The first and perhaps most important thing you need to know is that ingredients are always listed in descending order by quantity (by law). This means that what appears at the beginning of the list is present in the highest amount, while what appears at the end is only included in minimal quantities. This is especially important when a feed is marketed as herbal, because in many cases marketing suggests these are dominant ingredients, while in reality they appear at the end of the list.
Important: what you find at the end is present in very small amounts.
In fact, there are products on the market where the feed is labeled as herbal in the description, yet not a single herb can be found in the actual composition. That’s why you should always look at what is written in the ingredients, not what is promised.
The next key point is molasses. It is often used for flavoring and binding dusty ingredients, so it has a technological role, but due to its high sugar content, it is not ideal in large quantities in the long term, especially for horses sensitive to insulin response or prone to metabolic issues or laminitis.
The question is not whether it is included, but how much.
Soy is another divisive ingredient. It is a nutritious protein source with a good amino acid profile, yet many horse owners consciously avoid it. However, it is important to highlight that in the EU, including Hungary, strict regulations apply to raw materials, and the majority of feeds are made from GMO-free sources, which is a significant advantage in terms of safety and traceability.
Important: according to regulations, Hungarian raw materials are 100% GMO-free, which is one of the reasons they can represent excellent quality.
Many people place too much importance on whether a feed is in muesli or pellet form, even though in practice this plays a much smaller role than most think. The difference lies mainly in the manufacturing process: in pellets, the ingredients are ground, mixed, and then pressed after steaming, while in muesli the components are processed separately and then mixed. It may be more visually appealing, but from the horse’s perspective – in terms of intake and digestion – the difference is not as significant as many assume; this will not determine the quality of the feed.
Important: the key is not the form, but the composition.
And once you understand this, the next level comes – something very few people look at, even though it is at least as important: nutritional values.
Crude protein, for example, is not just a number – it shows how much building material is available for muscles, recovery, and maintaining overall condition. If a horse receives good-quality hay, a significant portion of its basic protein requirement is already covered, so in a concentrate feed, a crude protein content of 10–14% is completely sufficient.
Important: excessively high protein does not automatically mean better performance – in fact, it can easily lead to issues such as tying-up, kidney overload, and overheating.
Quality is far more important than quantity. This is where amino acid composition comes into play, especially lysine and methionine, which play a key role in muscle building and recovery. If these are listed separately, it already indicates a consciously formulated feed.
Crude fiber is the foundation of digestion and has a direct effect on the functioning of the digestive system. In a concentrate feed, a fiber content between 8–15% is generally considered ideal, as it helps stabilize digestion and reduces the risk of digestive issues.
Energy content, often listed as DE (digestible energy), shows how much “usable fuel” the feed provides. For a sport horse in intensive work, around 11–13 MJ/kg is typically ideal, while for horses in lighter work or prone to weight gain, lower values may be more appropriate – 9–11 MJ/kg can be sufficient.
What often causes misunderstanding, however, is not protein, but starch and sugar. Many people fear them, even though they are among the most important energy sources for horses, especially for sport horses. Just think of oats or barley, where starch content exceeds 40%, yet they form the basis of feeding for working horses.
“Overheating” is not caused by starch itself, but by feeding too much of it at once.
Important: it’s not about whether it’s included, but how much and how it is fed.
The situation is different, however, for horses prone to gastric ulcers: for them, it is clearly advisable to choose low-starch and low-sugar, even grain-free feeds, as these ingredients can worsen stomach condition.
And this is where we reach a point that almost no one talks about.
Every number is listed on the feed label, but one thing you won’t find there is what the horses that consume the feed actually show. What their condition is like, their coat, their performance, how they recover, and how they feel day to day.
This is the level where numbers become reality.
And this is exactly what truly sets good feeds apart from the rest, because real results are not shown by the label, but by the horses that consume them day after day.
And if you take a closer look, you will find hundreds of such feedbacks with us – real experiences, real changes – just like Mányi, shining in our opening image, who is fed Complete Mash and Top Condition.
