Forage-first message returns to the center of equine nutrition: full analysis

A new article in The Horse is putting the spotlight back on a basic, but consequential, principle of equine care: forage comes first. Published May 1, 2026, the story recaps a presentation from Clair Thunes, MS, PhD, PAS, of Clarity Equine Nutrition at Kemin Industries’ 2026 EquiSUMMIT, where she argued that forage is still the nutritional base on which the rest of the horse’s diet should be built. In the presentation and article, Thunes ties that point directly to equine digestive physiology, describing the horse as fundamentally adapted to continuous fiber intake and microbial fermentation rather than meal-based, starch-heavy feeding. (thehorse.com)

That message isn’t new, but the context matters. Horses evolved to graze for 16 to 18 hours a day, and Thunes said domestication shifted many feeding programs toward restricted grazing and more starch-rich meals. The article positions that mismatch between biology and management as a contributor to common health problems. Kemin’s EquiSUMMIT agenda shows the forage session was part of a broader 2026 program focused on gut health, ulcers, supplements, and low-starch diets, suggesting the industry is increasingly framing nutrition discussions around digestive function and metabolic stability rather than calories alone. (thehorse.com)

The practical details are where the piece becomes most useful for clinicians and nutrition consultants. Thunes recommends laboratory analysis of hay using core samples from 15 to 20 bales and says testing should include structural carbohydrates, starch, sugars, minerals, and crude protein. In the article, she notes that higher acid detergent fiber, or ADF, generally signals lower digestibility, which can make some hays more appropriate for easy keepers and metabolic horses. She also points to a commonly used threshold of less than 10% nonstructural carbohydrates, on a dry matter basis, for horses with insulin resistance and for some horses with PSSM1. (thehorse.com)

The report also spends time on pasture, not just hay. Thunes warns that horses can overgraze pasture aggressively enough to damage plant recovery and reduce nutritional value. Her rule of thumb is to pull horses off once forage is grazed down to about 4 inches and rest the stand until it reaches 6 to 8 inches. She also distinguishes among forage types: grass hay generally delivers fewer calories per pound than alfalfa, while warm-season grasses such as Bermuda and teff may trend lower in NSCs than cold-season grasses, though she cautions that testing is still essential. Alfalfa, meanwhile, may be useful for performance horses, young horses, broodmares, and some ulcer-prone horses, but she advises keeping it to a minority share of forage intake because of its higher protein and calcium content. (thehorse.com)

Outside commentary broadly supports the article’s core message. University of Minnesota Extension says the horse digestive tract is designed to use forage as the main diet component, that most horses should consume about 2% of body weight in hay daily, and that forage should make up at least 50% of the ration. AAEP, meanwhile, has emphasized that hay can account for 50% to 90% of a healthy horse’s nutritional needs and that “good” hay must be judged not only by nutrient profile, but also by hygienic quality, because contaminants can affect both nutrition and respiratory health. Those sources reinforce Thunes’ point that forage decisions should be individualized, not reduced to a simple “best hay” list. (extension.umn.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, this is a reminder that many common equine cases have a forage conversation hiding underneath them. Weight gain, recurrent colic, suspected gastric ulcers, insulin dysregulation, laminitis risk, and even stable air quality can all be influenced by forage amount, type, cleanliness, and access pattern. The clinical takeaway is straightforward: before escalating concentrates or supplements, practices may want to push harder on forage analysis, measured intake, and pasture assessment. That’s especially relevant when pet parents assume pasture is automatically adequate, or when barns weigh grain carefully but estimate hay by eye. (thehorse.com)

The article also reflects a broader shift in equine nutrition messaging. EquiSUMMIT’s 2026 programming paired the forage session with talks on low-starch diets, gastric ulcer prevention, supplement efficacy, and gastrointestinal health, underscoring how forage is increasingly being treated as the platform for preventive medicine, not just feed management. For mixed equine practices, that creates an opening for more structured nutrition counseling and closer collaboration with qualified equine nutritionists, especially in metabolic and performance cases. (files.onlinexperiences.com)

What to watch: The next step is whether this renewed forage-first emphasis changes on-farm behavior, particularly around routine hay testing, NSC screening for at-risk horses, and more disciplined pasture rotation as the 2026 season progresses. (thehorse.com)