🐴 Consider Feeding Larger, Harder Pelleted Feeds to Your Horses: Pros & Cautions for 2025 🥣🦷

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Pelleted feeds are popular for convenience and nutrition, but in 2025, emerging research suggests that larger, harder pellets may offer digestive and dental benefits. While promising, these feeds must be evaluated carefully before becoming routine in every horse’s diet. 🧠🐎

🧪 The Research Behind Larger Pellets

German researchers studied six warmblood mares, comparing standard-sized pellets to pellets three times larger and six times harder. Their goal: increase chewing time, saliva production, and stomach buffering. 🧪

Key Results:

• ⏱️ Horses took 3x longer to consume the large pellets
• 🦷 Chewing increased significantly
• 💧 More saliva = better acid buffering in the stomach

Increased chewing leads to higher pH in the stomach, which may reduce the risk of gastric ulcers—a major concern for performance horses on high-concentrate diets. 📉

🦷 Potential Dental Benefits

The hardness of the large pellets may also benefit dental health by:

• ⚙️ Encouraging full-mouth chewing
• 🪥 Naturally filing down sharp enamel points

This could reduce the need for frequent dental floating in younger horses. ✅

⚠️ But Here’s the Catch: Safety Risks

Dr Duncan Houston expresses concern about the choke hazard posed by very hard, oversized pellets:

• 🚫 Older horses with poor dentition may not chew thoroughly
• 📉 Horses could attempt to swallow pellets whole
• 💥 Esophageal obstruction (choke) becomes a serious risk

While these feeds may be fine for young, healthy horses with good teeth, they’re not suitable for seniors or horses prone to fast eating. ❌

🐎 Which Horses May Benefit?

Large, hard pellets could be a good fit for:

• 🏇 Sport horses with ulcer risk
• 🧲 Easy keepers who need slower feed intake
• 🧒 Young horses with excellent dental health

Feeding Tip: Introduce any new pellet form gradually and monitor chewing and eating behavior closely. 🧐

⛔ When to Avoid

Do NOT use large or hard pellets in horses that are:

• 👴 Over 15 years of age
• 🦷 Missing or worn molars
• ⚠️ Prone to choke or eating quickly

These horses require softer, more digestible feed forms, such as soaked cubes, senior mashes, or hay pellets. 🩺

📲 Ask A Vet Before You Switch

Thinking about trying larger pellets? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App for feed evaluations, choke prevention strategies, and ulcer risk assessments. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team can recommend whether this feeding strategy is safe for your individual horse based on age, dental health, and digestive history. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, harder, larger pellets may help reduce ulcers and slow feed consumption in select horses—but caution is key. Evaluate each horse individually and always consult with your vet before switching to an unfamiliar pellet size or formulation. 🐎🥣

Need a feeding review? Visit AskAVet.com to get expert help with diet choices 🐴🦷