a ride: forage, not grain
The horse's digestive system is built for a steady trickle of forage — hay and grass. A small amount of hay before riding is good, because it cushions the stomach.
Avoid a large grain meal right before exercise; most horse owners allow time between a big feed and work.
After a ride: cool down first
Always let a horse cool down and stop blowing hard before a full feed. Once calm and breathing normally, the horse can return to hay and its normal routine.
Hay actually helps replace what is lost through sweat.
Hydration around riding
Fresh water should always be available. A horse should be allowed to drink before and after a ride, and on hot days, having water along the way matters.
Talk to your own horse professionals
Every horse is different. A horse's feeding plan should be guided by its owner, an equine veterinarian and an experienced caregiver, never by guesswork.
What should you feed a horse before a trail ride?
Before a trail ride, a horse is best given a small amount of hay or forage rather than a large grain meal. Forage cushions the stomach and matches the horse's natural digestion. Large grain meals are usually given with time to settle before exercise, and fresh water should always be available.
Key takeaways
- Horses are built for steady forage, not large meals before work.
- A little hay before riding cushions the stomach.
- Let a horse cool down fully before a big feed after a ride.
- Every horse's diet should be guided by a vet and caregiver.
Ride with Solitude Stables
We are a small family farm in Harwood, MD offering horseback riding lessons and guided trail rides for riders across Anne Arundel County. We would love to welcome you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
More on this topic, answered simply.
A small amount of hay before riding is fine and even helpful. Large grain meals are best given with time to settle before exercise. Practices vary, so follow the guidance of the horse's owner and vet.
Wait until the horse has cooled down and is breathing normally. Then it can return to hay and its usual feeding routine.
No. On a guided trail ride, the farm cares for all feeding and watering. You simply enjoy the ride.
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Good feeding habits keep horses healthy for many happy seasons of trail riding in Maryland.
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