How to Feed Good Doers & Native Ponies

Feeding Good Doers & Overweight Horses: How to Manage Hay Intake and Slow Feeding Rates

For many horse owners, feeding good doers, native ponies, overweight horses and those prone to conditions like EMS or laminitis can feel like a constant balancing act. These horses often maintain weight on fresh air and even small increases in forage can push them into dangerous territory. Yet, forage restriction done incorrectly can lead to behavioural issues, gastric discomfort, poor gut health and increased colic risk. Laminitis-friendly feeding is possible!

So how do you feed a horse that needs fibre for digestive health without the calories that usually come with it?

We will take you through the science and practical strategies behind managing hay intake safely, including how to slow hay consumption, the best slow feeders and why creating a steady, controlled forage supply is key to long-term metabolic health. We answer questions such as:

-          - How to stop horses from wasting hay

-          - How long to soak hay for horses

-          - How to slow horse down eating hay

Why Good Doers Need Careful Forage Management

Forage is essential – a non-negotiable - for equine health. Horses are anatomically and behaviourally designed to eat slowly, continuously and for long periods throughout the day. Ideally horses should go no longer than 4 hours without consuming forage. However, overweight, greedy horses or those on a horse weight management plan often consume their hay too quickly, potentially meaning long hours without forage. This can:

• Disrupt the hindgut microbiome
• Increase the risk of gastric ulceration
• Trigger insulin spikes when they finally do eat
• Cause frustration, stress and stereotypic behaviours (such as cribbing, weaving, box walking etc)
• Lead to “rebound feeding,” where horses bolt their next meal even faster

The challenge becomes: How do we allow constant trickle-feeding without allowing constant overeating?

The solution lies in a combination of smart hay management, slowing the rate of intake and choosing forage appropriate for good doers.

How Much Hay Should Good Doers Eat?

The general recommendation for weight loss or weight control in good doers is:

• 1.5% of bodyweight per day (dry matter) for safe weight loss
• 1.5–2% of bodyweight for weight maintenance

For a 500 kg horse, this equates to around 7.5 kg of hay per day for gradual weight reduction.

However, there are important caveats:

1. Never drop below 1.2% of bodyweight - this increases the risks of colic, ulcers and metabolic rebound.
2. Weigh your hay – hay weights can vary hugely from batch to batch, even amongst bales in the same field! So weighing is the only method of accurately knowing what you are feeding.
3. Analyse or choose lower-calorie forage - not all hay is equal and where possible seek out high fibre, low calorie, low sugar hay. These are usually less palatable to horses and will naturally slow their rate of intake as a result.

Choosing the Right Forage for Overweight Horses

The aim is to provide fibre without excessive calories or sugar. Here are a few things we can do to try and reduce calorie intake:

Use late-cut, mature hay

This type is stemmy, lower in digestible energy and helps horses feel full longer.

Soak hay (when appropriate)

How long should you soak hay? Soaking for 30–60 minutes can reduce water-soluble sugars by up to 30%. Longer soaks of 2–4 hours remove even more sugars, but can also leach minerals and reduce the overall nutritional value, making a balancer essential to ensure they still meet their RDA’s. Avoid soaking for more than 6 hours, as the hay can begin to ferment, smell sour and carry a higher bacterial load. Adjust soak times based on your horse’s needs, the weather and the quality of your hay.

Avoid haylage for most good doers

Even “low-calorie” haylage is often higher in moisture and more palatable, meaning horses will eat more.

Avoid high-protein, early-cut hay

These types of hay are ideal for performance horses but not for good doers.

How to Slow Down Your Horse’s Eating

One of the most critical tools in weight management is reducing the rate of hay consumption. Many horses consume their hay ration in just a couple of hours - leaving prolonged periods without fibre and increasing risk of ulcers and stress. This is particularly important at night when there may be 12 hours between their last evening and morning feeds.

Follow our Equell tips on how to slow hay intake and reduce time without forage:

1. Use a Slow Feeder or Small-Hole Hay Net

If you have found yourself searching for the “best hay net for greedy feeders”, “best slow feeders,” “how to slow hay intake,” or “how can I slow down my horse's eating,” then this section on slow-feeding systems is for you!

Slow feeding for overweight horses can help to:

• Mimic natural grazing behaviour
• Prevent bolting and gorging
• Manage weight without severe restriction
• Keep horses occupied and mentally settled for longer
• Reduce hay wastage

Best slow feeders for good doers include:

🟢 Small-hole hay nets (3 cm or smaller)

These are a cost-effective way to stretch out hay intake by 30–50%. Look for durable soft mesh nets without knots to reduce the impact on their teeth when constantly nibbling.

🟢 Double-netting

Place one hay net inside another. Very effective for ultra-fast eaters.

🟢 Grazing muzzles (for turnout)

Reduces grass intake by up to 80% while still allowing natural movement and socialisation. Ensure that they are allowed periods of time each day without a muzzle if your horse lives out 24/7.

🟢 Slow-feed hay boxes

These sturdy boxes with mesh tops replicate ground-level eating and can significantly slow intake.

🟢 Wall-mounted or floor-mounted grid feeders

Ideal for yards wanting a more permanent slow-feeding solution that are quick to fill.

2. Increase Feeding Frequency

Rather than feeding hay in two large meals, split it into:

• 3–4 smaller hay allocations throughout the day
• Use multiple small nets hung in different areas

This also creates more movement, mimicking natural foraging patterns.

3. Consider “Forage Diversification” to Extend Eating Time

You can reduce calorie intake while still providing chewing time by offering:

Low-calorie straw mixes (up to 30% of their forage ration)

Ideal for horses without dental limitations. Straw is low sugar, low calorie, and has a natural “slow eating” texture. Use the best quality straw you can get and ensure it is not dusty or mouldy.

Chopped high-fibre feeds (as part of a balancer routine)

Useful for filling gaps without piling on calories. Many chops and chaff contain a large proportion of straw which will provide fibre without calories.

Hedgerow botanicals or safe branches

Hawthorn, willow, rosehips and similar can encourage natural browsing behaviours.

Not only do these options increase enrichment and support the gut microbiome, but they also reduce impatience and stress around meals - especially in stabled horses.

4. Check for “Hidden Calories” in Your Routine

Often, weight gain sneaks in through small extras:

• Haylage instead of hay
• Treats (even “healthy” ones add up when given too often and in too high a number)
• Excess hard feed – this can impact on behaviour as well as weight, ensure that feed intake is sufficient for the workload they are doing/condition they are in.
• Unrestricted turn-out on rich pasture – can also disrupt the gut bacteria if not introduced gradually.

For good doers, concentrate feeds should be eliminated unless needed for nutrient balance. Instead, use a low-calorie balancer and/or metabolism-support supplement to ensure they are getting their RDA’s of vitamins, minerals and protein. Hay is often low in protein (read our article on hay only diets here) and does not contain balanced levels of vitamins and minerals. Remember also that when soaking hay you are removing more protein, vitamins and minerals from it that will need to be provided in an alternative source to ensure your horse does not become deficient.

5. Improve Turnout Management

Turnout is essential for mental health, joint mobility and natural behaviour - but it’s also where many good doers gain most of their weight.

To reduce intake without restricting movement:

Use a grazing muzzle

Modern designs are safe, soft and effective. Just don’t leave them on 24/7.

Strip graze or utilise a track system for horses

These increase movement while decreasing access to high-calorie grass.

Avoid lush grass during high-risk times

Spring and autumn carry the highest sugar loads. There are many apps available now that can help monitor the sugar risk in grass for prone individuals.

Turnout with enriched environments

Logs, hedges, water points, multiple feeding stations and friends encourage movement, not grazing intensity.

6. Don’t Forget the Microbiome

Horses with obesity, EMS, or laminitis often show altered hindgut microbiome profiles. When forage is restricted or feeding patterns are disrupted, this microbial imbalance can worsen.

Supporting the gut environment with prebiotic fibres, polyphenol-rich botanicals and a consistent forage schedule helps:

• Stabilise hindgut pH
• Feed the good bacteria
• Avoid systemic inflammation
• Support metabolic health
• Help the horse feel fuller for longer

Healthy weight management and gut health go hand in hand.

Red Flags: Signs You're Restricting Too Much

If your horse shows any of the following, reassess immediately:

❌ Hollowing, aggression, or frustration at feeding time
❌ Dropping weight too fast
❌ Girthiness or signs of gastric discomfort
❌ Colic risk increasing
❌ Chewing wood, rugs, or stabled objects
❌ Finishing hay in under 2 hours

Remember: the goal is controlled calorie intake and extension of chewing time - not starvation.

Putting It All Together: A Sample Daily Routine for a Good Doer

Here’s an example of a realistic, healthy feeding plan for a 500kg horse needing to lose weight:

Morning

• 2 kg hay in double-netted small-hole nets
• Balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement (1/2 of recommended daily feeding rate)
• Soaked low-calorie chaff (optional)

Turnout (3–8 hours depending on condition)

• Grazing muzzle on for paddock turnout or
• Track system if available
• Enrichment (branches, movement-based environment)

Afternoon

• 2–2.5 kg hay in a slow-feed box
• Water always available

Evening

• 3 kg of soaked late-cut hay
• Balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement (other 1/2 of recommended daily feeding rate)
• Up to 25–30% straw mix if appropriate

Total: 7.5–8 kg forage delivered slowly across the day. Exercise is as important as diet – if your horse is fit, healthy and able to work, try and exercise them at least 5 times a week in a variety of ways (hacking, pole work, fast work etc as appropriate) to help them burn extra calories. If your horse cannot currently be ridden, even a brisk hand walk can help with weight management and keeping joints active.

Final Thoughts: The Key Isn’t Less Forage - It’s Smarter Forage

For good doers and overweight horses, the answer isn’t simply feeding less. It’s feeding better, slower and in a way that respects the horse’s natural digestive system.

Smart hay management using slow feeders, carefully selected forage and gut-friendly feeding routines not only helps with safe weight loss - it supports behavioural balance, digestive comfort and long-term metabolic health.

If your horse is a good doer, prone to weight gain, or you’re constantly asking “How can I slow down my horse’s eating?” - the answer lies in a structured, controlled, and microbiome-friendly feeding strategy rather than drastic restriction. We understand that every horse owner can only do their best within the constraints of their yard and work environments. These tips are intended to help support you with tailoring a management plan that works for you and your horse.

If you are looking for extra support for good doers, UltraMet is our prebiotic blend created for overweight horses on restricted diets and prone individuals. A prebiotic fibre blend with a specially designed vitamin and mineral matrix to support healthy metabolism, maintain oxidative balance and aid hindgut function in horses on restricted forage. Click here to find out more. As always, our team are on hand to answer any questions you might have – just drop us a line at info@equell.co.uk or by using the “ask a question” button on the website.

 

The Equell Team 20.11.25